Sports
By Don Lyons - September 28, 2006
David Amabile cuts back against the grain on his way to the third of his touchdowns, Saturday. Photos by Ralph Stewart
Gridders roll on, rout Cathedral
Saturday's football game with Cathedral of Boston was a mismatch. The Vineyard rolled to a rain-soaked 42-6 win, their third of the season without a loss.
Cathedral's weakness was not its size or heft. They were big enough. But they were not quick enough and they lacked the toughness of a well conditioned team.
In the final analysist, Cathedral was outcoached. David Amabile scored the Purple's first two touchdowns, one from the one-yard line, the other from 35 yards out. In the second quarter he would add another TD with a 25-yard scamper.
Vineyard QB Cliff Ibarrondo scored on a keeper and passed to Tyler Hathaway for
a TD and a two- point conversion.
Also running for six points were Cliff Ibarrondo, Josh Paulson, and Tyler Hathaway. Hathaway also caught an Ibarrondo pass for six points.
The Vineyard ground game amassed 236 yards. Coach Herman substituted freely in the second half, giving his reserves valuable time on the field. Zach Coutinho's educated toe contributed four points kicking PATs.
The Panthers pushed into the end zone late in the fourth quarter avoiding a shutout.
The Vineyard's next three games are away, beginning with Pembroke, Saturday at 1 pm.
The games are being televised and may be seen live on MVTV channel 14 with description and colorful comment by Ken Goldberg and Norman Vunk.
Jorge Toranzo heads for home with the winning run, much to the delight of his teammates.
Edgartown wins softball thriller
By Ralph Stewart - September 28, 2006
The restaurant staffs from Edgartown and Oak Bluffs closed out the summer and kicked off the fall with the 5th annual Service Industry Softball Showdown, played on neutral turf Monday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Field in Vineyard Haven.
In the previous four years, the markedly informal event was an intra-Oak Bluffs affair between bars and restaurants located on Circuit Avenue and those situated near Oak Bluffs harbor.
The squads took to the field under sparkling blue skies, sporting their customary homemade T-shirts embellished with a host of inventive and invective remarks aimed to stoke the competitive fires.
The first OB-Edgartown encounter proved to be a 15-14 classic, won on Jeff Mercier's walk-off triple in the bottom of the ninth inning. OB valiantly erased a 14-8 deficit with six in the top half of the inning to set up the dramatic finish. Enter Mercier, who drilled a line drive down the right field line, sending Jorge Toranzo chugging for home past a gauntlet of cheering teammates.
Still in fine spirits, the teams lined up, shook hands, and kept the good vibes flowing with a game of sandlot kickball.
This year's showdown may hold the distinction of being the first softball game to use visual evidence to review an umpiring decision. A close call at first base in the eighth inning was challenged and upheld when the photographer on duty showed that the fielder's foot was well off the bag.
Antulio Neto corrals the ball at midfield under the discerning gaze of Ben Post.
Soccer success
The MVRHS boys soccer team continued its unbeaten string, adding three more wins to its cache: Seekonk, Wareham, and Dighton Rehoboth. Playing at home last Wednesday, Hammond's Hunks trounced Seekonk, scoring four goals before the Warriors found the net late in the second half. Antulio Neto opened the bidding, assisted by Jeff Taylor, with three minutes left in the first half. In the second frame Ben Post converted a pass from Davey Campbell, and Neto's second goal made it 3-0. The final purple point was J.P. Oliviera's contribution.
Billy Reagan and Zach Sylvia played key roles for the home team.
Friday, the Vineyarders lowered the boom on Wareham on the Vikings own turf, 11-0. Neto and Campbell both had hat tricks. Nico Cuba scored twice. Josh Jackson, J.P. Oliviera, and Gonzola Zelaya also scored.
Ben Madeiras and Nico Cuba shared credit for the shutout but truth to tell, Coach Hammond could not recall either goalie making a save.
The coach stopped the scoring in the second half in no uncertain terms. On one occasion, with the ball rolling into the net an Islander booted it away, preventing a 12th goal.
Monday, Dighton Rehoboth came to town and left on the short end of a 2-0 score. Davey Campbell drove the ball into the net on a direct kick with six minutes left in the first half after the Falcon goalie left the penalty area with the ball0..
At 23:36 in the second period, Neto slipped the ball just inside the starboard upright, assisted by Campbell. Midfielder Ben Post and fullbacks Zach Sylvia and Adam Herman were lauded by their coach for strong play. Keeper Nico Cuba stopped everything that got by the defenders.
Yesterday, at home, the team put its 7-0-1 record on the line against Bourne.
Jayvees keep pace
The MV junior varsity has kept pace with the varsity and faced Bourne yesterday with a record unstained by loss.
Monday they trailed 3-1 in the second half. Alex Poole scored in the first half. Then he assisted on the second half goals. Andy Jahnes, Jess Swaringen, and Jock Cooperrider scored to power the come-from-behind victory.
Girls teams improve
Last Wednesday the MV girls soccer team blanked Seekonk, 3-0, on goals by Alaina Aristide, Brittany Stone, and Christina Wiley. Rachel Schubert assisted on all three scores. It was keeper Julie Perry's second straight shutout. Kelly Silvia played her usual strong game on defense.
Friday the girls sank the Wareham Vikings' longboat, here, 6-0. Alexia Schroeder led the charge with three goals. Alice Hopkins earned credit for three assists. Nica Sylvia scored the final Vineyard goal
Monday the girls were trounced at North Dighton, 8-1.
Dighton-Rehoboth's Tiffany Pacheco was unstoppable; she scored five times. The Vineyard's goal was by Alaina Aristide from Rachel Schubert. The loss dropped the Islanders to 4-4.
The MV girls junior varsity has yet to post a win but has come close. Their first two games, versus Apponequet and Fairhaven were lost 1-0. Old Rochester won their third, 2-0. Meagan Gouldrup scored the Vineyard's first goal of the season against Seekonk but the lady Warriors won, 2-1.
The Islanders came close in the Sacred Heart game, leading 2-1 with six minutes left on the clock. MV goals were by Lydia Fischer and Taylor Hughes assisted by Erin Morris. But the Saints scored two late goals to claim the 3-2 win.
Dighton Rehoboth was too strong, claiming a 7-0 win.
Yesterday, the JV girls were at Bourne.
