Sports

By Don Lyons - May 3, 2007

Opening Day

The first pitch of the '07 Little League season was a strike. Cubs pitcher Ramon Espino fired the ball over the plate and Dodger batter Tyson Araujo squared to bunt hoping to catch the defense by surprise. But he fouled it off. Tyson eventually went down on strikes as Cubs catcher Nick Costello held on to his foul tip third strike. Bill Johnson was the umpire behind the plate calling balls and strikes and the 2007 MV Little League season was underway at Veira Park, Oak Bluffs, noontime on Saturday.

The Cubs won the ball game, 9-1, with Alec Tattersall starting and going 5 2/3 innings. Jack Roberts was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. Charlie Ashmun had the Dodgers' only hit.

At 2:30 the Tigers were home to the Red Sox. The Bengals jumped off with three runs in the bottom of the first. The Sox tied it in the top of the fourth. But the Tigers answered with four in the bottom of the inning to close the scoring, 7-3.

At 5 pm the fleet-footed Athletics had their way with the Mets, 11-3. Harry West pitched four innings and got the win. Andrew Hakala tripled for the Mets, Eli Berlow did as well for the A's.

In the Monday game at Veira, the Dodgers pushed across a run in the top of the first inning, but the Cubs responded with three, taking a lead they would not relinquish. The Cubs scored single runs in the second and third and four more in the sixth. The Dodgers had single runs in the third and seventh. Final: 8-3.

Minors in WesTiz

Saturday, at 2 pm the Twins took on the Reds at the West Tisbury school diamond after waiting patiently for the conclusion of the Under-12 travel soccer game in left field, a scoreless tie. The Twins won behind Tucker McNeely's five scoreless innings. Jack Slayton hit two homers in the 14-0 game.

Monday the Twins won again, 7-1. For five innings it was a pitchers dual with Morgan Michalski going for the Reds.

Saturday the Blue Jays topped the Orioles, 15-11. Pitcher Aksel Cooperrider and catcher Nainoa Cooperrider figured large in the win. The Devil Rays edged the Indians, 8-7. Mitchell Chaves had two hits, including a double and scored twice for the Rays. Justin Donahue reached base three times and drove in the winning run. Indians pitcher Kevin Cleary had 11 Ks in four innings. Andrew Wiley had two hits and two RBI.

The Indians evened the score on Monday, beating the Rays, 10-7. Julia Nevin reached base and scored twice.

Farm and Tee-ball Leagues

Elsewhere, Saturday, the Farm League was beginning play at Tisbury's Veterans' Memorial Park. The Brewers were home to the Astros at 12, the Phillies entertained the Royals at 2 pm, and the Rangers and Braves went at it at 4 pm.

Tee-ball teams played their games at the Tisbury school and Veterans Park. The Sidewinders vs. Greenjackets game was at the school, the Bees vs. Storm in the park - both at 2 pm. Two hours later it was the Grasshoppers vs. River Cats at the school and Blue Claws vs. Sea Dogs at the park.

The farm and tee-ball leagues are instructional leagues introducing the game to very young Islanders. Scores are not kept and the game's many rules are observed from afar.

All in all that's 317 Island youngsters with bats and balls, mitts and masks, uniforms and gloves.

Kudos for all who give their time and know-how and patience to make it all work.

Getting his kicks

The under 18 boys travel soccer team hosted a strong New Bedford squad, Saturday, at Tisbury's Veterans Park.

Ryan Dwane and Antulio Neto staked the Vineyard to a 2-0 lead at the half.

Ten minutes into the second period, Dwane posted his second goal and late in the period Ben Post added two more. MV 5, N.B. 0.

At the West Tisbury school, the under 12 boys engaged in a well-played scoreless tie with a visiting Dartmouth squad.

The under 11 Boys 1 team beat Falmouth here, 4-3. Jason Oliveira scored all four MV goals including the game winner.

The under 11 Boys 2 squad edged Sandwich, here, 2-1 on goals by Alistaire Morgan and Gabriele DeOliveira.

Bishop Connolly defrocked

Ben Rossi sprints up field chased by a Bishop Connolly defender in last Thursday's game. M.V. crushed the Cougars, 16-2.. Eleven Islanders shared in the scoring. Taylor Pierce had a hat trick.

Riley Dobel, Duncan Meyst, and Tyler Hathaway each added two.. Monday the Islanders lost to Franklin, 13-3 and followed that with a 14-3 shellacking of Bishop Stang. The Vineyard boys record is 5 wins and 7 losses. Today's game is at Dartmouth.

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