Sports Highlights

By Don Lyons - February 28, 2008

Squirts win 3 of 4

The M.V. Youth Hockey Squirts, coached by Bill Jacob and Josh Forend, shut out Lower Cape 3-0 at the Charles Moore Arena, Saturday, Feb. 16, on goals by Jack Sleyton, Greg McCarron, and Leo MacDonald, assisted by Anthony Jackson, Tristan Araujo and Ella Jernegan. Goalie Thalyson Ribiere applied the whitewash.

The next day the Squirts outlasted YD at the M.V. Arena, 6-5.

Greg McCarron had a hat trick. Josh Forend scored twice and Jack Sleyton once. Assist credits went to Sleyton (2), McCarron (2), Tristan Araujo (2), and Josh Forend.

The next Saturday the Vineyarders edged Nantucket, again at the Charles Moore, 3-2. Tristan Araujo started the scoring unassisted. Greg McCarron followed with two more, one with help from Josh Forend.

Also Saturday, the Islanders lost a squeaker to Barnstable at the Charles Moore, 3-4. Greg McCarron had a goal and an assist. Josh Forend scored twice. Ella Jernegan assisted.

Hockey team readies for final test

Friday's scheduled final home hockey game with Mansfield did not happen, canceled by the snowstorm. Despite the cancelation, the M.V. varsity assembled at the Arena to honor its four seniors: Joel Rebello, Mitch Pachico, Riley Dobel, and Alex Minnehan.

The MVRHS boys varsity hockey team finished its season with a 12-1-6 record. It lost only one game, fewer than any other Division 2 South team but was seeded third by the MIAA behind Coyle-Cassidy (16-2-1) and Sandwich (16-2-3).

The Vineyarders have a bye in the first round and will not begin play until the quarter finals on Saturday or Sunday, a date to be announced, versus the winner of the King Philip (13-4-3) versus Hanover (9-8-4) game, Wednesday, February 27, at the Gallo Arena.

The Islanders did not play King Philip, the sixth seed in Division 2 South, during the season. It is one of five teams from the strong Hockamock League to make the playoffs. The others are Canton, Mansfield, Franklin, and Oliver Ames, seeded 4, 5, 8, and 10, respectively.

The Vineyarders played Hanover twice and beat them both times by the same two-goal margin, here and there, 6-4 and 5-3. In each case the final M.V. goal was into an empty net.

Vineyard Ospreys

Kara Shemeth tells us that the Ospreys, a women's hockey team of Vineyarders, is entered in a three-day tournament at Norwich, Conn., March 28-30.

The Ospreys pay their own way for ice time at the Arena every Friday and have purchased uniforms. According to Kara, on alternate Fridays the Ospreys do drills to improve skills and scrimmage with some "local gentlemen."

The Osprey's range in age from 20s to 60s and come from all walks of Vineyard life, Kara says.

Four hunt for treasure

Four skaters of the Island Ice Skating School went to Bridgewater last weekend for the 7th annual Golden Blades Treasure Hunt competition. Seven-year-old Hailey Meader earned a sixth place medal in Freestyle 3 and was fifth in Artistic 3. Aaron Teves, 10, received a silver medal in Alpha Freestyle and a bronze in Alpha Stroking.

Alyssa Whitney, 9, placed third in Footwork 4 and fourth in Artistic 4. Darci Whitney, 13, silvered in Footwork 4 and was fifth in Artistic 4.

All the skaters will demonstrate their skills at 7 pm, March 21, in the first "Spring Fling" exhibition at the M.V. Arena.

Darts at mid-season

Half way through the second dart season, Wes Wood's team has overtaken Ray Blanchette's crew and taken the lead.

The standings are (1st) Wes Wood's team 33

(2nd, a tie) Charlene Alley's team and Ray Blanchette's team 29.

(4th) Arthur Ferro's team 27.

Wes Wood has won the most singles, 5, and has the most tons, 13.

Frostbiters aweigh

Although the Sail Martha's Vineyard Frostbiters fleet was frustrated by some uncooperative ice-producing weather during late January and early February, last Sunday served up some perfect conditions. The temperature climbed into the low 40s, skies were clear, and a light breeze blew from the northwest.

The shifts were a bit tricky, but the five racing skippers figured it out. Andrew Burr either won a race or came in at the back of the pack. In spite of his lack of consistency, he had more firsts than not and ended up winning the day. Conor Lodge, a member of the MVRHS sailing team, was the soul of consistency. He finished every race in the top three, and placed second for the day. Vineyard Haven's Steve Besse was on-Island for the weekend and made a cameo appearance, ending in third place for the day.

The Frostbite fleet, which sails in Dyer 9s, meets every Sunday at 9:30 am at the Sail MV boathouse at the Sailing Camp Park on the Lagoon.