Sports 04-07-2016

WHS sports roundup

Weather permitting,  Winthrop High softball  team ready for opener

Just when we thought that Mother Nature’s mild spring this year was a make-up call for last year’s record-setting winter snowfall that wiped out the first two weeks of the 2015 spring sports season, she tossed a wicked curve ball this week with a snowstorm that has wreaked havoc with the beginning of the 2016 spring sports schedule.

The anticipated start of the year for coach Dave Guffey and his Lady Viking softball team was set for today (Thursday) at home against Salem, but with icy, snow-covered fields and a forecast for a 100 percent chance of rain, the Salem contest already has been moved to May 12.

With the weatherman forecasting some relief for the weekend, Guffey and his crew hopefully will hear the sound of the umpire yelling, “Play ball!” Monday at Marblehead and Wednesday at Swampscott.

The 2016 Lady Vikings will be led by a pair of senior captains, Taylor Thomas and Olivia Grillo. They are part of a formidable group of returning starters who include fellow seniors Nicole Pucillo, Alexis Joyce, Ali Scarfo, Gabbie Kenniston, and Jaida Hightower. Junior Maddie Finga’a also is a returning starter and fellow junior Kaitlyn Carter, who will see action in the pitcher’s circle, was a letter-winner in 2015. Sophomore Jessy Martin also is back from 2015.

Newcomers to the varsity for 2016 are senior Nina Bartlette, sophomores Mia Price and Emma Carney, and freshmen Bella Perrotti and Stephanie Strangie. They comprise the core of a group of 50 girls, including 16 seventh graders, who have come out for the softball program, which means that Winthrop will be fielding three full teams this spring.

The Lady Vikings looked impressive in a pre-season jamboree last week. Winthrop defeated Austin Prep, 6-5, in a contest in which the Lady Viking starters held a 6-1 advantage before they departed. Leading the way for Winthrop were Kenniston, who was 2-for-2 with a single and a double and scored two runs, and Martin, who was 1-for-1 with a double, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored.

Thomas was impressive as the starting pitcher, allowing only one hit in two innings of work. Taylor faced 10 batters, allowing the one hit, fanning two opponents looking, and walking none. In the Lady Vikings’ next scrimmage of the day against Whittier Tech, Thomas tossed two shutout frames, yielding two hits and fanning three opponents.

Massa wins shotput in meet with Peabody

The Winthrop High girls track team opened its season last week at Peabody. Although the Lady Vikings came out on the short end of the decision to the Lady Tanners, who are a perennial track power in the Northeastern Conference, WHS head coach Warren MacPhil was pleased with the efforts of many of his Lady Vikings.

“Although we lost, this was a very respectable performance by our team,” said the veteran coach.

The Lady Vikings were led by Gianna Massa, a newcomer to the spring track program. Gianna, who is coming off a superb indoor season, won the shotput with a personal record (PR)  throw of 33’-7” and placed second in the javelin with a toss of 70’.

Superstar gymnast and budding track star Christa Vaccaro won the long jump with a leap of 15’-7” and placed third in the triple jump with a landing of 30’-7”.

Fiona MacPhail and Shanel Turransky tied for second in the high jump, crossing the bar at a height of 4’-6”. Kim McDuffe tied for third with a jump of 4’-4”.

Heidy Benson placed second in the 400 dash with a solid early season time of 66.1 seconds. Sister Holly Benson missed qualifying for the state meet by just one second in the 800 with a clocking of 2:36 to take second place, an excellent performance for the first meet of the season.

Mackenzie Chiudina placed third in the triple jump with a leap of 28’-8”.

“With the addition of team members Emily McGovern, Regina Giarufo, Danielle Navarro, Ashley Miles, Kelsey Griffiths, Camilla Miranda-Llovera, Mary Kate Pote and returners Jillian Kfory and Liz McDuffee, the team looks to really improve this year,” added MacPhail, whose 2016 squad will be led by a trio of captains, Nina Leone, Shereen Lahlali, and Olivia Rago.

The Lady Vikings are scheduled to be back in action tomorrow (Friday) at Saugus and Tuesday at Salem.

From the Press Box sponsored by: MSA MORTGAGE

Play Ball

By: Jim Lederman

The Boston Red Sox and Winthrop Vikings will hear the umpire’s shout! ‘Let’s Play Ball.’ The Sox home opener is Monday, April 11th. The special senate election has been creating a ‘buzz’ around town – Election Day is April 12th.

The Big Blue of Swampscott invades Veteran’s Field on Wednesday, April 13th. Junior NEC all-star Gavin Sullivan will be on the mound for Swampscott. The son of former Viking all-scholastic three-sport standout Charles ‘Chuck’ Sullivan is one of the best p itches on the North shore. The crowd will be filled with ex-Viking teammates of Chuck and his wife, the former Pam Hubley. Granddad Norman is a member of the WHS Hall of Fame.

The Vikings under coach Frank DeMarco at the helm could send out junior ‘ace’ Jack Wallace, in what could be a pitcher’s duel.

Yes, April means baseball with the ‘Sox Nation’, cheering for the final season of the ‘Ortiz Saga.’ The Red Sox will spend the last year of one of the ‘greatest’ players to wear a Boston uniform.

‘Big Papi’ led the Red Sox to world championships in 2004, 2007 and 2013. The slugger has over 500 homeruns and is called one of the three greatest clutch hitters in Red Sox and baseball history.

I was at Fenway Park in 1960 to watch Ted Williams play his final game and hit a home run.

The victory over the hated New York Yankees in game 5 of the AL Championship at Fenway Park. Big Papi hit a single with two out and two on, to win the game and led to a championship in October 18, 2004.

Boston has been blessed with three of the greatest athletes – Larry Bird, Tom Brady and Big Papi – David Ortiz. Let’s count the world championships Boston the sports capital of America for world champions – The last 35 years has been filled with great memories.

We salute Big Papi in his final season in a Boston uniform! Can we have a return to the playoffs for the Boston Red Sox – stay tuned for an exciting summer.

Play Ball!

Behind the plate for Viking baseball

By: Jim Lederman

The sun is shining at ‘Vets Field’ to open up the 2016 baseball campaign for the Winthrop Vikings baseball team.

Coach Frank DeMarco entering his 16^th year as head coach of the Vikings, “We have strong senior leadership with six seniors, coach Matt Feeley is behind the plate and has a solid pitching staff to face a very competing NEC baseball schedule.”

Zach Fisher will play many positions and fellow seniors Nick DiScisio, Mike Casey, Joe Fabiano and Devin Perreria, will provide the leadership to guide this young team to a winning campaign.

“We were very excited to hear the vote to rebuild ‘Vets Field’ and to bring back winning baseball for the Vikings,” said an enthusiastic coach DeMarco.

Jack Wallace a very promising junior ‘Ace of the Staff’ leads the pitching core. “Nick DiScisio had a very strong pre-season,” lauded Coach DeMaro. Junior three-sport standout Chris Zuffante is another strong pitching prospect.

“Chris is the best athlete in the high school,” said Frank DeMarco. The NEC-all star football quarterback will be a key to a good year on the diamond.

Soph Jake Adamson is the second baseman. His dad Jimmy was an NEC all-star for the Vikings and super bowl standout in (1983-1984). Sophomores Jaidon Brown and Dean Paulson will give the Vikings depth.

The big first baseman Luigi Spinazzola is a standout first baseman and the third ‘spinner’ to be a two-sport (football and baseball) athlete for the Vikings.

The new field will be the first major improvement to ‘Vets Field’ since 1963.

The umpire will shout “Let’s Play Ball”

Let the Games Begin!

The Streak

The Winthrop football Vikings winning streak (33 games unbeaten) in (1981-1983) will not be broken. I watched the thrilling Boston Celtics (109-106) victory over the Golden State Warriors, to end their 54-game unbeaten streak at home.

The Celtics victory from the West Coast ended at 1 a.m. in the morning (Boston time). Sunday I was scanning the TV and turned on the Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Black Hawks game. The ‘Hawks’ led (6-0) before the Bruins scored four futile goals. Will the Bruins make the playoffs?

The Bruins team was decimated by former GM Peter Chiarelli. Coach Claude Julien’s job will be on the line. What about the Boston (sorry) TD Garden employees that look forward to the playoff games to earn extra money?

I’ll enjoy the NCA final game tonight (Monday) at JW’s Restaurant. Like North Carolina!

The Schedule

I hope the warm weather in April will be present at Veteran’s Field and Miller Field.

The Vikings baseball team plays host to the Big Blue of Swampscott Wednesday, April 11^th at Veteran’s Field.

Coach Matt Serino and his Viking boys Lacrosse team will match sticks at Miller Field with the Spartans of St. Mary’s of Lynn Friday, April 8^th.

Coach Dave Guffey’s Lady Vikings softball team kicks off their season today (Thursday) at the Little League Field, when they play host to Salem. The Marblehead Magicians and Lady Vikings will battle on the diamond on Monday, April 11^th.

I hope to see many Vikings fans enjoying the spring season (weather permitted) at Veteran’s and Miller Field!

Let the Games Begin!

Even my lucky Carolina Sweatshirt could not help the ‘Tarheels’

By: Jim Lederman

I was wearing my ‘Carolina Blue’ sweatshirt on Monday night. The North Carolina ‘Tarheels’ were favored to capture the NCAA championship.

The ‘Heels’ were upset by the Villanova ‘Wild Cats’ on a miracle 3-point shot by Kris Jenkins as the final buzzer sounded. The March Madness Tourney was one of the most exciting in many years. Final score, Villanova 77 – North Carolina 74.

The snow was falling on a blustery day in the month of April. I picked North Carolina to capture the final trophy. We will have to wait until football before I bring back my ‘crystal ball.’ Five months until Vikings football. I will skip Red Sox baseball and wait until the first Saturday in May – the ‘Run for the Roses”, the legendary “Kentucky Derby.” My favorite call “Two minutes to post time.”

See you at Suffolk Downs!