WHS Sports Roundup

Up And Down Week for WHS Baseball Team

The Winthrop High baseball team learned a version of the sports axiom, “A win is a win,” when the Winthrop Athletic Department was informed that a loss earlier this season to Boston English has been deemed a forfeit by English after English was found to have members on its team who were not attending the school after a complaint had been lodged by other Boston city schools.

On the playing field, the Vikings improved their record to 8-5 with a 12-2 victory over Salem Academy this past Monday which was highlighted by Senior Day festivities.

All six members of the team from the Class of 2022  — Cam Martin, Anthony Indrisano, Chris Gibbons, Joe Hayes, Joe Ferullo, and Juan Sanchez — were recognized for their contributions to the WHS baseball program.

In addition, the sextet started the game and played key roles in the victory.

“It was great to see them all play and get a win on Senior Night,” said WHS head coach Mark DeGregorio.

Senior Joe Ferullo started the game on the mound and went all five innings in which he struck out eight enemy batters.

“Joe pitched a great game,” said DeGregorio. “He was able to pound the strike zone all game.  I told him if he can locate his fastball, he is very difficult to hit against because he has a heavy fastball and it gets in on the hitters fast.”

Senior Joe Hayes went 2-for-4 with three stolen bases.

“Joe also played a stellar game at shortstop and continues to be a great leader,” noted DeGregorio.

Senior Cam Martin went 1-for-3 with three runs scored and two stolen bases, including a steal of home.

“Cam’s bat has begun to get hot at the right time of year,” said DeGregorio.

“Senior Chris Gibbons has been a stalwart for us at second base this year,” DeGregorio continued. “He is the type of kid that you throw out on the field and you know what you are going to get — a tough kid who gives you every bit of effort he has at all times.

“Senior Anthony Indrisano also had a couple of hits. He did a good job of putting the ball in play and getting on base,” said DeGregorio.

“Finally, senior Juan Sanchez started the first varsity game of his career. Juan is playing baseball for the first time this year and I could not be prouder of how hard he has worked and how much improvement he has made this year,” DeGregorio said. “I got the chance to coach him in football this year and he is just a great kid and someone that you want to be part of your program.” 

Winthrop stole home for a second time later in the contest when Colin Kinsella swiped home plate on a delayed steal.

“Colin took off as soon as the catcher got ready to throw the ball back to the pitcher,” noted DeGregorio. “We were able to take advantage on the basepaths all game with a total of 12 steals. I know I have said it numerous times before, but this is how we have to play and generate runs.

“All in all, it was a great team win and good team effort,” DeGregorio concluded. “Before the game we asked the team to play for the seniors and they did that.  It was great to see the seniors out there and I am proud of each and every one of them.”

The Vikings were not as fortunate in their contests last week.

Their scheduled encounter last Wednesday with Masconomet was rained out and Winthrop came out on the short end of decisions to Marblehead and East Boston on Friday and Saturday.

“Unfortunately, we were unable to make plays when we needed to and our bats didn’t wake up in those games until it was too late,” said DeGregorio. “East Boston is currently 11-0 and is a very good team.  We can see why they are one of the best Boston City Schools.”

A big highlight for the Vikings was the performance of sophomore Matt DeCarney in the match with Eastie. Matt went 3-for-3 at the plate and tossed three innings without yielding an earned run.

“Matt continues to grow with each game,” said DeGregorio. “He demonstrates a lot of confidence on the mound and at the plate. That is very rare for a sophomore.”

DeGregorio and his crew were scheduled to embark on the final third of their 2022 campaign yesterday (Wednesday) at Salem High.

They will return home to Veterans Field tomorrow (Friday) to host Beverly at 4:30 and to entertain Peabody next Wednesday at 4:00.

WHS Girls Lacrosse Defeats Salem, 9-6

The Winthrop High girls lacrosse team earned a split of its two contests this past week, defeating Salem, but falling to Peabody.

In the 9-6 triumph this past Monday over the Witches, Mia Martucci (three goals and an assist) and Emma Holmes (three goals) both achieved the hat trick to pace the Lady Viking offense.

Brianna Marley, Mia Norris, and Hannah Parker also reached the back of the Salem net.

Talia Martucci and Sam DiMento were credited with an assist on the day.

Goalie Adrianna Rizzotto made three saves.

“Reese Brodin had a very good defensive game and Kailey Sullivan crushed the team’s re-defend,” said WHS head coach Emma Marrs. “Kailey was able to come up with a lot of caused turnovers and interceptions.”

In the 14-7 loss to Peabody, Mia Martucci led the way with three goals. Teammates  Hannah Parker, Talia Martucci, Emma Holmes, Sam DiMento, and Kira Diaz scored a goal apiece.

Rizzotto was a stand-out in the net, making 15 saves.

“Reese Brodin, Annika Holgersen, Abby Holmes, and Mia Norris played incredible defensive games,” noted Marrs.

The Lady Vikings are scheduled to host Beverly today (Thursday) at Miller Field. The opening draw is set for 4:30.

They will entertain Peabody this Saturday morning at 11:00 and Danvers next Thursday.

WHS Softball Team Excels in Big Win

The Winthrop High softball team celebrated Senior Day in fitting fashion with a 22-3 victory over Excel Academy this past Monday.

The four members of the Class of 2022, shortstop Summer Tallent, outfielder Julianna Guzman, utility player Ana Potera, and pitcher Ava Martello were honored for their contributions to the WHS softball program and played key roles in the big victory.

The Lady Vikings scored early and often, putting up nine runs in each of the first two innings and adding three markers in the third frame.

WHS senior captain Summer Tallent had a monster day at the plate. Summer went 4-for-5 with two doubles, four RBI, and two runs scored.

Ava Martello also had a big game with the bat. Ava was 4-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored. Martello picked up the victory in the pitcher’s circle, tossing all five innings (the contest was called after five because of the mercy rule), allowing just two hits while fanning six opponents and walking only two.

Guzman was 2-for-4 with a triple, three RBI, and two runs scored.

Teammates who also joined the party were: Lily Tallent with two base hits, three runs scored, and an RBI; Izzy Cash (1-for-3);  Amelia Spencer, who was 2-for-3 with a double, three runs scored, and an RBI; Gabby Golden, playing in her second game since returning from a broken arm, was 4-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored; Gabby Currier, who was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI, and two runs; and McKenzie Magardo, who was 2-for-2 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI.

Although the Lady Vikings came up on the short end of a 13-8 decision to Swampscott this past Friday, veteran WHS head coach Dave Guffey said that despite the final outcome, “This was our best game of the season.”

After yielding five runs to the Big Blue in the first, Winthrop got one back when Cash doubled and scooted home on a base hit by Martelllo.

Swampscott responded with a marker of its own, but the Lady Vikings got that one back when Cash delivered an RBI base hit to score Spencer, who had reached when she was hit by a pitch.

Winthrop added two more runs in the following inning when Lily Tallent reached on an error and cousin Summer Tallent, Martello, and Spencer all singled.

The Lady Vikings would add four more runs in the final inning, with an RBI base hit by Spencer the key blow.

Guffey and his crew were scheduled to travel to Salem Charter yesterday (Wednesday) and will entertain Gloucester tomorrow (Friday) at 4:30. They will trek to Danvers on Monday and return back home to host Salem next Wednesday.

WHS Boys Tennis Earns Two Victories

The Winthrop High boys tennis team chalked up two victories this past week, defeating Salem and Mystic Valley.

In the 5-0 wins over Salem and Mystic, singles players Carlos Penalba at number one, Carlo Baretti at number two, and James Sicurella at number three all won their matches in straight sets. The Viking doubles tandems of JD Parker and Ryan Kfoury at first doubles and Bruno Penalba and Ari Hain at second doubles also were straight-set victors.

Coach Marie Finn’s squad dropped a 4-1 decision to Marblehead last week. Penalba defeated his Magician counterpart at first singles, 6-2, 6-4.

Baretti and Sicurella played well in their singles matches, but both came up short by scores of 6-3, 6-4.

In the doubles encounters, the duo of Parker and Kfoury extended their Marblehead rivals to three sets before falling by a score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. At second doubles, Liam Turner joined Hain in a 6-2, 6-2 match.

Finn and her crew are scheduled to host Masconomet today (Thursday), Watertown tomorrow (Friday), and Gloucester on Monday. They will trek to Danvers next Wednesday and to Beverly next Thursday.

WHS Girls Tennis Defeats Gloucester

The Winthrop High girls tennis team enjoyed a successful week, winning three matches.

The Lady Vikings earned a 4-1 victory over Northeastern Conference (NEC) rival Gloucester last Tuesday.

The Lady Vikings were led by newly-named captain Kendall Brant, who defeated her Lady Fisherman counterpart at first singles, 6-2, 6-0.

“Kendall has just been getting better and better every time she takes the court,” said WHS head coach Mike Nickerson.

Winthrop’s third singles player, Mira Ivanis, won in a pretty smooth match, 6-3, 6-3.

The first doubles tandem of captains Emma Forsyth and Maddie Rossi split their first two sets pretty evenly, but then dominated the third to win their match, 6-4, 6-7, 6-0.

At second doubles, the duo of Viona Bytyqi and Ava Beshere controlled the match from the outset and won handily, 6-3, 6-1.

This past Monday, Winthrop defeated NEC foe Salem, 5-0.

Winthrop received singles wins from Kendall Brant, Genesis Bueno, and Mira Ivani and got doubles sweeps from Emma Forsyth & Maddie Rossi at first doubles and Casey Peterson & Paola Ivanova at second doubles.

Winthrop also earned a victory over Mystic Valley on Tuesday.

“We played a match with the boys vs. Mystic Valley Charter School, which was my first time coaching a co-ed match,” noted Nickerson. “Technically we won by a score of 5-0 because they did not have enough girls to field their own team. Kendall took home another singles win and Mira Ivanis teamed up to get a win in doubles.”

Last Friday, the Lady Vikings put up a spirited battle in a 4-1 loss to perennial NEC power Marblehead in a contest that was much closer than the final score would indicate.

Brant scored a huge victory at first singles, battling back from a loss in the first set to topple her Lady Magician foe, 4-6, 6-0, 7-6.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of Kendall,” said Nickerson. “In my years coaching here, we have never won at #1 against Mablehead. She lost the first set, but battled back to win the next two and played a very smart and determined match.”

Mira Ivanis came within a few points of winning her match. Mira split the first two sets, but then narrowly fell in a tie-breaker for the third set.

“This was the closest match vs. Marblehead that Winthrop has had in my tenure as a coach here,” noted Nickerson.

Nickerson and his crew are amidst a busy stretch They were scheduled to take on Peabody yesterday (Wednesday) and will trek to Masconomet today (Thursday), to Watertown tomorrow (Friday), and to Gloucester on Monday.

They will return home to host Danvers next Wednesday and Beverly next Thursday.

“The girls are working hard and they are seeing the results on the court,” said Nickerson, whose squad now stands at 7-3 on the season.

Another Good Week for WHS Boys Lacrosse

The Winthrop High boys lacrosse team, which is competing as a club program in 2022 amidst a rebuilding season, stands at 9-1 in its contests against a mix of junior varsity and varsity opponents.

In a match with the Stoneham JV team this past Monday, the Vikings started slowly, but eventually found their rhythm.

“We started off sloppily on offense, losing the ground ball battle and not setting up into our offense,” said WHS head coach Brian Donnelly. “However, we recovered as the game went on with a couple of nice goals from junior Jack Hayes, Andrew Hurley, and freshman attack Colin Cifuni.

“Our defense continues to play well, with some excellent takeaways by all three of our defensemen, including eighth grader Dylan Hovermale,” Donnelly said.

“We are gathering excellent experience for our new players and our veteran players continue to gain confidence in taking on leadership roles,” Donnelly added.

Donnelly and his crew have a busy week ahead. They will travel to Swampscott today (Thursday), to Burlington on Monday, to Beverly on Tuesday, and to Essex Tech next Thursday.

Abbott, McCarey win in meet with Danvers

Although the Winthrop High girls outdoor track and field team came up short by a score of 93-42 in their meet last week with Northeastern Conference rival Danvers, a number of Lady Vikings turned in outstanding individual performances.

Shannon Abbott won the long jump with an airborne flight of 14′-11.5″ and took second in the high jump with a leap of 4′-4″ to score eight points on the day.

Nora McCarey captured the 100 meter hurdles with a clocking of 20.0 seconds and took third in the triple jump (29′-10.5″) and the shot-put (20′-5.5″).

Scoring three points for Winthrop with second-place performances were: Daniela Gomez in the shot-put with a toss of 22′-7.5″; Olivia Skomro in the javelin with a throw of 53′-9″; Rebecca Lindstedt in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:22.0; Sophia Munson in the 100 dash with a sprint of 14.8; and Libby Carney in the mile with a time of 6:35.4.

Adding single points with third-place finishes were: Delia Parco in the discus (45′-5″); April Ferguson in the javelin (45′-5″) and the 800 (2:59.1); Gomez in the 100 dash (15.0); and Carney in the 400 dash (1:18.9).

The Lady Vikings were scheduled to take on Saugus yesterday (Wednesday) and Beverly next Tuesday.

Cappuccio Continues Stellar Spring Season

Nicholas Cappuccio scored 17 points for the Winthrop High boys outdoor track and field team in their meet with Danvers last week.

Nicholas won the 100 dash with a sprint of 11.0 seconds and the 200 dash in a clocking of 23.5. He tied for first in the high jump with a leap of 5′-5″ and took second in the long jump with a flight of 21′-8″.

 Also scoring three points for the Vikings was Peter Jurovich with a second-place effort in the shot-put with a throw of 35′-3″.

The Winthrop boys were scheduled to meet Saugus today (Wednesday) and Beverly next Tuesday.

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