Sports 05-14-2015

WhS sports Roundup

WHS boys tennis  team needs two wins to qualify for tourney

The Winthrop High boys tennis team won two of its three matches this past week to improve to 6-5 and move within range of qualifying for a berth in the post-season state tournament. With five matches left on their schedule, coach Marie Finn’s crew needs two victories in order to attain the .500 record that is required for entry into the post-season.

The Vikings’ first victory of the week was a 4-1 triumph over Revere last Wednesday. Noah Hodgkins led off for Winthrop with a 6-2, 6-2 win in straight sets over his Revere counterpart at first singles. Sean Gillis was a winner in a three-set match at third singles in which the final set consisted solely of a first-to-seven-points tiebreaker because of impending darkness, 3-6, 6-1, (7-3). In the other singles match of the day, Mike Norris lost at second singles, 0-6, 2-6.

Both of Winthrop’s doubles tandems won easy victories in straight sets, those being the duo of Robbie Miles and Matt Sennott at first doubles, 6-1, 6-1, and the combo of Jake LaFratta and Pat Todisco at second doubles, 6-2, 6-0.

In a close 3-2 victory over Lynn English this week, Hodgkins won his first singles match, 6-2, 6-0. Both doubles teams also were victors, with Miles & Sennott winning 6-4, 6-0 and LaFratta and eighth grader Corey Cherico triumphing 6-2, 6-0.

Sandwiched between the twin wins was a 4-1 loss to Malden Catholic last Thursday. The second doubles tandem of LaFratta & Todisco were the lone victors for Winthrop, 6-3, 6-2.

“This was our fourth match in four days and our legs just were not there,” said Finn, whose squad had defeated Malden Catholic the previous week, 3-2.

The play of the Vikings’ second doubles teams (typically the duo of LaFratta and Todisco)  has been a consistent strength for Winthrop this season, accumulating a 10-1 record in Winthrop’s 11 matches.

The Vikings embarked on their quest for a Journey to the Tourney starting yesterday (Wednesday) at Danvers. They host Gloucester today, Swampscott Tuesday, Salem Wednesday, and Marblehead next Thursday.

WHS baseball team defeats Everett in extra innings, 8-7

The Winthrop High baseball team received a strong, eight-inning performance from David Kirby on the mound, and teammate Mike Rich went 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, to lead the Vikings to an 8-7 triumph at Everett last Thursday. Zack Fisher also had a nice day at the plate with a double and a single for two RBI.

Winthrop jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings, only to see Everett battle back to knot matters at 6-6 after five frames. The teams traded runs in the sixth and seventh stanzas to send the game into extra innings.

The decisive blow came in the top of the eighth from Bobby Fisher, who belted a triple that sent Chris Zufante, who had singled, racing home.

Earlier in the week Winthrop came out on the short end of a 12-3 decision with Marblehead. The contest was a competitive one through the first four innings, with Viking starter Zufante throwing well on the mound before Marblehead forged ahead.

“Chris battled hard, but had trouble with his command,” noted WHS head coach Frank DeMarco. Sean MacDonald had an RBI for the Vikings.

In a 7-0 loss to Swampscott this past Monday, Viking Jack Wallace pitched the first five frames, giving up four runs while striking out seven. Jack also had two hits and a hard line-drive out. Mike Rich had two hits for Winthrop.

Gavin Sulllivan, son of Winthrop High great Chuck Sullivan (who played on a WHS state championship baseball team and a Viking football Super Bowl champion team, and then played hockey at Boston University) tossed the shutout for Swampscott.

Lady Vikings knock off Swampscott, 3-2

The Winthrop High softball team snapped a losing streak and bounced back into the victory column with a well-played 3-2 victory over Swampscott in 10 innings Monday.

“We finally played to the level expected of a Winthrop High team,” said WHS head coach Dave Guffey of the triumph over a Big Blue squad that was in first place in the South Division of the Northeastern Conference entering the contest and which had knocked off Revere, which is ranked in the top 10 in the state, 10 days previously.

After a scoreless first three frames, Swampscott drew first blood with a run in the fourth inning. A base hit, a walk, and a bunt single loaded the bases for the Big Blue. A hit-batter forced in the tally.

The Lady Vikings grabbed the lead in the sixth with a two-run rally. One-out base hits by Maura Lanza and Taylor Thomas set the table for Ali Scarfo, who, laced a triple to bring home both teammates. However, Ali expired at third base to leave matters at 2-1. Swampscott notched the equalizer in the seventh on a bunt and two base hits to send the contest into extra innings.

Winthrop threatened in the top of the eighth when Gabby Kenniston led off with a hit, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and advanced to third on a hit by Lanza. However, the Lady Vikings could not push across the go-ahead tally as the next two Winthrop hitters struck out and popped up.

The Lady Vikings finally broke through in the 10th when Kenniston reached on an error by the Swampscott shortstop, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and then scooted home on a base hit by Lanza.

In the meantime, Guffey had brought in Lanza in relief of Thomas, who had pitched admirably through the first seven frames, to start the eighth. Maura blazed through the Swampscott lineup, not allowing a hit in her three innings of work, and ending the game with a flourish with three strikeouts to earn the victory (which was highly-appropriate in view of Maura having knocked in the winning run).

The Lady Vikings last week dropped a pair of contests to Marblehead, 14-2, and to Saugus, 6-0. Kenniston was the top offensive threat for Winthrop with a home run in the Marblehead encounter and three hits against Saugus. Thomas had a single and scored a run in the Marblehead tilt and doubled in the Saugus game. Jaida Hightower and Alexis Joyce also had base hits in the Saugus match.

“We did not play well in the field against Marblehead,” said Guffey, noting that of the 14 Marblehead tallies, only seven were earned. “However, against Saugus we made only one error, which was a major improvement in our play.”

With the season having rounded the halfway mark, the leading hitters for Winthrop are: Gabby Kenniston with a .472 average (17-36) with 12 singles, one double, one triple, three HR, and seven RBI: Taylor Thomas with a .353 average (12-34) with seven  singles, four doubles, one HR, and five RBI; and

Ali Scarfo with a .345 avg. (10-30) with nine singles, one triple, and five RBI.

In the pitching department, Maura Lanza has tossed 55 innings with 68 strikeouts, 14 walks, and an ERA of 3.14. Taylor Thomas has pitched 22 innings with 28 strikeouts, eight bases-on-balls, and an ERA of 7.64.

Guffey and his crew sere set to face Danvers this Tuesday and then travel to Peabody Friday. They will make the long trek to Gloucester Saturday (which is a lot better than doing so during the week at rush hour) for a morning doubleheader starting at 10:00.

Girls tennis team

nets win over Revere

The Winthrop High girls tennis team picked up its second win in as many weeks with a 3-2 triumph over Revere last Wednesday on the WHS courts.

Lady Viking Meg Dolan, playing at first singles, defeated her Revere counterpart in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Juanita Saenz played well at second singles, but came up short, 4-6, 4-6. Haley Holden also battled hard in the third singles slot, but dropped a three-set match, 7-5, 2-6, 3-6

That left the match to be decided by the doubles teams and both Winthrop tandems defeated their Revere opponents in straight sets to claim the match for Winthrop. The duo of Jamie Gobiel & Brooke Bacigalupo prevailed at first doubles, 6-2, 6-3, and the twosome of Courtney McSwiney & Shannon Mahoney triumphed handily at second doubles, 6-0, 6-1.

The day before, the Lady Vikings dropped their match with Saugus by the narrow margin of 3-2.  Dolan was a winner at first singles in a tough three-setter, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Holden also won in a hard-fought battle with her Saugus foe at third singles, 7-6 (9-7), 6-3. Saenz fell at second singles, 0-6, 5-7. Kailyn Ferrara & Bacigalupo lost their first doubles match, 1-6, 0-6, and McSwiney & Gobiel lost at second doubles, 3-6, 0-6.

Lady Vikings perform

well in Saugus meet

Although the Winthrop High girls track team lost its contest with Saugus Monday, a large number of Lady Vikings turned in outstanding individual performances. “We had another meet of many first-place finishes and personal records (PRs), but fell short in the overall point column because we can’t fill all the spots in the number of events.” said WHS head coach Warren MacPhail.

Sophomore sensation Christa Vaccaro tallied 11 points for Winthrop with first place finishes in the long jump with a leap of 13’-7” and 400 hurdles in 76.0 and a third place effort in the 200 dash in 28.9.

Other Lady Vikings who captured first place in their specialties were Carly O’Keefe in the 100 high hurdles in a clocking of 17.2; Olivia Rago with a PR time of 3:06 in the 800; Kristen Ford with a PR of 14:03 in the two-mile run; and Heidy Benson in the 400 dash with a PR of 62.9.

Second-place finishers for the Lady Vikings were: Nina Leone in the two mile run in 14:33, which was a PR for Nina; Shanel Turransky in the high jump with a leap of 4’-6”; and Abbey Love in the mile in a PR time for Abby of 6:33.

Adding single points to the Winthrop side of the scoresheet with third place performances were Jillian Kfoury in the 200 in a PR time of 31.9 and Gabby Hinchion with a PR shot-put throw of 22’-7”.

Also turning in fine efforts in the 100 dash with PR clockings were Kim McDuffee (14.4) and Elizabeth McDuffee (15.4).

The recipients of the Milano Award for top efforts for Winthrop were Kristen Ford and Nina Leone.

Coach Warren MacPhail and his Lady Vikings’ next meet is set for Tuesday, May 19, with a tri-meet against Lynn Classical and Danvers at the Lynn field.

WHS boys lacrosse

team defeats Dedham

The Winthrop High boys lacrosse team split its contests the past week, falling to Revere, 6-4, but defeating Dedham, 10-7.

Jonathan Griffiths led the way offensively in the Dedham triumph, notching six goals. Dan Brogan was credited with six assists. Devin Racow and Dan Sennott combined in goal to make 14 saves in the victory.

WHS sailing team beats

Swampscott, Pingree

The Winthrop high sailing team enjoyed  successful week with victories over Swampcott and the Pingree School this past week.

In Monday’s 5-0 triumph over Swampscott, the duo of Jake and Tyler Chiudina won two races, as did Mackenzie Chiudina and Lucy Floyd. Michael St Jean won the other race for Winthrop.

“We did some great sailing against Swampscott,” noted WHS coach Joe Zambella.

The Viking sailors defeated the Pingree School 4-1 Friday. Lucy Floyd and Mackenzie Chiudina won two races, Jake and Tyler Chiudina won one, and  Michael St. Jean and Mia Simonetti sailed very consistently to help seal the victory.

Last Thursday Winthrop was set to compete against what turned out to be a very green East Boston team. After the first race it was evident that this would not be a competitive event, which prompted Zambella to ask the East Boston coach if she would like to mix up the teams so as to have some of the Vikings sail with her team members. The Eastie coach was enthusiastic about the suggestion and when Zambella asked his team whether they would like to help out the EB team, the Vikings embraced the idea.

“Without hesitation they all agreed and willingly jumped into the other boats and raced the last three races with the East Boston team,” said Zambella. “This was sportsmanship to the ‘nth’ degree. In fact, in the last race Lucy Floyd guided the Eastie skipper to their first win in any race this season.

“Kudos to this great bunch of young men and women,” added Zambella. “I was, and am, very proud of them.”

WHS Sports through the years

10 years ago

May 12, 2005

Jen Ryan slugged a monstrous home run to pace the WHS softball team to a 16-3 win over Mt. St. Joseph Academy. Stephanie Mussen enjoyed a huge day with a  triple double, two singles, and four runs scored. freshman Nicole Giaquinto had three hits and Marie Trainor socked a double and a triple for three RBI. However, the Lady Vikings then dropped a 10-0 decision to Danvers.

The WHS baseball team, which holds a 3-3 record against its Division 3 opponents, will be shooting to qualify for a state tourney berth when the Vikings face Georgetown, another D-3 opponent, this week. In a 6-5 loss to Swamspcott, Paul Eruzione and James Fucillo each had a hit and two RBI. Rob Trainor had two hits. Winthrop then dropped a 10-2 decision to Danvers.

The WHS girls track team defeated Marblehread, 69-58, and Gloucester, 91-33, to set up a showdown for first place with Saugus this week. Christina Datta paced the Lady Vikings to the win over Marblehead, the six-time defending NEC champion, with victories in the triple jump (33-8), long jump (15-5), and 100 dash (13.6). Tiffany Skinner was a winner in the 200 dash in 29.1.

20 years ago

May 25, 1995

WHS softball coach Ron Spinney recorded his 200th career victory thanks to the Lady Vikings’ 11-8 win over Swampscott. Kelly Kneeland and Kim Lepke delivered RBI base hits in the first inning to lead the way for Winthrop.

The boys tennis team prepped for the state tournament with a 4-1 win over Salem after dropping a 5-0 decision to Swampscott. Kim Milligan and Neil Arbuthnot won their singles matches in the Salem match.

The WHS boys track team continued its proud tradition of the past 15 years by finishing the season with a 99-27 win over Saugus to conclude the season with an 8-1 record. Coach Pat McGee’s boys track teams have compiled an incredible record of 122-12 since 1981.

30 years ago

May 29, 1985

Franci Dolan set a new WHS record in the long jump with a leap of 17’-1” to lead the Lady Viking track team to the championship at the Northeastern Conference all-league meet. The Winthrop girls amassed 105 points, well ahead of second-place Beverly with 83 points. Helen Balaouras won the NEC discus crown and Michelle Norris captured the shot-put. Balaouras then went on to win the Class D state title in the discus with a toss of 118’-1”, which is a new Class D record. Balaouras then teamed up with fellow Lady Vikings Dolan, Diane Gallo, and Kim Krovitz to capture the Class D title in the  4 x 110 relay.

Winthrop’s Junior Van Buskirk was the top finisher for the WHS boys track team at the Class D state relays with a third place performance in the 400 meter dash.

The WHS softball team saw its bid for a third straight NEC title fall short with a 4-2 loss to Marblehead in extra innings. Coach Ron Spinney’s squad ended the year with a 12-6 mark in the NEC, one game behind league champ Beverly. Winthrop had started the season with a 5-5 record.

40 years ago

May 28, 1975

The WHS track team recorded impressive wins over Salem and Lynn English this past week. Rich Griffin set a new WHS record in the two mile run with a time of 10:05.4, breaking Paul Caruccio’s mark set in 1972. Coach Rippie Dyer’s squad now has its sights set on an NEC title.

The lone bright spots for the WHS baseball team, which dropped all three of its contests this week, were a 3-for-3 effort at the plate by Ricky Lessard and a home run by Alan Letterman in an 11-1 loss to Gloucester.

50 years ago

May 27, 1965

Co-captain Fred Sablone turned in an impressive outing on the mound to earn the victory for the WHS baseball team in a 6-1 win over Newburyport. Charlie McDermott had three hits for Winthrop. In a 3-2 win over Woburn, Bobby Kneeland was the pitching star and picked up the victory. Winthrop, now 8-5 on the year, meets Danvers this week at Ingleside Park with second place in the NEC on the line.

The annual Awards Night for WHS athletes sponsored by the Mothers Club once again was a huge success.

Dick Stolzberg, Bucky Donahue, Richie Monteleone, and Dick Belcher led the WHS golf team to a 4-3 win over Andover.

The WHS track team scored just six points at the NEC all-league meet, with Rippie Dyer in the broad jump and Steve Lorance in the shot-put the lone scorers for Winthrop.

The WHS tennis team won two of its three matches this past week.

60 years ago

May 26, 1955

Bobby Usseglio pitched all 15 innings for the WHS baseball team, but absorbed a heartbreaking 7-6 loss to Woburn. Dick Morgan, Don Swansburg, Jim Silva, and Bill Cole all had two hits apiece for Winthrop.

Coach Wallace McLean’s WHS track team will be shooting for an NEC title this week at the St. John’s Prep field in Danvers. Winthrop has won the NEC crown in four of the past six years. Winthrop trounced Swampscott and Marblehead this past week in a tri-meet, 62 to 32 to 3.

70 years ago

May 24, 1945

Ted Carver fanned 12 Amesbury batters to lead the WHS baseball team to a 7-2 win over Amesbury. Alfred “Buddy” Johnson had four hits and Milton Neal had three hits to pace the WHS offense. Winthrop now moves into first place in the NEC with a 3-1 record.

100 years ago

May 29, 1915

The Winthrop High baseball team defeated Rockland, 10-5. French and Wilson did some fine stick work at the plate for Winthrop.