Sports Highlights
By Don Lyons - December 1, 2005
O.B. Turkey Trot
Peter Birney of Carlisle, California won the annual Turkey Trot in Oak Bluffs, Thanksgiving morning, clocking in at 19:31.
Forty-Five runners and a smattering of walkers competed on the 5K course around the cottage city. The event raised $585 for the O.B. Council on Aging Fuel Assistance program.
Patrick Parker of Oak Bluffs raced into second place in 21 minutes flat. Thomas Robinson (21:44, 6th) and Daniel Vaughn (21:45, 7th) also made the top ten.
Rounding out the top five Island men were Peter Hatt (24:58, 13th) and Chris Belain (26:27, 17th).
The leading lady on the day was Patty Thompson of Scituate, who finished eighth overall by a whisker over the Vineyard's Bonnie Kingsbury, 22:10 to 22:11.
Ann Williamson (25:26, 15th ) was next for the local contingent, followed by Joan Parzanese (26:21, 16th), and Stacie Roberts (26:55, 19th).
RCBL showdown
The defending champion Sharky's T-Wolves faced their toughest test of the young season when they took on the upstart Heat in Monday's opener.
Both teams took the court unbeaten at 2-0.
Playing with playoff intensity, neither team gave an inch. They did, however, give one another the ball on a consistent basis - to the tune of a robust 63 turnovers.
In the end, after 48 minutes of brutal attrition, the men from Sharky's brought a little more tabasco to the table and beat the Heat 79-75.
The first quarter set the stage for all to come: bodies flew, passes went askew, and points were few.
The score was an ugly 15-13, but the Wolves had succeeded in setting the tempo and stifling the Heat's high-octane attack.
The teams slogged through the second frame with much the same result, though the Heat wrestled back a 37-35 advantage at the half.
Toward the end of the third quarter, the Wolves started to find their shooting touch. The brothers Joyce, Mike and Chris, along with Pat Echlin all drained three's to secure a 60-57 lead.
Los Lobos tacked on a 9-2 run to start the final period and led 69-59. "When the blubber is in the water, the sharks finish the job," said Sharky Wolf Alex "The Mad Hatter" McCluskey.
Still, the Heat persevered and came within two before an alley-oop from Adam Rebello to Harrison Holmes and a big block and eight free-throws from Jason O' Donnell sealed the game.
Leading Lobos were Mike Joyce (17 points), Chris Joyce (16), and Pat Echlin (11). Jason O' Donnell was the real catalyst, though, with a double double (15 points, 14 rebounds).
The Heat had three players hit for the DD, Damon Mello (23 points, 10 rebounds), T.J. Roginski (16 points, 15 rebounds), and Nathaniel Scott (14 points, 12 rebounds).
Offense took center stage in game 2 as the Lakers posted their first win, beating the Legends 97-90.
The Lakers started with a spree of threes-five from Brain Scott and two from Jeff Labelle to lead 33-20 after one.
The hot-shooting Lakers piled up 30 more points in the second quarter to lead 63-45 at the break.
The Legends fared better in the second half, playing the Lakers even in the third and chopping the deficit in half down the stretch, but they had too much ground to make up.
Brian Scott (25 points), Jeff Labelle (19), Heath Estrella (17), John Healy (13), and Carl Kallinich (11) led the balanced Lakers attack.
Dale Rogers had 20 points, Eric Adams 18, and Julius Middleton 10 for the Legends, who fell to 0-3.
Upon further review
Kevin Walsh caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Mike McCarthy in the junior varsity's 28-20 victory over Nantucket last week. Joel Rebello was incorrectly identified as the receiver in the Nov. 23 Times.
Vineyard football honored
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association and the Massachusetts Football Committee have announced that Martha's Vineyard Regional High School will be awarded the 2005 Football Team Sportsmanship Award.
Presentation and recognition for this achievement will take place during halftime at the Division 3A Eastern Mass. Superbowl game at Arlington High School on Saturday.
Head Coach Donald Herman, along with Assistant Coaches Bill Belcher and Steve McCarthy, Athletic Director Glen Field, and a contingent of Vineyard football players will attend the game to receive this prestigious honor.
Vineyard ironman
Bill Russell of Vineyard Haven chose a unique way to celebrate his 50th birthday. He completed a full ironman triathlon in Panama City Beach, Fl. on Nov. 5. All the more remarkable is that he did it after an eleven year layoff.
The event begins with a 2.5-mile swim, continues with a 112-mile bike race, and ends with a full 26.2-mile marathon. Bill finished the long haul in 14 hours and 20 minutes.
Curling fundraiser
A charity event at the Cape Cod Curling Club on November 19 raised $16,500 for the Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands.
The Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation sponsored the twelve-team competition. No previous curling experience was necessary.
Act 1 Realty of Falmouth, comprised of Heide Wright (skip), "Sam" LaBorne, Candy Weedon, Carol O' Loughlin, John Weyand, and Christine O' Leary took home top honors.
The Cape Cod Curling Club holds charity events annually, selecting those whom member representatives feel are most in need.
Curling has grown rapidly since becoming the latest Olympic sport in 1998. The Men's World Championships will be held at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, March 31 through April 9, 2006. Information is available at www.wcc2006.org
New Top Gun
Bernie Aruda of Edgartown won the 2005 Top Gun Award in the Martha's Vineyard Rod and Gun Club's annual deer shoot on Sunday.
The event, traditionally held the day before the opening of the Island's one-week shotgun deer hunting season, featured three categories of standing deer, slug turkey, and special over the shoulder presentations of skeet and trap.
The new Top Gun bested seven club members, including second-place Rob Stafursky of Oak Bluffs and defending champ Phil Cronin of Newtonville, Ma., who finished third.
In all, 14 contestants having the best scores in the separate events, took home turkeys donated by the Edgartown Stop and Shop and hams from Cronig's Market.
Futsal kick-off
The indoor soccer season starts Sunday with 11 clubs in hot pursuit of Futsal Cup IX.
The opening match begins at 10 am, followed by another at 11, and a third at noon. All matches are at the Martha's Vineyard Boys and Girls Club. The season runs through mid-April.
