Sports Highlights
By Don Lyons - September 6, 2007
Field hockey
The MVRHS field hockey team, now under the direction of brand-new coach Liane Dixon, played well in its first test at Old Rochester, Tuesday, but failed to score and lost to the lady Bulldogs, 1-0.
Saturday is play day at Dennis/Yarmouth. The team is at Falmouth on Monday, and Bourne next Friday. The first home game will be Friday, Sept. 17, versus Seekonk.
Coach Dixon is a 2001 graduate of MVRHS. She attended Northeastern University in Boston on an athletic scholarship in field hockey, even attracting the notice of Sports Illustrated, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2006.
Wickets
The Edgartown Croquet Club's first singles tournament was held Labor Day weekend at the town's court, with eight players competing.
Play began in the double elimination tourney at noon, Friday. Dot Dropick defeated Ed Rose, 23-14. Edie Blake bested Joan Yale, 20-10. Gerry McCauley topped Bill Elbow, 25-12, and Norm Mulroney got by Ann Allen, 15-9.
In the second round Dot dropped Edie, and Gerry defeated Norm. Ed won his match with Bill and Joan beat Ann.
In the main draw, Gerry McCauley trounced Dot Dropick, 21-7. In the losers draw, Norm Mulroney qualified for the finals with wins over Ed, Edie and Dot.
As expected, Gerry McCauley met Norm Mulroney's challenge - but it was close: 17-15.
No more tournaments are scheduled, but Saturday morning clinics will continue for as long as weather permits, as will Tuesday lessons at 4 pm.
Darts to fly
The MV Dart League will register players for the 07-08 season on Thursday, Sept. 13, from 5:30 to 7 pm at the PA Club.
The League will begin competitive play the following Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 pm sharp.
Pie plates in the pines
Last week Frisbee golfers started from the expert tees on odd numbered holes and from intermediate tees on even numbered holes. John Tate led the Pro division, shooting par, 55. Jake Gifford was two back at 57 and Dwight Kaeka, current leader in the pro standings, shot 59.
In the 10-member Amateur One division John Vermynck carded a winning 60, with Jim Sharp and Danny Kaeka at second and third.
Rick Core led the Am2 division for the second straight week at 63, eight better than his closest challengers, Scott Fischman and Kris Gidre. Dave Heigh was third.
Bridge building
Saturday, at the Tisbury senior center, Deirdre Ling and Nancy Eppel led the Bridge Club of M.V. north-south sitting players. Gloria and Ted Manning were second and Betty Morris and Regina McDonough, third.
At east-west, Jocelyn and Duncan Walton were tops. At place and show were Carol and Larry Kurlander and Yvonne Cooper and Claudia Bowser.
Seven tables were in play.
Cheerios
One of the fall sports that gets little mention, probably because it is a non-competitive sport, without winners and losers, is cheerleading. At MVRHS cheerleading is a fall sport, associated with football but not with field hockey or soccer but sometimes with basketball, a winter sport.
Eight girls constitute the varsity squad, which is coached by Rebecca Cass. This year there is another 11-member cheerleading group, all girls, which will do their thing at Junior High football games. They are coached by Michelle Barry.
There is no doubt that cheerleaders work at their sport with the same kind of dedication as other athletes. We are glad that they are equipped with uniforms and pompoms and that their lifting and tumbling routines continue to improve. But we also think they should be equipped with megaphones. Too often their words are lost amid the general hubbub. If they are to lead the public in cheering, they should let the public know what it is supposed to shout. Printing the words of several cheers in the program might help. Wouldn't hurt!
Correction
The name of the lead junior kayak paddler in the Oar and Paddle Regatta, August 28, is Dean Fraser-Milford. Dean is a 13-year-old boy, not a girl, as was reported.
The McCarthy
hegemony
The Vineyard football field is named for the late Dan McCarthy, first football coach at MVRHS. Dan coached, among many others, his own sons. Michael and Mark. Michael played quarterback in the late 1970s. Now Michael is the guidance director at the high school and quarterbacks coach on the football team. This year, the starting quarterback is named McCarthy, Michael McCarthy. In fact, he is grandson of Dan and son of Mike. According to Coach McCarthy, when the family gathered on holidays and played touch football, the best player on the field may well have been sister Mary, now Mary MacDonald, a guidance counselor at MVRHS and until recently the girls basketball coach. She is the granddaughter of Dan, sister to Michael and Mark, aunt of current QB Mike, and mother of Kelsey, Taylor, and Kenny, athletes all. "She could catch anything," Michael McCarthy, the brother and coach, said.
Michael McCarthy the quarterback is a junior and may well fill that position next year as well.
Moffett's third decade
The 30th sailing of the George Moffett Race, the highwater mark of the Holmes Hole Sailing Assn. schedule is set for Saturday, September 8 beginning at 11 am for Division 2, 11:15 for Division 1. (Starts may be delayed by ferry traffic.)
