Sports

Vikings baseball team defeats Saugus, Matignon

The Winthrop High (WHS) baseball team earned a pair of victories this past week, defeating Saugus and Matignon, before falling to Beverly on Monday.

Matt Moore went the full seven inning distance for Winthrop in the Saugus triumph. Although Matt was touched up by Saugus along the way, he stayed the course for the win.

“Matt’s a gamer,” said WHS head coach Fran DeMarco. “They hit him a bit, but he hung in there and got the job done for us.”

Moore also helped his own cause by swatting a two-run homer in the fourth inning. The blast capped a four-run rally for the Vikings, with the first two runs coming around when Nick McCarthy (who was three for three on the day) ripped a double that plated teammates Tyler Pettee, who had walked, and Jim Evans, who had reached on a bunt base hit.

Winthrop erupted for six runs in the sixth to account for the game-winning margin. Base hits by Dan Ramos, Evans, and McCarthy produced the first marker. Moore followed with another hit, good for one more run, and Will Milano came through with a two-bagger for two more ribbies. That brought up Paul Finn, who socked a roundtripper for what would prove to be the game winning tallies.

The 11-6 victory over Matignon on Saturday was not pretty, but the Vikings did what they had to do to earn the “W”.

“We were going up against the Matignon pitcher who struck out 16 of us last year,” noted DeMarco, “so our strategy was to make him throw strikes and lay off his high fastballs.”

A five run Winthrop second inning was aided by numerous bases on balls and hit batsmen, while a four run fourth frame was keyed by doubles by McCarthy and Milano, a base hit by Moore, and some additional free passes to first.

Rob Swanson started for Winthrop and went four and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs. Milano came on in relief to end the fifth and yielded two runs the rest of the way.

Monday’s loss to Beverly was frustrating because the Vikings found themselves in a 6-0 hole after two frames, but then played virtually flawless baseball and nearly came all the way back.

Paul Finn came on in the third in relief of Pat Feeley and shut down Beverly the rest of the way, fanning five Panther hitters in the four and one-third innings he worked.

“Paul did a tremendous job,” noted DeMarco. “He kept them off the board and gave us a chance to come back.”

The Winthrop offense came alive in the sixth, with Finn delivering an RBI base hit, and then almost pulled off the comeback of the year in the seventh. Base hits by Evans, McCarthy, Moore, and Milano preceded a big double by Ricky Boudrow, all of which brought around four Vikings. However, with the tying run at the plate, the rally fell short.

“I think we’re starting to jell,” said DeMarco. “We’ve had a lot of new players who are becoming comfortable in their positions and roles with the team. The next two weeks will let us know where we stand.”

DeMarco and his crew, who now stand at 3-4 on the season, hosted Salem yesterday (Wednesday), will travel to Lynn Classical today, host Lynn English Monday, and then travel to Revere next Wednesday.

Boys track team edged at the finish line

The Winthrop High boys track team almost pulled out its first win of the season, but fell short in the final event, the 4×400 meter relay, and dropped a 64-61 decision to Revere last Thursday.

Despite the loss, a number of Vikings turned in stellar performances that pleased WHS head coach Pat McGee. “We were short on numbers, but the boys really stepped up and filled in where they had to in order to get us some points. I was very proud of their effort,” said McGee

Jake Connor enjoyed his best day as a Viking trackman, winning the high jump with a super leap of 6-0, a height that qualifies him for the State Meet, and taking first in the 400 hurdles in 58.3.

Chris Berenger was another double winner for Winthrop, taking first in the 100 meter dash in 11.4 and first in the long jump with a leap of 21-4.5. Chris also ran a leg of the winning 4×100 relay team, which finished in a time of 46.4.

Ben Sena earned 11 points for the Winthrop side of the score sheet with a first in the triple jump in 36-7 and seconds in the high jump (5-2) and 100 meter hurdles (20.9).

Charlie Asquith scored 9.25 points with a first in the 200 meter dash in 24.1, a State Meet qualifying time, and a second in the long jump (21-3.5) to go along with running a leg of the 4×100.

Stephen Keough claimed the other first place for Winthrop with a toss of 44-4.5 in the shot put.

Robert Deeb took a second in the 100 dash in 11.8 and also ran a leg of the 4×100. Alejandro Miranda grabbed three points in the 800 in 2:28, and Anthony Hatzisavas took second in the shot with his heave of 36-1.5.

Also earning points for Winthrop were Frank Ambrosino, the fourth member of the 4×100 quartet; Nick Doonan with a throw of 36-1.5 in the discus and a triple jump of 33-4.25, both good for third place; and David Azate, who nabbed third in the 200 dash in 25.4.

The Vikings will be back on the track today at Danvers.

Vikings Asquith and Berenger both will be looking to top the longstanding Winthrop High record in the long jump that has been held by Rippie Dyer since 1964. Dyer, who was McGee’s predecessor as head coach, leaped 21 feet, 8.75 inches 35 years ago.

Softball team wins

No. Quincy tourney

The Winthrop High softball team claimed the North Quincy Tournament championship for the third year in a row with a 3-0 win over the host North Quincy squad last Thursday.

The Vikings, who had barreled into the finals with a 21-6 pulverization of Archbishop Williams in the preliminary round, utilized strong pitching and defense to claim the victory over North Quincy.

Angela Pettee went all seven innings on the mound for the Lady Vikings, allowing just two hits en route to the shutout. Although Angela uncharacteristically issued eight walks on the day, the strong Winthrop defense behind her, particularly Kristen Lanza at third base, kept North Quincy off the board.

Although the Winthrop bats weren’t as powerful as they had been against Archbishop Williams, solo runs in the first, third, and fifth innings gave Pettee all the run support she would need. Courtney Finn scored the first and eventual game winning run in the opening inning when she singled, stole second, and came around on a double by Lindsey Barker.

Finn was the jump starter again in the third when, with two out, she walked, stole second, and scooted home on a two bagger by Ashley Fiandaca. The Lady Vikings pushed across a double insurance run two frames later when Amanda Brogna singled, moved to second on a sacrifice, took third on a passed ball, and scored on a ground out to second by Elaine Lanza.

The Lady Vikings returned to Northeastern Conference competition with a game Friday against Saugus. The contest was another tight affair in which Winthrop prevailed by a 4-3 margin.

Winthrop struck quickly in the opening inning when Abby Belcher reached on an error, moved to second on a sacrifice by Elaine Lanza, and then scored on a base hit by Finn.

Saugus tied matters with a solo marker in the third, but the Lady Vikings put on their rally caps for a three run outburst in the fourth. Finn (who else?) led off with a hit and moved to third on a hit by Fiandaca. Another base hit by Barker brought in Courtney to put Winthrop back into the lead.

After Barker stole second to put runners at second and third, Alyssa Moore sliced a base hit down the right field line to bring around both of her teammates to make it 4-1.

Saugus drew close with single tallies in the sixth and seventh, but Pettee held on for the triumph. Angela’s final line showed her allowing just three hits and one earned run while walking just one batter.

The Lady Vikings next took on first place Beverly this past Monday. After spotting the Lady Panthers a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, Winthrop responded immediately in their half when Fiandaca tripled and eventually scored when Andrea Martucci, who had walked, stole second and Ashley came home on the throw.

However, Beverly pushed across the game winner in the seventh to take away the 2-1 victory. Pettee once again went the distance, yielding just six hits and the two earned runs while walking only one.

“It was a well played high school softball game,” said WHS head coach Dave Guffey. “Beverly is a good team, and they were just a bit better than us that day.”

The Lady Vikings traveled to Salem yesterday (Wednesday) and will journey to Mt. St. Joseph’s today. They may head to Lynn English Friday if Monday’s game is rescheduled.

Boys tennis team drops close matches

The Winthrop High boys tennis team dropped a pair of hardfought matches to Northeastern Conference rivals Danvers and Saugus by identical scores of 3-2.

“The losses were disappointing because both matches were quite close,” said WHS head coach Barbara Hoffmann, “but I think we can absolutely beat them the next time.”

In the Danvers match, first singles Kenny Hodgkins won easily in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1.

Second singles Alex Hamilton also won by a 6-2, 7-5 score.

“Alex’s second set was very exciting and close,” noted Hoffmann. “It was 5-5, but Alex really brought it and won the last two games easily to take the set and the match.”

However, those would prove to be the only winning matches for the Vikings, as third singles Jake Rand lost 4-6, 4-6, as did first doubles Connor Brugman and Kevin Cash, 2-6, 4-6, and second doubles Tyler Norris and Steve Ruggiero, 4-6, 3-6.

“Steve really stepped up to the plate for us,” said Hoffmann. “Our usual first doubles player, Ryan McKinnon, was injured, and Steve did a great job taking on the varsity role.”

The Saugus match saw the reverse for Winthrop in terms of point scoring. In this one, Hodgkins lost at first singles, 3-6, 3-6, as did Hamilton in the second singles slot, 4-6, 5-7 in a grueling battle with his Saugus counterpart.

“Alex Hamilton lost in a long and very close match with a very evenly-matched rival,” said Hoffmann. “Their match lasted twice as long as the other matches.”

Rand won at third singles in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, in another close encounter, as did the first doubles duo of Brugman and Cash, who won 6-4, 6-3. However, the second doubles tandem of Norris and Ruggiero lost after a huge win in their first set: 6-0, 3-6, 4-6.

Hoffmann and her crew were set to play at home vs. Salem yesterday (Wednesday) and will be at Lynn Classical Saturday. They then will host Lynn English Monday and play at Revere next Wednesday.