WHS Sports Roundup

WHS boys lacrosse wins first five games

The Winthrop High boys lacrosse team is off to the best start in the program’s history, sporting an undefeated 5-0 record in the opening weeks of the season.

The Vikings’ most recent triumph was a 16-8 twin against a strong Revere squad last Thursday at Harry Della Russo Stadium.

“Our defense played amazingly, especially junior Joe Mahoney, who was in charge of covering their best player,” said WHS head coach Brian Donnelly. “Our other defensemen also stepped up, sliding early and shutting down a few of their other offensive weapons. James Silva was able to shut down their best attack man, while Mike McCone, Jack Silva, Chris Rodriguez, and Ryan Hovermil came together to play excellent man-to-man defense.”

Donnelly also praised Viking goalie Andrew DiMento.

“Andrew, who is a four-year starter, had an excellent game in net, only allowing eight goals to a very strong offensive team,” Donnelly added.

On the offensive side of the restraining line, Winthrop sophomore Ayden Cifini turned in what Donnelly called “a lights-out game with some really nice goals and some amazing set-ups. Ayden had over eight assists for the game.”

Donnelly also lauded the offensive play of the Winthrop attack-men, sophomore Matt Hurley and senior Pat Sennott.

“Luke Evangelista, our senior midfielder captain, was an excellent leader on the field, playing most of the game and scoring a few clutch goals when it mattered the most,” added Donnelly.

The Viking offense has been firing on all cylinders during the five-game winning streak, averaging over 15 goals per game, while DiMento and the Winthrop “D” has allowed an average of less than five goals per contest.

“We have an excellent mix of senior leadership and underclassman skill,” said Donnelly. “We hope to continue to improve throughout the season, while grinding away at perfecting our offensive and defensive systems.”

Donnelly and his crew were scheduled to travel to Malden today (Thursday) and will host Salem on the turf at Miller Field Monday for a 4 p.m. face-off.

They will hit the road to Dracut next Wednesday and to Everett next Thursday.

WHS baseball team wins season-opener

The Winthrop High baseball team opened its season in fine fashion with a 13-4 victory over Mystic Valley.

Leading the way for the Vikings at the plate were Bobby Hubert, who slugged a pair of home runs, and Ryan Skoczylas, who went 4-for 5 with two RBI.

Danny Gillis pitched five strong innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out 10 enemy hitters.

In a 5-3 loss at Beverly last week, Kristian Natareno went the distance on the mound with a strong performance. Kristian deserved a better fate in his route-going effort in which he yielded just six hits and three earned runs while fanning four Panther batters.

Kristian helped his own cause, chipping in an RBI single, while Skoczylas once again wielded a big bat, going three-for-four with an RBI. 

Winthrop struggled defensively in their next game against Marblehead, a 13-7 loss, in which the Vikings allowed multiple unearned runs. David DiCicco, who is hitting over .500 for the season, was a bright spot for Winthrop with a double, a single, and two walks.

Coach Frank DeMarco and his squad have a busy week ahead. They were scheduled to host Swampscott yesterday (Wednesday) and will trek to Peabody tomorrow (Friday).

They will entertain Boston English Saturday at 11 a.m. and Gloucester on Monday afternoon before hitting the road to Danvers next Wednesday.

WHS girls lacrosse hosts St. Mary’s tonight

The Winthrop High girls lacrosse team will host St. Mary’s of Lynn this evening (Thursday) under the lights at Miller Field. The opening face-off is set for 7 p.m.

Coach Ben Cimmino and his crew turned in an outstanding performance last week against Revere, falling just short by a score of 11-10.

Lady Viking Emma Carleton popped in seven goals to pace the Winthrop offense in a comeback effort that saw Winthrop overcome an early five-goal deficit and eventually move out to a lead before falling short in the final minutes.

“Caroline Earl did a great job for us, winning draws that allowed us to make a comeback,” said Cimmino. “In the end, the opportunities were there, we just couldn‚Äôt find the net to close it out. “

The Winthrop girls hit the road this past Tuesday to Salem for their first away contest of the season and made the long trek a worthwhile effort, returning home with a 15-1 victory.

“It was a great team win and allowed us to give a bunch of our young girls some playing time and game experience,” noted Cimmino.

After tonight’s contest with St. Mary’s, Cimmino and his crew will make the long, long ride to Gloucester tomorrow (Friday). They will play at Saugus on Monday and at Malden on Wednesday.

WHS boys track wins four events vs. Saugus

Although the Winthrop High boys outdoor track & field team came up short by a score of 99-37 in its recent meet at Saugus, a number of Vikings turned in strong individual performances.

Four Vikings won their individual events. Cormac MacPahil was the first to the line in the mile in a clocking of 5:05.9. Cormac also earned a point for the Viking cause with a third-place finish in the 400 hurdles in 69.1 seconds.

Chris Cappuccino won the 200 meter sprint with a time of 24.7 and also earned three points for his second-place sprint of 12.0 in the 100 meter dash. Chris was the Vikings’ top-scorer on the day with eight points.

Tony Nargi took the 800 race in a clocking of 2:12.1 and Michaelangelo Marcoccio ran the fastest lap to win the 400 meter sprint in 60.1.

Three Vikings took second place in their individual events: Nate Evangelista with a javelin toss of 115’; William Hubert wth a discus throw of 83’-10”; and Stephen Hinchion in the two-mile in 12:36.6.

Adding single points to the Winthrop tally with third-place performances were Pat Teixiera in two events with a shot put throw of 33’-8” and a discus spin of 72’-11” and Andrei Opincaro in the two-mile with a clocking of 13:58.

The Vikings’ next meet is scheduled for next Thursday when they will host Gloucester on the new track at Miller Field.

WHS girls track opens season

The Winthrop High girls track team opened its season with meets against Marblehead and Saugus.

In the season-opener with Marblehead on the new track at Miler Field, Fiona MacPhail and Tess Ferrandi both won two events. Fiona took top spot in the long jump wth a leap of 14’-4” and in the 400 dash with a clocking of 68.4. MacPhail also grabbed second place in the triple jump with a distance of 30’-5.5” to finish the day with a team-high 13 points.

Fernandi tallied 10 points with first-place performances in the high jump with a leap of 4’-6” and the triple jump with a final landing of 31’-8”.

Mary Kate Pote earned points in two events, capturing the shot put with a first-place toss of 28’-1.5” and third in the discus with a spin of 58’-2.5”.

Alex Holzbach took first place in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:12.8.

Claire Nargi was a double-event point-scorer with a second in the 110 high hurdles in a time of 19.5 and a third in the long jump with a leap of 13’-10”.

Olivia Brandi-Miller added three points to the Winthrop cause with a second place effort in the javelin with a toss of 57’-5” and Camilla Miranda-Llovera scored three points for her second place performance in the two-mile in a time of 13:07.4.

In the Lady Vikings’ next meet with Saugus, Pote was a double-winner in the discus (70’-8”) and the shot (30’-6.5”).

Ferrandi outleaped the field in the high jump (4’-6”). Tess also grabbed third place in the triple jump (31’-6.5”).

Anna Baurle captured the mile with a time of 7:23.5 and also earned a point for the Winthrop cause with a third-place finish in the 400 dash in a clocking of 88.7.

Nargi tallied six points on the day with a pair of second-place performances in the long jump (13’-4) and the 110 high hurdles (19.6).

Nora McCarey scored two points with a pair of third-place efforts in the dashes, the 100 (14.9) and the 200 (30.8).

Mary Teixeira added a point for Winthrop with a third-place finish in the mile in 8:22.5.

The Lady Vikings will host Gloucester next Thursday afternoon at Miller.