WhS sports Roundup
Kirby, Wallace hurl Vikings to victory; Winthrop tourney-bound
The Winthrop High baseball team received stellar pitching efforts from David Kirby and Jack Wallace to earn victories over O’Bryant and Gloucester this past week.
The 7-2 triumph over O’Bryant was particularly important because it qualified the Vikings for a berth in the MIAA post-season state tournament. Kirby went the distance against the Boston school for Winthrop, fanning 14 enemy batters and yielding only four hits.
Dylan Driscoll banged out three hits, producing two RBI and scoring a run. The Vikings’ winning rally in the fifth was started with base hits from Chris Zuffante and Bobby Fisher, setting the table for Matt Feeley, who came through with a three-run triple.
“David pitched a gem,†lauded WHS head coach Frank DeMarco, “and Dylan has been hot at the plate the past three weeks, elevating his average for the season to .400.â€
After punching their ticket for a Journey to the Tourney, Winthrop blanked Gloucester, 4-0, behind a complete game shutout from Wallace, who allowed only five hits while walking three and striking out five Fishermen.
“Jack got out of a jam with a double play in the first inning and then settled in,†noted DeMarco. “He threw strikes with good command of his fastball.â€
Winthrop’s winning rally began with a base hit by Driscoll, followed by a run-scoring triple by Kirby. An infield ground ball by Wallace scored Kirby and a Zack Fisher sacrifice turned into an error, scoring another run.
Winthrop has two more games this week. They were set to host a “home†game with Saugus at Bentley College yesterday (Wednesday) and then entertain Northeast Regional today (Thursday). The Vikings will trek to Marblehead next Wednesday.
WHS softball team wins three of four
The Winthrop High softball team enjoyed an excellent week, winning three of its four contests against Northeastern Conference opponents.
In a 5-4 triumph over Danvers last Tuesday, Lady Viking starting pitcher Taylor Thomas got off to a rocky start, as Danvers tagged her for six hits and four runs in the first two innings. However, Taylor settled down nicely thereafter, tossing four-hit, shutout softball over the final five frames.
Winthrop exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second — all coming across with two outs — Â that was highlighted by a three-run homer by Gabby Kenniston over the fence in centerfield. The 5-4 score held up the rest of the way, marking only the fifth win by a Lady Viking squad over Danvers in the past 16 years.
The Lady Vikings then took a doubleheader at Gloucester Saturday, winning the opener, 4-3 in eight innings, and then cruising in the second part of the twin bill, 8-4.
Maura Lanza started the first game and went six innings, allowing just two runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Thomas finished up in the final two frames, allowing a run and three hits.
Kenniston gave the Lady Vikings a quick 1-0 lead by blasting the second pitch of the game out of the park to left-center. Gabby scored in the second frame when she singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and came home on a base hit by Lanza. After Thomas drew a walk and Ali Scarfo singled, Christine Haskell came through with another base hit to deliver Lanza for a 3-0 Winthrop lead.
Gloucester got one back in the third and another in the fifth before rallying to tie the score at 3-3 in the seventh. However, in the top of the eighth Alexis Joyce singled with one out and got to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Nicole Pucillo walked, Kenniston singled to left to send Joyce racing home for the go-ahead run.
Things got sticky for Winthrop in the bottom of the eighth. A lead-off single by Gloucester was followed by a fly ball to the dead zone between right field and second base, resulting in a collision of Lady Vikings. However, Scarfo held onto the ball for the out, though the Gloucester runner advanced to third.
Thomas then bore down, getting a pop-up to second for the second out and fanning the final Gloucester girl on a called third strike to end the contest.
The Lady Vikings wasted little time in taking control of the rematch, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Kenniston singled to lead off the contest, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and then got to third on a two-out base hit by Thomas. Scarfo kept the rally going with an RBI base hit to bring in Gabby and Haskell then popped a two-RBI double to make it 3-0.
Kenniston was back at it in the second frame with a two-out double and scored on a subsequent Gloucester error for a 4-0 Winthrop lead. The Lady Vikings added to their advantage in the third when a triple by Haskell scored Scarfo, who had reached on an error, and Jessy Martin poked a two-out, two-run single that brought in Haskell and Regina Garufo, who had walked.
Winthrop’s final tally came in the fifth when a safety squeeze by Martin scored Pucillo, who had reached on an error. Kenniston enjoyed a monster day, going 6-for-9 with a walk, two doubles, and a homer.
Thomas went six innings for the win and Lanza came on in the seventh to seal the deal.
The lone setback of the week for Winthrop was a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Peabody. Kenniston clouted a solo homer for a 1-0 Winthrop lead in the fourth, which stood until the seventh, when Peabody scored both runs with a two-out, none-on rally that was aided by two Lady Viking errors.
Thomas tossed all seven innings, allowing no earned runs and seven hits, while fanning 12 enemy batters.
“One of the keys to our recent success has been the move of Christine Haskell from first base to third,†said WHS head coach Dave Guffey. “Christine has played lights out and has changed the entire season.
“Maddie Finga’a has been out with a concussion, but hopefully will return shortly,†added the coach. “Jaida Hightower has been splitting playing time at second base and has done a fine job.â€
WHS girls lacrosse
battles fiercely in
16-15 loss to Essex
The Winthrop High girls lacrosse team engaged in a fierce battle with Essex Aggie Monday, but came out on the short end of a 16-15 decision. The contest was a tight duel all the way, with the Lady Vikings knotting the score at 15-15 on a goal with 30 seconds to play by freshman Kristina Favaloro.
However, Essex won the ensuing draw which led to a breakaway for the winning goal. Caroline McKinnon led the Winthrop attack with six goals. Flora English ripped the Essex net for four goals. Holly Benson added two goals and played a strong, all-around game.
Caitlin Page, Abby Carleton, and Favaloro chipped in a  goal apiece. Julia Duplin, Alyssa Ferarra, and Gabby Massa earned plaudits from coaches Angelina Favaloro and Andrea Martucci for their strong efforts on defense.
WHS sailors beat
Beverly, ready for
state regatta
The Winthrop High sailing team defeated Beverly last week, 3-1. Lucy Floyd and Mackenzie Chiudina won one race, while Jake and Tyler Chiudina captured two races. Michael St. Jean and Joey Bosco also sailed very strong races to help secure the win.
Although the Vikings dropped their final regatta of the season to Hull, the Winthrop sailors finished the season with a 6-4 record to qualify for the state championship regatta.
The opening round was set for yesterday (Wednesday), with the teams that move on racing in the finals today.
Boys tennis team
needs two more wins
The Winthrop High boys tennis team dropped both of its matches this past week by identical scores of 4-1 to Danvers and Gloucester. Sean Gillis, playing at third singles, was the lone victor for Winthrop in the Gloucester match and the second doubles tandem of Jake LaFratta and Pat Todisco prevailed against Danvers.
The twin defeats leave the Vikings below the .500 mark at 6-7 on the season. Coach Marie Finn’s squad will need to win two of its final three matches in order to qualify for the state tourney. Winthrop was set to face Salem yesterday (Wednesday) and Marblehead today. They will wrap up their season next Thursday against Swampscott.
Cursino wins at
first singles for
WHS girls tennis team
Victoria Cursino, playing at first singles, provided the lone point for the Winthrop High girls tennis team in a 4-1 loss to Saugus Monday on the local court.
In the other matches, Meg Dolan fell at second singles, 2-6, 3-6 and at third singles, Jackie Boulay came up short by a score of 1-6, 1-6.
In the doubles contests, the Lady Viking first doubles tandem of Juanita Saenz & Haley Holden fell 1-6, 0-6 and the second doubles duo of Brooke Bacigalupo & Shannon Mahoney dropped their match, 6-7 (6-8), 1-6.
On Friday, coach Amy Fasoli’s Lady Vikings dropped a close 3-2 contest at Gloucester. Cursino once again triumphed at first singles in a three-set duel that went to a long tiebreaker in the third set, 6-3, 0-6, 7-6 (11-9). Dolan also was a victor at second singles, defeating her Gloucester counterpart in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
Kailyn Ferrara came up short in a tough, three-set battle at third singles, 1-6, 6-4, 3-6. The duo of Boulay and Holden at first doubles also dropped a three-setter, 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 4-6. Bacigalupo and Mahoney lost in straight sets to their Gloucester counterparts at second doubles, 2-6, 3-6.
In other matches this past week, the Lady Vikings played Danvers and a doubleheader with Swampscott.
The results of those contests were as follows:
5/13: Danvers home, 0-5
1st Victoria Cursino: Â 0-6, 0-6
2nd Jackie Boulay: 3-6, 1-6
3rd Juanita Saenz: 0-6, 2-6
1st doubles- Â Jamie Gobiel & Janelle Tritto 3-6, 1-6
2nd doubles- Taylor St. Jean & Kim West 3-6, 2-6
Swampscott: doubleheader, 5/11 home 0-5, 4/8 away 0-5
1st Meg Dolan: Â 0-8, Â 0-8
2nd Juanita Saenz: Â 0-8, Â 0-8
3rd Haley Holden: Â 0-8, Â 0-8
1st doubles- Â Brooke Bacigalupo & Kailyn Ferrara: Â 3-8, Â 2-8
2nd doubles- Â Courtney McSwiney & Shannon Mahoney: 4-8, Â 3-8
WHS Sports through the years
10 years ago
May 19, 2005
Marie Trainor led the WHS softball team to a thrilling 2-1 win over Beverly with a bases-loaded, walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trainor, who had three hits on the night, delivered a towering drive over the center fielder’s head at Cellucci Field that would have been a grand slam homer except that the game was over after teammates Kristen Finn and Suzanne Martucci crossed the plate with the tying and winning runs. Finn, a freshman, turned in another outstanding effort on the pitcher’s mound, allowing just four hits and fanning six. Coach Dave Guffey’s Lady Vikings earned their 10th win to clinch a spot in the post-season state tourney. The contest at Cellucci was the first-ever night game for a WHS softball team.
The WHS girls track team fell short in its bid for an outright NEC title with a 67-55 loss to Saugus. Coach Warren MacPhail’s squad stands at 7-2 on the season. Christina Datta led Winthrop with wins in the long jump (15’-1â€) and triple jump (33’-3â€). Danielle Doherty won the 800 meter run in 2:27 and Jenna Deeb captured the 100 hurdles in 18.4. Shelagh O’Connell won the two-mile run in 13:09.
Travis Kratman won the 200 dash in 24.2 and took the long jump with a leap of 18’-4†to lead the WHS freshman-sophomore track team to a victory in the NEC Frosh-Soph Meet held at Gloucester Friday, the third straight Frosh-Soph title for coach Pat McGee’s Vikings.
WHS center fielder Paul Eruzione threw out a Saugus runner at the plate to preserve a 6-5, extra-inning victory for the WHS baseball team. Chris Dalrymple scored the game-winning run in the top of the eighth for Winthrop. Later in the week, Cory Silk tossed a four-hitter and struck out five, but the Vikings dropped a 2-0 decision to Georgetown.
20 years ago
June 1, 1995
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Coach Pat McGee’s WHS boys track team, which compiled an 8-1 record in the NEC, concluded its outstanding season by accumulating 23 points at the Class D State Meet. Todd Doherty was the top Viking scorer, taking second place in the triple jump and fourth in the 400. Robert Crowell grabbed third place in the 300 hurdles and Chris Butler finished fourth in the discus. The mile relay quartet of Mike Giuliano, Luis Bonilla, Doherty, and Crowell finished in fifth place in a season-best time of 3:34.
The 11-7 boys tennis team will open play in the state tourney with a match against Manchester-by-the Sea.
The WHS baseball team fell short in its bid to qualify for a state tourney berth by losing its final two games of the season and finishing with a record of 8-12.
30 years ago
June 5, 1985
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WHS senior Helen Balaouras won the state championship in the discus at the All-State Meet held in Gardner Saturday with a toss of 122’-4â€, thus becoming the first Winthrop female athlete to win an individual state championship in track and field.
50 years ago
June 3, 1965
Larry Bellorato and Dante Yannetti captured the recent “A†flight title of the Spring Fourball Tournament held at Winthrop Golf Club.