WHS softball team earns two victories
The Winthrop High softball team journeyed to Nantucket this week to play in a tournament hosted by the island school. After a rockin’ and rollin’ ferry trip Tuesday morning, the Lady Vikings won their tourney opener, defeating the host team 8-4, Tuesday afternoon.
Winthrop pitcher Maura Lanza dominated through the first five innings, pitching shutout softball and fanning 12 enemy batters as the Lady Vikings built a 7-0 lead. When Nantucket reached Lanza for four runs in the sixth, Taylor Thomas came on in the middle of the frame to put out the fire, striking out four of the five batters she faced.
The Lady Vikings broke open a 0-0 deadlock with five runs in the fourth inning. After Winthrop loaded the bases on a base hit by Jessie Martin, a walk to Thomas, and another hit by Ally Scarfo, Alexis Joyce drew a base on balls to force in Martin. Maddie Finga’a then delivered a two-run base hit and two more runs came across when the Nantucket right fielder misplayed a long fly ball off the bat of Christine Haskell.
The Lady Vikings added to their advantage with two runs in the sixth. A double by Haskell brought in Finga’a, who has walked, and another two-bagger by Lanza scored Haskell. The Lady Vikings added an extra insurance run in the seventh on a safety squeeze by Nicole Pucillo that brought in Thomas, who had walked.
Prior to their island sojourn, the Lady Vikings easily disposed of Triton, 23-0, Monday. Lanza tossed a no-hitter through the first four frames and Thomas took over in the fifth before the mercy rule brought the game to an end. Winthrop scored three runs in the first and then put the game away with nine tallies in the second.
Leading the way offensively for Winthrop were Haskell, with two hits, an RBI, and two runs scored; Lanza with two hits, three runs, and two RBI; Keniston with two its, two runs, and an RBI; Thomas with two hits three runs and an RBI; Pucillo with four walks and four runs scored; and Finga’a with a double, three RBI, and four runs.
Coach Dave Guffey and his crew, who now are 2-1 on the season, were set to face Marblehead in the tournament final yesterday (Wednesday) and then will return to the mainland to play at Lynn Classical Friday. They will host Beverly Monday, trek to Salem Wednesday, and entertain Lynn English next Friday.
WHS boys lacrosse edges Revere, 7-6
The Winthrop High boys lacrosse team earned an exciting, come-from-behind, 7-6 victory over Revere this past week.
The Vikings trailed, 5-4, in the fourth period, but forged ahead on a pair of goals. Revere notched the next marker to knot matters at 6-6, but Cody Boudrow reached the back of the Revere net in the closing minutes to account for the winning tally.
Dan Brogan led the Viking offense with a four-goal effort (plus two assists). Single goals were added by Chris Beaudry and Jon Griffiths. WHS goalie Dan Sennott, making his varsity debut, turned in a fine effort and received strong support from his defense to record the win.
Girls lax team tops Revere, 12-7
Flora English poured in six goals to lead the Winthrop High girls lacrosse team to 12-7 victory at Revere Tuesday. Although the Lady Vikings led all the way, the contest as a hard-fought affair, as Revere came out with a physical style of play that earned them some yellow cards from the refs.
Winthrop took an 8-4 advantage at the half and then scored the first few goals shortly after the intermission to move out to a lead that Revere never proved able to dent.
In addition to English’s six goals, teammates Abby Carleton, captain Caroline McKinnon, and captain Caitlin Page all scored two goals apiece.
Freshman Deanna Pucillo turned in an impressive performance in goal and made some superb saves. Captain Annie Mahoney and fellow defensemen Gabby Massa and Danielle Bocchio spearheaded a tight Winthrop defensive effort.
The Lady Vikings were scheduled to travel to Haverhill yesterday (Wednesday) and then will trek to Gloucester Tuesday before hosting their first home game of the season at Miller Field against Swampscott next Thursday.
WHS girls track  opens season
Although the Winthrop High girls track team fell short to Swampscott this past week by a score of 86-60, a number of Lady Vikings turned in impressive performances.
Captain Carly O’Keefe took first place in the 100 high hurdles in a time of 17.4 that qualified Carly for the State Meet later this spring. The speedy O’Keefe also took a second place in the 100 dash in 13.4.
Shanel Turransky grabbed first in the high jump, clearing the bar at a height of 4’-8â€. Christa Vaccaro earned first in the long jump competition with her leap of 14’-8â€. Heidi Benson also placed five points onto the Winthrop side of the scoresheet with a first place dash of 65 seconds in the 400.
Amy Sena contributed six points with a pair of second place finishes in the 400 low hurdles in 74.0 and in the high jumper with a leap of 4’-6â€. Gabby Hinchion likewise took second place in two evets, the shot-put with a throw of 20’-4†and the discus with a toss of 57’-6â€
Kristen Ford grabbed third place in the two mile run with a clocking of 13:34. Nina Leone took second spot in the mile in 6:31 and teammate Abbey Love finished third in that event in 6:41. Jillian Kafury turned in two personal records (PR) in the 100 in 14.6 and the 200 in 33.4.
In the season-opener against Beverly the previous week, the Lady Vikings came through with a number of victories: Christa Vaccaro in the 200 dash in 28.6; O’Keefe in the 110 high hurdles in 18.1 and the 100 dash in 13.2; Heidi Benson in the 800 in 2:44; and Shanel Turransky with a high jump of 4’-6â€.
Coach Warren MacPhail and his crew will be back in action next week against Marblehead and Revere at Marblehead.
WHS boys tennis
team opens season
Although the Winthrop High boys tennis team dropped its season-opening matches with Gloucester and Swampscott, the Vikings demonstrated that they will be competitive in the Northeastern Conference this season.
In a 3-2 loss at Gloucester, junior Mike Norris, playing at second singles, defeated his Gloucester counterpart in straight sets, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2. The first doubles duo of senior captain Sean Gillis and junior Matt Sennott also triumphed in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.
Junior captain Noah Hodgkins, playing at first singles, dropped a hard-fought match, 4-6, 2-6, as did junior Robbie Miles at their singles 6-7 (4-7), 4-6. The match then hinged on the outcome of the second doubles encounter in which the Viking tandem of junior Jake LaFratta and senior Pat Todisco battled fiercely through a third set tiebreaker, only to fall short, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (4-7).
“Jake and Pat gave it their all and played well,†say WHS head coach Marie Finn, whose squad had been able to play outside for only a brief time prior to the start of the season because of the snow and ice-covered town tennis courts (which are sorely in need of repair in any event).
Junior varsity players Ryan Duyon and eighth grader Corey Cherico were able to get in a doubles match and defeated their Gloucester foes, 6-3.
In a 3-2 loss to Swampscott, both of the Vikings’ doubles teams won their matches. LaFratta & Sennott easily handled their Big Blue rivals in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1 at first doubles and the duo of Todisco & Duyon pulled out a three-setter, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.
Miles engaged in a hard-fought battle at third singles, but came up short, 4-6, 3-6; Norris dropped his match 2-6, 3-6; and Hodgkins fell at first singles, 0-6, 1-6, to a Swampscott player who is ranked second in the state.
Cherico and junior Kyle Dalton defeated their Swampscott JV couterparts, 6-3, 6-0 in a doubles contest. Other members of the junior varsity squad this season are junior Tyler Rucker, junior Brian Perrin, junior James Forster, and eighth grader Jaylin Conte.
Finn and her crew have a busy week. They were set to face Peabody yesterday (Wednesday), host Lynn Classical today, trek to Beverly Monday, and then entertain Danvers Tuesday, Salem Wednesday, and Malden Catholic next Thursday.
Quad regatta for
WHS sailors Wednesday
The Winthrop High sailing team will return to action this Wednesday (April 29) when they will make the short trip to Piers Park in East Boston to compete in a quad regatta with Boston Latin, East Boston, and the Landmark School.
The Viking sailors had been scheduled to host Concord Academy this past week, but excessively windy conditions forced the race to be postponed.
Winthrop will host St. Sebastian’s at the Cottage Park Yacht Club next Thursday and then will embark on a busy schedule the following week, hosting Nantasket at the CPYC May 6; traveling to Manchester Essex May 7; and then entertaining the Pingree School May 8 at the CPYC.
Viking baseball
team now at 2-3
After a season-opening loss, the WHS baseball team stands at 2-3 after splitting its past four contests. In a 2-1 victory over Gloucester, Nick Discissio went 5 and 2/3 innings, allowing only one run on eight hits for the win. David Kirby came on to get the final four outs in relief with two strikeouts.
Mike Rich and Zack Fisher scored the Winthrop runs in the first two innings.
In a 5-1 triumph over Manchester/Essex, Jack Wallace went five strong innings for the win. Mike Rich scored two runs for the Vikings. David Kirby was the big hitter for Winthrop, going 3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, a walk, two stolen bases, and an RBI. David also pitched the last two innings, giving up no hits and striking out two.
In a 4-1 loss to Saugus, after Viking pitcher Sean MacDonald was injured in the first inning, Chris Zufanti came in and pitched six innings of shutout ball, allowing three hits striking out one.
The Vikings dropped a 4-3 contest to O’Bryant that went 10 Innings. Nick Disciscio went the first five frames, giving up three runs on three hits while striking out 3. David Kirby pitched the last five stanzas, striking out six. Kirby had a good day at the plate with two hits, two stolen bases, a walk, and a run scored.
The Vikings scored all their of runs in the fourth on a walk by Kirby. After Zufanti reached on an error,  Luigi Spinazolla and Bobby Fisher stroked doubles.
“We have not given up more than four runs in a game and Jack Wallace, Nick Disciscio, and Cris Zufanti have been solid,” said WHS head coach Frank DeMarco. “David Kirby has saved both wins and pitched five solid innings in the loss to O’Bryant.”
Kirby also is leading the team offensively, hitting over .400. Jack Wallace has also been swinging a hot bat and is hitting in the 370 range.
“Hitting has been the problem overall for us, along with some balls we have hit right at people,”added DeMarco. “We hope more of those will fall in as the season goes on.”
WHS Sports through the years
10 years ago
April 21, 2005
Cory Silk, the WHS baseball captain, pitched five strong innings (seven strikeouts, two hits) and blasted a three run homer in an eight-run second frame for the WHS baseball team in a 13-6 win over Watertown. Paul Eruzione went 4-for-5 for coach Frank DeMarco’s squad. Jarrett Herdt finished with two scoreless innings of relief.
Viking trackman Brian Breau already has qualified for a spot in the Class D Meet with a discus throw of 124’, which earned him first place in the Vikings’ season-opening meet at Salem.
Senior Stephani Mussen socked a two run homer to highlight a come-from-behind 9-8 win for the WHS softball team over St. Mary’s of Lynn. In a 6-3 triumph over Swampscott, Jen Ryan slammed a two run homer.
30 years ago
May 1, 1985
Co-captain Helen Balaouras led the WHS girls track team to a 55-51 win over Marblehead, taking first place in the discus and shot-put and second in the 100 dash. Teammates who also played key roles in the big win were Kim Krovitz, Diane Gallo, Franci Dolan, and Colleen Cash. The Lady Vikings now are 4-0 on the season.
In the Class D Relays, two Lady Viking trios set state records. Kathy Orlando, Diane Gallo, and Franci Dolan set a new mark in the long jump with a combined distance of 46’-6â€. In the discus, Helen Balaouras, Lori Stahler, and Michelle Goll teamed up for a total distance of 286’.
The WHS baseball team moved above the .500 mark with a pair of wins over Gloucester and Salem. Paul Pearl went 4-for-4 with four RBI in a 21-5 thrashing of Gloucester. Mike McManus went five innings on the mound to earn the win. In a 10-4 win over Salem, Mike Adamson, Bobby Crossman, and Bob DiBenedetto led the Viking attack.
The undefeated WHS boys track team set up a dream meet with similarly-unbeaten Swampscott with a victory over Marblerhead. Key performers with double victories for coach Pat McGee’s squad were Chris Sirianni in the sprints and Junior Van Buskirk in the 440 and 880.
40 years ago
April 30,1975
Alan Letterman tossed a superb five-hitter for his second shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over Salem for the WHS baseball team.
The WHS high jump trio of Eugene Flaherty, Fran Hinckley, and Kevin McGee brought a first place medal in the Class C State Relay Meet. The threesome of Flaherty, Fred Tape, and Mark Caputo took fourth in the triple jump.
50 years ago
April 29, 1965
Tommy Conley and Billy Dooley hurled back-to-back one-hitters to pace the WHS baseball team to wins over Swampcott and Newburyport and remain undefeated at 3-0. Conley outdueled Billy Conigliaro, brother of Red Sox star slugger Tony Conigliaro, in the Swampscott win. The lone base hit he allowed came on a sacrifice bunt on which Conley slipped on the wet grass and it was ruled a hit. Dooley’s no-hit bid was spoiled in the seventh on a bloop single. Dooley whiffed 14 enemy hitters in the seven inning contest, while Conley fanned 10.
70 years ago
Apri 26, 1945
WHS baseball coach Gordon Connor has a minor headache to contend with because eight of his varsity players are contending for pitching spots on his 1945 squad. Only two players are returning from last year’s team, captain Johnny Domenico and Milton “Bomber†Neal.
The banquet at the Elks to honor the 1945 Northeastern Conference WHS basketball team was a huge success, though the attendance was smaller than anticipated, with 100 sports enthusiasts on hand. Myron Atlas was announced as the team’s captain for the 1945-46 season.