Sports Highlights

By Don Lyons - May 18, 2006

Viking victories

The Wareham baseball team wasted little time putting points on the board, Monday, at Wareham, scoring three runs in the first and three more in the second, more than enough to assure the win as Viking pitchers held M.V. to two runs. The Vineyarders have lost 15 of 16 games played.

Softball

At Oak Bluffs, the Wareham softball team eked out a 2-1 win, the fifth one-run Islander loss of the season and the second to the Vikings. The game was tied until the top of the sixth when Danielle Giasson tripled into the right-center gap, then scored a go-ahead run on an infield out.

The purple softies are 2-12 on the year.

Lady Whalers are scuttled

The MVRHS girls varsity lacrosse team flew to Nantucket Friday, and returned four hours later with their sixth win of the season over a much-improved Whaler team, 8-4.

Nantucket scored first, just a minute and a half into the game, but the Vineyarders tied the score 20 seconds later as Taylor MacDonald scooped up the ball from the draw and dashed to the Nantucket net.

Sophomore Jane Alexander's goal three minutes later gave MV the lead but Nantucket responded and the score was knotted six minutes into the contest.

Strong, aggressive play by Alaina Aristide carried the attack to the Nantucket end of the field and Alaina put the Vineyard ahead to stay, scoring off a free position at 9:34. Speedy Rachel Schubert, another sophomore, flew by a couple of Nantucket defenders and beat the Whaler goalie.

With less than three minutes left in the half, Katie Campbell gave the Vineyard a three-point lead, 5-2.

The Vineyard began the second half with a vengeance. MacDonald and Aristide won the draws and scooped up ground balls, controlling the pace of the game. Aristide scored at 4:12 off a perfect pass from Katie Campbell and again at 11:34, giving the Islanders an insurmountable lead.

Nantucket did not cry "uncle." They scored at 14:35. But Aristide picked up a loose ball and hurried it into the net for the Vineyard's eighth and final goal.

Nantucket scored the final goal of the game with ten minutes left on the clock.

The Vineyarders controlled the action during the final 10 minutes, but failed to score.

Zoe Fisher stopped 11 Nantucket bids in goal.

Captain Jenny Murphy had a strong game, clearing the ball out of the defensive end and organizing the offense.

The Vineyard record improved to 6-3-1. The girls have a number of rainouts to make up and some tough customers like Walpole and Hopkinton yet to play. They are scheduled to finish the season here versus Nantucket, Wednesday, May 24, at 4 pm.

Little League

The Dodgers continued on their winning way, besting the Tigers twice last week, 7-1, Thursday at Veira Park, and 6-5, Friday, also at Veira.

William Stewart and Ben Ciciora combined efforts for a no-hitter, striking out 14 Bengals.

Ciciora led the Dodgers' eight-hit offense with three hits, including a double. Ramon Espino hit safely twice. Stewart contributed a left field fence-clearing home run. Harrison Rodrigues drove in a run with a single.

Espino robbed Peter Keaney of a line drive hit at the hot corner.

Tiger hurlers Kevin Galligan and Peter Keaney gave up eight hits and fanned six.

In the Friday nail-biter, Espino, Ciciora, Stewart, and Chris Morris took turns on the mound for the Dodgers and were touched for just one hit, a double by Kyp Cooperrider. They struck out nine, walked seven, and hit two batters. The Dodgers' play of the game was by Eli Brown who grabbed Nelson Dickson's hard liner at second with the bases loaded.

Keaney and Galligan pitched for the Tigers and gave up nine hits. They struck out 10 and walked two. Galligan made a diving catch of an Eli Brown liner up the middle.

The Tigers led 5-1 after five innings. In the top of the sixth, the Dodgers colleted six hits and five runs. Espino's clutch single drove in the Dodgers' tying and winning runs.

Also Wednesday, the Cubs fattened batting averages at the expense of the A's, 16-2. Alec Tattersall and Delmont Araujo were 3-for-3. Tattersall had a home run and Araujo a double. Tyler Araujo was 4-for-5 at the plate. Jack Roberts and Kyle Altieri split winning mound time. Nick Nelson and Eli Berlow pitched for the A's. Friday the Cubs won their second game with the A's, 9-4. Roberts and Delmont Araujo did the Cubs hurling. Delmont had a double and drove in four runs. Oliver Filley and Harry West pitched for the A's.

Monday, the Red Sox topped the A's, 8-3, on eight hits and two walks. A's pitchers Harry West and Oliver Filley fanned eight Sox.

Mike Hill and Mike deBettencourt hurled for the Sox. They struck out seven, walked five, and gave up five hits.

Tuesday, at Nunes Field, the Cubs overcame a 6-1 Tiger lead to squeeze by the Bengals, 7-6.

Little League standings (as of 5/15)

Dodgers 5-1
Mets 4-1
Cubs 3-3
Red Sox 3-3
Tigers 2-4
Athletics 1-6

Minor League standings

Blue Jays 6-0 Marlins 3-3
Twins 5-1 Reds 2-3
Indians 3-2 Orioles 0-4
Rockies 2-2 Devil Rays 0-6

Hits galore

In a well-played lower league softball game, Wednesday, the Phillies topped the Dodgers 7-2. Emily Cimeno went the distance for the Dodgers and took the loss. Kat deBettencourt pitched for the Phillies. Kat helped her cause with three hits, as did Isabelle Wadleigh.

The following Tuesday, the Phillies trounced the Red Sox, 16-2. Kendall Robinson and Alex Mazza shared the mound for the Phils. Kendall hit a three-run homer and Isabelle Wadleigh had a grand slam. Katie Stewart had two hits.

For the Sox, Aoife Estes, Devon Webster, and Texi Craig all had solid hits.

JV jubilee

The MVRHS junior varsity softball team shut out New Bedford in a 21-0 laugher, Thursday. Kim Montanile allowed one hit in five innings pitched. Vineyard extra base hits were a triple by Emma Frizzel, and a double by Emily Hines. Jena Potier had two hits.

Monday the jayvees swamped Wareham, 21-6. Jackie Panek hurled five innings, giving up three hits. Jackie had three hits of her own, as did Kim Montanile.

The junior varsity's record is 6-5. They were at Dighton Rehoboth yesterday and are home to Bourne today.

Can you bear it?

The MVRHS baseball and softball teams sailed to New Bedford, Thursday, to take on the Bears of Greater New Bedford Tech. Both Island teams lost their games by a single run.

The MV softballers were shut out by Jessica Starkie, who allowed just one hit and struck out nine. Her efforts were all but matched by MV pitcher Brielle Leonard, who gave up six hits and struck out four. Brielle had a shutout until the seventh inning when New Bedford's Kate Britton singled, stole second, went to third on a fielder's choice and scored on an infield bouncer.

Brielle had the Vineyard's only hit and reached first the three times she came to the plate.

It was the Vineyard's 10th loss against three wins.

An extra inning affair

The Vineyard boys lost in the 12th inning by way of a suicide squeeze play, 3-2.

Max Shay started on the mound for the Islanders, gave up two hits and two runs in five innings and was relieved by Josh Flanders who hurled five innings of scoreless ball. Joe Keaney finished up the final two innings and took the loss.

Tony Cortez, Joel Rebello, and Bill Johnson all had two hits. M.V. is 1-13 for the year.

Nowak moves up

Mink Meadows has a new head pro, Chet Nowak, 42, who grew up in Chicopee, married and took his bride to Florida in 1980 where he was Assistant Pro, 1980-84, then Head Pro, 1984-89 at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club. He moved on to the Atlantis Golf Club in Atlantis, Florida, from '89 to '93, and then was Director of Instruction with a staff of 10 at Casa de Camp Resort, a luxury resort with three golf courses in La Romana, Dominican Republic, 1993-96.

He has been assistant Pro at Mink Meadows and was appointed Head Pro when Allan Menne moved from Mink Meadows to Willowbend this spring.

Money for MS research

If you thought there were more than usual bicycle riders on the Island Saturday, May 6, you were right. Some 700 riders were on Island riding courses of 25 to 100 miles and raising some $400,000 for Muscular Distrophy research. The M.V. Boys and Girls Club is an annual sponsor of the weekend ride and B&G staff and volunteers managed some of the water stops.

Softball shutout

Seekonk was treated to four unearned runs in the second inning and collected another four later while keeping the Vineyard (3-11) off the scoreboard despite hits by Kelly Silvia (2), Kathryn DeBettencourt, Brielle Leonard, Krista Ben David, and Erin Morris.

It was the fourth straight time that the girls failed to score. Previous scoreless games were with Old Rochester (0-19) and Apponequet (0-1). The last time the Islanders crossed the plate was Monday, May 1, while losing to Case, 1-9.

Salty flies

Sandra Demel and John Kollett of Buzzards Bay fly fishing offer instruction in saltwater fly fishing basics: Casting, knot tying, how to land and release a fish at a fly fishing seminar, Saturday, May 20, from 8:30 am to noon. Registration fee is $100, $80 for R&G Club members. Preregistration is required.

A sunset fly fishing trip is optional for an additional fee. To register or for more information, call 508-693-6338.

A red raid

The powerful Barnstable boys tennis team improved to 11-1 at the expense of their Island hosts in a rain-shortened match, Monday, 5-0. All contests were 8-game pro-sets. Tim McHugh bowed, 8-1. His brother, Andrew, moved up to second singles, lost 8-4. Tim Nivala went down, 8-3. The doubles teams both lost, 8-3.

The M.V. boys are 2-7 on the year.

HHSA stirs

The Holmes Hole Sailing Association announces the beginning of summer racing with a tune-up across the sound race, Sunday, June 18. HHSA also announces the retirement of Anne Good as secretary and treasurer after 14 years of service.

For more information, see www.HolmesHole.org.

Wildcats tamed in track & field

The Vineyard boys won their meet 92-44 against West Bridgewater on Tuesday. The girls were almost as dominant, 84-51.

In the boys event, M.V. took 37 of the 54 available points in the field events. Jim Bishop (40' 5") and Garrett Rice were first and second in the shot put.

Ry Yennie (115') and Ryan Gorman did as well in the discus. Adam Herman's third place was the best M.V. could do in the javelin.

Steve Greenberg tied a Wildcat for first in the high jump at 5' 4".

Josh Jackson won the long jump (19' 3") and Connor Rasmussen took third.

Rasmussen (38' 5") and Jackson took the gold and silver in the triple jump.

M.V. won nine of the ten races.

Jackson Parker owns the two-mile; he ran it in 10:52.7.

Josh Jackson flew over the 300-meter low hurdles in 45.2. Doug Asselin was third.

David Amabile won the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

Logan Russell (2:19.9) won the 800 and Colin Kelleywas third.

Gus Paquet-Whal (18.4) led Flanders and Jason Mello in a high hurdle sweep.

Ry Yennie was second in the 400. Parker (5:08) and Wiley were 1-3 in the mile.

The girls meet

Alice Hopkins was a double winner of the shot (29' 10") and discus (85' 4"), leading Ashley Medeiros and Emma Lee Iversen in a sweep of the shot and Rebekah Nivala and Emma Lee Iversen in a sweep of the discus.

West Bridgewater took all the points in the javelin.

Katrina Nevin cleared 4' 8" to take the high jump. Her leap of 14' 1.25" was second best in the long jump.

Alexia Schroeder (30' 10") was third best in the triple.

Morgan Ibarrondo led all racers in the 300 low (51.2") and 110 high (17.9") hurdles. Iversen was second in the lows. Loren Gibson and Ainsley Clancy were place and show in the lows. Allison Flanders has yet to be beaten in the two-mile run. She won it at West Bridgewater in 12:36; Cassaundra Gaines was third.

Sprinters Ashley Medeiros and Diana Nash were 2-3 in the 100.

Alexia Schroeder was third in the 200.

The half mile belonged to Hilary Dreyer (2:39.4). Kate Mahoney was second. Kimberley Carlomagno led Rebekah Nivala to the tape in the 400. Nica Sylvia (6:09) Cassaundra Gaines, and Rachel Fauteux were 1,2,3 in the mile. The Wildcats won the 4x100 but Flanders, Carlomagno, Dreyer, and Nivala took the 4x400 in 4:31.3.

High school sailors are second

Saturday morning , in light and variable winds, the MVRHS sailing team was upset by Portsmouth Abbey and bumped from competing for the Mark Trophy, which signifies the New England Team Racing Championship.

Sailing coach Doug Heil is nonetheless proud of his team, their accomplishments, their record of 14 wins and three losses, and their sixth place New England ranking.

Tabor's coach, Rob Hurd, is one of the experienced coaches who has been impressed with the Vineyard's competence and ability: "Your varsity team is strong!"

Coach Heil said to his sailors, "Losing the opportunity to compete for trophies is a small setback in the greater scheme of things. Sailing well, fairly, and for the love of the sport is really what matters most." He added, "I'm proud of every one of you for doing your best."

Dropped from competition, the Vineyard will still host the Mark Trophy Regatta in Vineyard Haven harbor off the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club this weekend and the Baker Trophy Regatta for the National championship the next weekend.

Seekonk conquers

The MVRHS baseball team suffered another heartbreaker, losing to Seekonk at Seekonk, 11-10, when the Warriors scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh (final) inning. Tony Cortez, Mike Cecilio, and Lucas Landers had two hits and scored.

M.V. led 9-4 after five innings and 10-7 after six. It was the Vineyard's 14th loss against one win.

Babe Ruth softball

Rain and cold weather and conflicts with the high school softball schedule have hampered the playing of Babe Ruth softball games.

Thus far, according to Coach Donald Herman, a number of Babe Ruth players have been outstanding, including Katie Hines, Gail Herman, Taylor Perrotta, Caroline Davies, Jesse Cummens, Cayla Morris, Jessica Willoughby, Emma Frizzell, Caitlin Cassiani, Jenna Pothier, Olivia Higham, Martha Scheffer, Emily Williston, Molly Ciciora, and Eva Fabre.

The Diamondbacks are yet to be beaten at 2-0. The Braves and A's are both 2-1. The Devil Rays and Yankees are winless, 0-2.

Several games have started and stopped in the third or fourth innings and will be continued.