Sports 09-07-2017

WHS sports roundup

WHS boys soccer ready for 2017 season

 

The Winthrop High boys soccer team will open its 2017 season Monday when Coach Kyle Gagin and his crew travel to Everett, which is one of the four schools from the Greater Boston League that have joined the Northeastern Conference this fall season.

“So far I’ve liked the way the team has looked,” said Gagin. “We have 38 players on the team, including 16 freshmen and only four seniors, so we are very inexperienced. “

The 2017 edition of the Vikings will be led by a trio of captains, senior Steve Tracy and juniors Tony Nargi and Asa Baurle. The team also will feature a pair of international students from Brazil.

In a scrimmage with Falmouth last week, Winthrop came out on the short end of a 2-1 decision.  Jaylin Cordes scored the Vikings’ goal.

“We started off slowly, then picked things up and looked pretty good towards the end of the scrimmage,” noted Gagin.

“Junior Corey Cherico has won the starting goalkeeper position,” said Gagin, “but we still are working to tweak things for the rest of the starting lineup. Other guys who have stood out are juniors Olsi Cahani and Jaylin Cordes as strikers. Sophomore Kevin Dorr has impressed as well.

“Another key player for this year’s team is freshman Gabe Pardinho, who just recently moved here from Brazil,” continued Gagin. “I’m expecting to see sophomore Abdul Hamada get decent minutes, as well as hoping to get freshman John Langone into some games.”

The GBL and NEC merger has resulted in a challenging schedule for Winthrop against strong Division 1 programs in Somerville, Medford, Everett, and Malden.

Gagin and his crew open their season at Everett on Monday and then will host Malden on Wednesday and trek to Salem next Friday.

Other NEC teams on the WHS schedule include Gloucester, Lynn English,  and Lynn Classical.  The Vikings also will play Saugus, which has shifted to an independent schedule.

Winthrop’s qualifiers for the post-season state tournament will be with New Mission and Stoneham. All games we be played on a home-and-away basis.

“The boys soccer program played only a junior varsity schedule four seasons ago, but ever since then we have been able to field both varsity and JV teams,” said Gagin. “This most likely will be a rebuilding season, but we are looking to make the playoffs and surprise a few teams. The future is definitely looking bright.”

 

WHS fall sports season moves into high gear

 

The WHS fall sports season swings into high gear this week and next.

The boys and girls cross country teams, under the direction of veteran coach Warren MacPhail, hosted Marblehead this past Tuesday and will entertain Danvers Monday. They will trek to Swampscott next Thursday.

The WHS golfers, under new head coach John Cross, play at Lynn English today (Thursday). They will host Revere on Monday and then play at St. Mary’s on Tuesday and at Salem next Thursday.

Coach Tracey Martucci’s girls soccer team will host Revere in their season opener Monday. They will travel to Salem on Wednesday.

The Lady Viking volleyball team, coached once again by Christy Scott, opens tomorrow (Friday) at home against Swampscott. They will entertain Everett Tuesday and play at Malden next Friday.

 

From the Press Box

The Onion Towners

By: Jim Lederman

The 1959 Winthrop-Danvers Thanksgiving game between Danvers and Winthrop was played at Holten Athletic Field in Danvers. Two teams that changed their nicknames in the 60s. The WHS Blue Devils and the Danvers “Onion Towners.”

The old football field is now TWI Field – home of the Danvers baseball team. Holten high school (Danvers High) moved to the other side of Danvers.

The final score Winthrop 22 – Danvers 16.

I played for WHS in that game. There were 5,000 fans on the holiday. Winthrop ended their Thanksgiving game with Danvers and resumed the rivalry with Revere. Who can forget the 1964 battle of the undefeated?

The Vikings were the new name of Winthrop high teams and Danvers became “Falcons.” Friday night (u p.m. the Winthrop – Danvers rivalry continues. The 2017 Vikings open their season at the magnificent Dr. Deering Stadium. The Falcons dedicated their new stadium with a (27-7) victory over the Vikings. The Falcons finished with as (9-3) record, their best record in school history.

Coach Sean Driscoll begins his 11th year as head coach of the Vikings. “We are young (only seven seniors) but we are improving every day. We had an excellent camp and have a very positive attitude,” said Sean. The Viking’s opening lineup starts with the line.

Junior Mike McCone is the center. Calvin Tufa (senior) is the left guard. “He should be all NEC this season,” said coach Driscoll; he was an all-star in 2016. The right guard is senior A.JU. Massa. “He was converted from a back and has been a standout in pre-season, “said coach Driscoll.

The tackles are senior Christian Lyons and sophomore Pat Texiera. The tight end is sophomore Bret Sheehan. The wide receiver junior Matt Love.

The quarterback is senior Jake Adamson. “He has had a great camp,” lauded coach Driscoll. The halfbacks are Jaidon Brown and Tyler Chiudina. Freshman Bobby Hubert and Chris Ferrara will see plenty of action. Feedle Small, a junior is the fullback. The defense has Texeira at nose guard. The ends have Tufa and Lyons. Sheehan is the middle linebacker, Tyler Chiudina, AJ Massa, Small and AJ Massa are on the outside.

The corner backs are Jaidon Brown, Matt Love and Jake Adamson.

Mat Love will handle the punts and Calvin Tufa will be the place kicker and field goal standout.

Brian Hovermale, Tyler Rockefeller and Austin Daigneault are three very promising freshman.

“We have 18 freshman on the team,” said coach Driscoll. “We will have a sub-varsity team (sophomores and freshman).” “We will play on Thursdays and Saturday mornings said Sean.

 

 

Extra Points

Danvers has captured only one NEC football title (2004), the nine victories is the best record by a Danvers football team. Winthrop has won 11 NEC football titles and three super bowl championships.

Danvers won the (2016-2017) hockey title defeating the Vikings at Larsen Rink to capture the title. Hockey, basketball and baseball are three strong programs at Danvers. The 2002 hockey team had a (20-4) record. The 1994 Falcons won a NEC title and Division 2 state title, with a (20-3-1) record.

The 2015 hoop team captured their third Division 2 state championship in four years. The baseball team won the Division 2 state championship with a (26-1) record.

Salem plays at Austin Prep. Swampscott is on the road at Greater Lawrence on Saturday afternoon;

Saugus plays St. Mary’s at Manning Field at 5 p.m. on Friday. Lynnfield plays host to Newburyport on Friday night; Lynn English plays host to Beverly on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Manning Field; Lynn Classical plays Medford on Friday night.

Let the Games Begin!

 

 

Apropos of Nothing

The Boston Red Sox had a strong pitching rotation when the season opened in April. Let’s take a look in September.

The morning sports headline – Blue Jays Rock Porcello. The Red Sox lost 10-4 to Toronto on Monday night. Rick Porcello (9-16) won the Cy Young Award in 2016. He was a 4.67 era. On Monday night he allowed seven runs on 10 hits, he gave up three homers that pushed his season total to 35. The Red Sox took their third loss and eight in the past 12 games. The lead over New York is 2 ½ games.

Look at the other pitchers – Chris Sale got rocked on Sunday night in New York. His record slipped to (15-7). He was a sure bet to win the Cy Young Award this year.

David Price is still on the ‘disabled list.” He has three victories in 2017; Eduardo Rodriquez has a (4-5) record. He hasn’t won a game in two months. Hanley Ramirez is hitting .242, he has struck out 102 times, Xander Boegarts is hitting .269.

The 22-year old rookie Andrew Benintendi has 74 RBI’s – Ramirez has 52!

Will the Sox finish first?

Let the Games Begin!

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