WHS Sports Roundup

Nick Cappuccio Wins Two NEC Titles

Winthrop’s standout trackman Nicholas Cappuccio claimed two Northeastern Conference (NEC) championships at the recent All-NEC Meet this past week.

Nicholas, a sophomore, won the long jump with a leap of 21’-7” and the 200 meter dash with a sprint of 22.62. Capuccio and Peabody’s Alex Jackson, who won the discus and shot-put, were the only double winners at the meet.

Teammate George Galuris scored four points with a fourth-place finish in the javelin with a toss of 127’-1”.

On the girls’ side, freshman Arianna  Cappuccio scored four points with a fourth-place performance in the long jump with a flight of 16’-7.5”. Lady Viking junior Reese Brodin also tallied four points with her fourth-place finish in the javelin with a throw of 84’-2”.

WHS Baseball Team To Wrap Up Season, Await Tourney Opponent

The Winthrop High baseball team will conclude its 2023 regular season tomorrow (Friday) when the Vikings take on non-league rival Sharon at Curry College.

Coach Mark DeGregorio’s squad presently is ranked 30th in the MIAA’s Division 4 power rankings. If the Vikings hold that position, they would host the Maimonides School in a play-in contest to start the state tournament.

12th-Ranked WHS Boys Lacrosse Tops Weymouth

The Winthrop High boys lacrosse team trekked to the South Shore to take on Weymouth amidst Saturday’s rain storm and made both the long trip and the soaking weather a worthwhile endeavor, returning home with a come-from-behind, 17-9 triumph.

After a flat first-half, the Vikings came alive (perhaps energized by the wind and rain) in the second half behind a huge effort by Robert Rich, who rang up six goals and assisted on five others.

“I can’t say enough about Robert’s effort on the field, his work ethic during all games and practices, and the way that the guys rally around him,” lauded WHS head coach Brian Donnelly. “He is a true competitor.”

A trio of teammates, Ace Daigneault, Alex Daigneault, and Mike Holgersen also got in on the scoring action in a big way, with all three reaching the back of the Wildcat net for a hat trick. Seth Sacco added a solo tally.

Last Thursday the Vikings traveled up the coast to Marblehead and came up on the short end of a 17-10 decision that was much closer than the final score would indicate. Winthrop trailed 13-10 with 2:30 to play, but the Magicians added a few scores in the waning minutes.

“Marblehead is a super solid team and I thought we played really well,” said Donnelly. “The game was close throughout and we were able to fight back from a lot of deficits to keep it close. We just got frustrated toward the end and let up a couple late to make it 17-10. The score didn’t reflect the effort we put in.”

WHS goalie Hunter Fife turned in a strong performance, recording 13 key saves. Rich led the WHS attack with another excellent effort, scoring three goals and earning four assists. Ace Daigneault also got the hat trick with Alex Daigneault and Mike Holgerson both getting two goals.

“I was happy with how our guys played and with the intensity they displayed,” added Donelly. “If we continue to bring that level of excitement to our games, bar those couple of minutes at the end of the game, hopefully we can make a good run in the playoffs.”

Winthrop took on non-league rival Lynnfield this past Monday and dropped their contest with the Pioneers, who are ranked seventh in Division 4.

“I don’t think we played the best lacrosse or represented what we are capable of against a solid Division 4 team,” said Donnelly.

The Vikings are scheduled to wrap up their regular season and to celebrate Senior Day today (Thursday) at Miller Field at 4:00 in a contest with Malden.

“We are looking forward to having a solid game against Malden while celebrating our seniors,” said Donnelly. “Some have played for their entire time here at Winthrop, while others just joined this year. We were happy to have all of these guys, and each made their impact felt, whether it was in practice, on the bench, or in some select games. We hope to get a solid game before we head into the Division 4 playoffs.

“Jack Hayes has been a greatly-respected senior leader and we actually just gave a late season captainship to Welvis Acosta for his hard work, dedication, and drive that he has shown all season. Both those guys and the rest of the seniors have made an impact this season and we are excited to see them in their final regular season game.”

Winthrop presently is ranked 12th in he D-4 power rankings and will play a home game in the opening round of the tourney. If the present rankings hold up at season’s end, the Vikings would host 21st-ranked Whittier Regional Vo-Tech in the Round of 32.

Emma Holmes Notches 100th Point in 19-2 win

Senior Emma Holmes notched her 100th career point as part of a four-goal, two-assist performance to lead the Winthrop High girls lacrosse team to a 19-2 triumph over Salem Monday afternoon at Miller Field.

A host of Holmes’s Lady Viking teammates joined in the offensive fireworks. Hannah Parker scored a hat trick, Mia Martucci added two goals and two assists, and Kailey Sullivan tossed in two goals. Winthrop girls who also reached the back of the Salem net were Julia Holmes with a goal and three assists, Mia Norris with a goal and two assists, Kira Diaz with a goal and an assist, and Sami DiMento, Annika Holgersen: Abby Holmes, Reese Ferrara, and Gabby Buonopane with a goal apiece.

The Winthrop goal-keeeping chores were split by Emily Maddalone, who made two saves in the first half, and Tegan Pereira, who made a save in the second half.

Two days earlier, the Lady Vikings overcame an early six goal deficit to roar back for a 12-10 victory over No. Reading. After coach Emma Marrs callied a time-out, Winthrop turned things around and cut the margin to four at the half.

“Izzy Rice made a big defensive stop that seemed to get the momentum going in the right direction,” said Marrs. “There was a definite switch in the team’s demeanor after it.

“The second half is where the team really decided to dig deep and make game-changing adjustments and play together as one big unit,” Marrs continued. “Annika Holgersen had a huge stop on the defensive end when the score was tied at 10-10 and we were able to transition the ball up the field successfully and that is when we took control of the game in the last eight minutes.”

Emma Holmes had another big day in the offensive end of the field with five goals. Talia Martucci, Julia Holmes, and Mia Norris all scored two goals, with Norris also earning an assist. Hanah Parker chipped in a goal and an assist.

Last Thursday the Lady Vikings came up on the short end of an 18-8 decision to Marblehead. Emma Holmes accounted for five goals with Talia Martucci scoring two goals and Norris scoring one goal. Julia Holmes was credited with two assists. Emily Maaddalone recorded seven saves in net.

Marrs and her crew are scheduled to conclude their regular season this evening (Thursday) with a Senior Night celebration at Miller Field against Malden. The opening draw is set for 6:00 under the lights.

The Lady Vikings then will await word of their seeding and first-round opponent in the upcoming Division 4 state tournament. Winthrop is ranked 22nd in D-4 and, based on the present rankings, would travel to 11th ranked Georgetown in the opening round.

WHS Softball Team Wraps Up Season

The Winthrop High softball team concluded its 2023 season with a trio of contests this past week.

In their final home game of the season last Wednesday, the Lady Vikings fell once again to Marblehead, 12-0,  but in a much better-fought battle than the first time the teams met. Senior McKenzie Margardo had a double and a single, senior Gaby Golden had a double, and sophomore Amelia Spencer had two singles.

“All six seniors played a well-fought game in their final performance at home,” said WHS head coach Erin Vercruysse.

Two days later Winthrop made the short trip to Revere for the Lady Patriots’ Senior Night. The Lady Vikings started off strong, but eventually fell, 19-7. Senior Gaby Golden (one base hit) and sophomore Amelia Spencer (two hits) both tallied two runs. Sophomore Izzy Cash also scored two runs, showing serious patience at the plate by drawing three walks in three appearances. Winthrop also had a triple by Juliana Demers and two doubles by Lily Tallent.

In the last game of the season, the Lady Vikings made the long trek northward up the coast to Gloucester to take on the Lady Fishermen on their Senior Night. Winthrop started off well with a 1-2-3 first inning, but eventually were outscored, 16-3.

“Our seniors also showed up to put on a show,” said Vercruysse of senior Gabrielle Golden, in her last appearance for the Vikings, who had a single in the fifth inning and turned it into a run by stealing her way around the bases to touch home.

Juliana Demers delivered two singles, and two other seniors, Lily Tallent and Samantha Harrison,  posted a base hit each.

Winthrop’s final game of the season, which had been scheduled for yesterday (Wednesday) at Boston Collegiate, was cancelled  because Collegiate’s league playoffs got underway.

“Overall, it was a tough season, but the girls came out of it smiling,” summed up Vercruysse of her team’s 2023 campaign.

The statistical leaders for the season were as follows;

Singles: Lily Tallent (29)

Doubles: Gabrielle Golden (8)

Triples: Lily Tallent (2)

Home Runs: Lily Tallent (4)

Hits: Lily Tallent (42)

Walks: Samantha Harrison (19)

Total Bases: Lily Tallent (65)

Batting Average: Lily Tallent (.618)

On Base Percentage : Lily Tallent (.629)

Runs Batted In: Lily Tallent (19)

Stolen Bases: Gabrielle Golden (10)