Massachusetts High School Baseball and Softball

BASEBALL / SOFTBALL HEADLINES

Dole's no-hitter lifts Notre Dame

The Notre Dame of Hingham softball team wanted a victory more than ever in Thursday's game against host Avon, as it was the last of the regular season before the state tournament. Not only did the team secure a 4-0 victory, but Cougars pitcher Hillary Dole threw a perfect no-hitter -- and she's just a freshman. It was Dole's first varsity shutout, and although she was surprised by the outcome, Cougars coach Jack Finn, was not. "She's a natural-born athlete," Finn said. "She's so dedicated, driven, and just loves the game so much." Dole has been pitching since she was 6 years old, and Finn said that when she isn't starting as pitcher, she starts as at shortstop. Dole was also a star at bat today - she went three for three also went 3 for 3 with two doubles.( 05/23/2013 11:32 PM )
Lightning strikes for Shrewsbury's John Andreoli

John Andreoli, a Florida State League all-star last season, is off to a strong start for the Daytona C Cubs this season, compiling a .295 average, a team-best 5 triples and 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts. His walk-off, game-winning base hit against Palm Beach earlier this season was accompanied by torrential rain and lightning. "The lightning just surrounded our field after my hit, they pulled out the tarp and the game was called about 40 minutes later,'' he said. His manager, Dave Keller, likes what he's seen of the former St. John's High and University of Connecticut star. "His work habits are off the chart and he plays with reckless abandon,'' said Keller.( 05/23/2013 12:00 AM )
Wayland's Will Sharton tops St. John's Prep's Chris Toner for North tennis title

Wayland's Will Sharton won the North tennis singles tournament title, Wednesday, defeating St. John's Prep's Chris Toner, 6-3, 6-1, and exacting a measure of revenge from last season first-round tournament match defeat to the Eagle. In a rematch of a 2012 first-round match in the North tennis tournament, Wayland's Will Sharton exacted some revenge yesterday. Sharton fell to St. John's Prep's Chris Toner last season but that was not the case in the 2013 final. The Wayland Warrior won the North title in two sets, defeating Toner 6-3, 6-1. Toner earned himself an early two-game cushion took the first two games from his Warrior opponent over Sharton in the first set of the match, but things quickly turned in Sharton's favor of the latter. "I wasn't playing my best at first, and Chris came out and played really well. I was just trying to get into the match and eventually I was able to start getting some points," said Sharton. After dictating the pace of the match and making his opponent run all over his side of the court, Toner's "level dropped a bit" according to Sharton.( 05/22/2013 10:08 PM )
Bruemmel, B-R blank Brockton

Bridgewater-Raynham coach John Kerney Kearney had seen strong performances from pitcher Mike Bruennel Bruemmel all season, but none compared to Monday's outing against in a 6-0 win over host Brockton. The senior lefthander limited the Boxers to one hit and struck out 10 to improve to 4-1 on the season. Bruennel's Bruemmel's fastball troubled hitters all day, and his changeup and curveball ensured that Brockton posed no threat. at any point. The Trojans broke open a scoreless game in the fifth inning, batting around en route to and scoring five runs. Junior center fielder Tyler Carey had a bunt single to load the bases to set up Tyler Glavin, who forced in a run with a walk. Brockton then got two outs before junior catcher Joe Freiday delivered a two -- run single to make it a 3-0 ball game.( 05/21/2013 12:00 AM )
Lundstrom is Dighton-Rehoboth's backbone

Nicole Lundstrom can remember playing softball as far back as she can remember. One of her earliest memories is playing catch with her older sister Jen. As the two grew, older Jen started pitching and needed someone to catch for her. From then on, she Nicole was hooked. Now a senior at Dighton-Rehoboth, High, Lundstrom has molded herself developed into one of the best catchers in Eastern Mass. "At first, catching for my sister was really scary. I never caught for someone that threw as hard as she did," said Lundstrom. "But it pushed me to be a better catcher." Like her sister Jen, who plays for Curry College, Nicole will also play at the next level. The 18-year-old Lundstrom verbally committed to play for Syracuse the August before her junior year. of high school. With her senior year soon coming to a close, Lundstrom said she's very excited about playing for the Orange. ( 05/20/2013 1:05 PM )
Medford baseball having dream season

Before this season, Up until the 2013 season, the last time that the Medford baseball team won the Greater Boston League baseball title was 2001. during President George W. Bush's first term in office. This season, The Mustangs (15-3) put an end to a 12-year drought, and coach without a GBL title. CoachMike Nestor believes that the reason his team's team has had such success is due to pitching and team chemistry. "We only graduated one starting player last year. These kids worked hard all offseason and put time and effort into it. We've got a unique blend of upper- and lowerclassmen," said Nestor. Two of the upperclassmen who that have played major roles are been a major factor for the Mustangs this year have been pitchers John Lavoie and Ryan Covelle. Lavoie owns a 4-1 record while Covelle is currently undefeated at 4-0. They have , earning a combined eight of Medford's 15 wins. this year. ( 05/20/2013 1:02 PM )
High school softball players of the week

The top softball players from Eastern Mass. in the past week. ( 05/20/2013 12:37 PM )
High school baseball players of the week

The top players from Eastern Mass. in the past week. ( 05/20/2013 12:27 PM )
Masconomet baseball ends North Reading's perfect run

BOXFORD -- The 2013 baseball season has brought North Reading coach Frank Carey's 700th career win and another postseason trip but it will not bring an undefeated season. Masconomet dashed the seventh-ranked Hornets' dreams of a perfect season Saturday, winning, 2-1. , at home. "North Reading is the class of the league. Coach Carey has done everything that every coach wants to do so it's a good win for us," said Masconomet coach T.J. Baril. The Chieftains (13-5) were anchored by starting pitcher Speros Varinos, in this one, who allowed just one Hornet hit. all game. The team captain threw a complete game, with nine strikeouts and gave up five walks. "Speros really put us on his back out there and we made some nice defensive plays," said Baril. ( 05/19/2013 3:24 AM )
Duxbury rebounds from tough lacrosse loss with victory over St. John's Prep

After the sobering loss to Needham Monday, Duxbury's first loss to an in-state team since 2010, the top-ranked Green Dragons were faced with a little bit more adversity Saturday, playing without their head coach, Chris Sweet, on the sideline for the first time in 15 years. And still,But it was all business as usual. While coach Sweet attended his son's college graduation, his first absence from Lacrosse lacrosse action at Duxbury for the first time in his tenure, the Green Dragons were able to pull though and reeled in a convincing, 7-1, win over No. 4 St. John's Prep. And although coach Sweet wasn't there in person to see his team rebound and reclaim their confidence, he was following the game updates on twitter every step of the way. "I wasn't there to see it, but it was a big win for us," he saidsaid Sweet, who followed the game updates on Twitter. "We want to be playing well going into the postseason.'' ( 05/19/2013 3:23 AM )
GlobeNorth: Players of the Week, Top 10 baseball and softball teams

Pat Bradley's Players of the Week, Top 10 baseball and softball teams, and a Game to Watch this week from high school programs north of Boston. ( 05/19/2013 3:13 AM )
Galen Kerr seizing the moment as senior ace at Concord-Carlisle

CONCORD -- Everyone who knows Galen Kerr has noticed that a weight has been lifted. Out in the circle, as she mows down opposing hitters, she smiles more than ever. A year ago, Kerr told herself that she needed to do it all for Concord-Carlisle Regional to find success. After a few wayward pitches or a bad call, that burdensome approach caused the soft-spoken righty to show her frustration in her body language. Now, with a more laid-back approach, she has been close to untouchable. She has an earned run average of 0.94 and her WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) is a minuscule 0.88. She strikes out an average of 10 hitters every game, and has helped pushed the Patriots (13-0) to their ninth straight Dual County League title. ( 05/19/2013 3:12 AM )
Plymouth North baseball making another winning pitch

PLYMOUTH -- A few games into their final season on the diamond at Plymouth North, David Murphy and Ryan Moskos, a pair of senior captains, were not satisfied with the Eagles' start. North won its first four games over the course of a week, but the offense, renowned for outslugging foes in the past under 19-year coach Dwayne Follette, was not overpowering. And the pitching, a huge question mark coming into the season, was a more pleasant surprise, allowing just five runs in four games. The Eagles have found different ways to win. With a 5-2 victory over Plymouth South Wednesday afternoon, North (12-4) clinched at least a share of another Atlantic Coast League crown. Moskos, Murphy (.408 average), and Jake Prifti spearhead a small ball attack, while the pitching has been outstanding. ( 05/19/2013 3:12 AM )
St. John's Prep baseball rips off 16 straight wins after season-opening defeat

DANVERS -- The loss, a 7-4 quarterfinal defeat to Newton North, the 22nd seed in the Division 1 North tournament, resonated all summer with every player at St. John's Prep. When they reunited in August, in the hallways and the weight room at St. John's Prep, the players focused on one game: an opening day matchup against Catholic Conference rival, and defending Division 1 state champion, Xaverian Brothers. When the opener finally arrived, the sizzle turned to fizzle, particularly for the 13 Prep seniors, in a 6-5 loss. Since that humbling opener, the Eagles have not endured that feeling again, ripping off 16 straight wins (through Wednesday's 13-0 mercy-rule victory over visiting Everett), including a 7-3 triumph at Xaverian. ( 05/19/2013 3:11 AM )
GlobeSouth: Players of the Week, Top 10 baseball and softball teams

Tim Healey's Players of the Week, Top 10 baseball and softball teams, and a Game to Watch this week from high school programs south of Boston. ( 05/19/2013 2:17 AM )
GlobeWest: Players of the Week, Top 10 baseball and softball teams

Phil Perry's Players of the Week, Top 10 baseball and softball teams, and a Game to Watch from high school programs west of Boston.( 05/19/2013 12:00 AM )
Braintree squeezes win out of Weymouth

When Braintree, the 13th-ranked baseball team, allowed Weymouth to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, the Wamps didn't give in. And in the tightest spot of the game -- the top of the 13th inning -- Wamps coach Bill O'Connell had just the right player stride up to the plate. Sophomore Connor Columbus executed a "perfect" suicide squeeze, bunting the ball softly down the first-base line. Senior Alex Alexander, who led off the inning with a single before stealing second and reaching third on an error, scored the go-ahead run as the Wamps collected a 5-2 win at Weymouth.( 05/17/2013 9:51 PM )
No. 12 Silver Lake shuts down Pembroke, claims Patriot League title

Heading into Tuesday's matchup against Pembroke, Lakers senior ace Mike Lundin had a flawless 6-0 record and 0.00 ERA for No. 12 Silver Lake. He had pitched 38 innings and struck out 51 of the batters he faced. Confidence was certainly not lacking for the Lakers baseball team, which clinched its first outright Patriot League title in school history with a 5-1 win over the Titans. Silver Lake (15-2) controlled its own destiny, but also had to hope for a Hingham loss to clinch sole possession of the title. On the bus ride home, Lakers coach Kenny Tocci informed his team that the Green Dragons had defeated the Harbormen, 4-2, and the Lakers erupted in celebration.( 05/14/2013 10:24 PM )
Needham stuns No. 1 Duxbury in boys' lacrosse

It was the Panepinto show on Monday in Duxbury as brothers Mike and Nico Panepinto scored all six goals as No. 5 Needham upset the first-ranked top-ranked Green Dragons, 6-4. It was the first loss for Duxbury (13-5) to a Massachusetts team since the Green Dragons fell to St. John's Prep in the 2010 MIAA Division 1 state final. The game was a rematch of last year's state fina,l in which Duxbury beat Needham,won, 10-8. In the first matchup of the teams since, the Rockets (14-2) overcame an early 3-0 deficit to snap Duxbury's streak.in-state dominance. "For us it was a milestone win," said Needham coach Dave Wainwright. "For us to do go down on their field, on their senior night and win, means a lot to us."( 05/14/2013 12:00 AM )
Extra work has paid off for Sandwich softball pitcher Julia Sullivan

Julia Sullivan had never played travel softball until last summer. The senior lefthanded pitcher grew up playing town softball in Sandwich and decided to join the Bay State Thunder to take her game to the next level. In addition to a challenging summer schedule, Sullivan also worked out with her teammates during the offseason to push herself. Her offseason efforts have certainly paid off this year, as Sullivan has guided No. 4 Sandwich to a perfect 13-0 start while throwing four no-hitters and seven shutouts. Her latest no-no came against Atlantic Coast League rival Dennis-Yarmouth last Monday, when Blue Knights routed the Dolphins, 14-0. "Julia's such a hard worker," said coach Jean Russell. "She's very rarely satisfied with her performance. She's perfectionist." ( 05/13/2013 9:32 AM )