WHS Sports Roundup

WHS Softball Team Swamps Swampscott

The Winthrop High softball team celebrated its Senior Night in fitting fashion with a 14-2 victory over Swampscott last Thursday.

The Lady Vikings moved out to an early 2-0 lead and never looked back. Winthrop added six runs in the third and tacked on four in the fourth and two more in the fifth to bring an early end to the contest via the mercy rule.

Izzy Mahoney was a force at the plate for the Lady Vikings. Izzy led off the game with a home run and went 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored.

Katie Gagnon was a major contributor at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a triple, three runs scored, and two RBI.

Nelly Carter went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI, Rachel Farley had two hits, and Syd Crotty was 1-for-4.

Winthrop pitcher Sofia Vitale was tossing a no-no through the first four innings until Swampscott reached her for two runs in the top of the fifth.

This past Monday, the Winthrop girls made the long trek to Gloucester and came out on the short end of a 1-0 decision.

Both teams could muster only one hit and the lone tally by Gloucester was unearned when the lead-off hitter reached on an error, took second, moved to third on a passed ball, and then scored on a ground-out.

Winthrop suffered an unfortunate mishap when a line drive found its way into the Lady Viking dugout and struck Carter on the forearm, ending her day because of the swelling.

Winthrop had numerous chances to score, but was unable to notch the equalizer. In the fourth inning, Winthrop tried to play some small ball. After a Lady Viking tripled with one out, an attempted suicide squueze resulted in a double-play when the bunt was popped up and the runner was doubled-up at third.

The Lady Vikings loaded the bases with one out in the second and had the tying run on second in the seventh, but those threats likewise came to no avail.

“It was a great game, but it just wasn’t meant to be for us,” said WHS head coach Dave Guffey.

Guffey and his crew will wrap up their 2021 season in the coming week.  They were set to play at Salem yesterday (Wednesday) and then will host Masconomet tomorrow (Friday) at 4:00 at the Little League field, Danvers on Sunday, and Beverly on Monday (4:00 at the Little League field).

WHS Boys Lacrosse Blanks Salem, 15-0

The Winthrop High boys lacrosse team celebrated Senior Night in fitting fashion with a 15-0 victory over Salem on Monday at Miller Field.

The five members of the Class of 2021, Ricky Rosado, Conlan Peterson, Matt Hurley, Steve Perullo, and Ryan Hovermale, were honored for their contributions to the Viking lacrosse program.

Four of the five seniors, Hovermale, Rosado, Perullo, and Hurley found the back of the Salem net to lead the way for the Viking victory.

A number of the underclassmen also got into the scoring column, led by starting attackman Ryan Cifuni with four goals. Eighth-grader Dylan Sykes added two goals and Evan Hovermale chipped-in with a solo tally.

Goalie Juan Guauque earned the shutout, which is almost unheard-of in lacrosse, with a fine effort in the net.

“Our captains have done an excellent job in keeping the team positive and continuing to try to be competitive in a very difficult league,” said WHS head coach Brian Donnelly. “It was excellent to celebrate their accomplishments over the past three years that they have been a part of the program. They have been a great group of guys and the program is going to miss them.”

The Vikings were scheduled to meet Swampscott yesterday (Wednesday) and will host Beverly today (Thursday) and Danvers on Monday in the season finale. All of those contests will be played at Miller Field with the opening draw set for 4:00.

Hard-Fought Match for WHS Boys Tennis

The Winthrop High boys tennis team made the long and hot trek to Gloucester in Monday’s heat and turned in a fine effort before dropping a hard-fought 3-2 decision to the Fisherman.

Bobby Diaz, playing at second singles, played what WHS head coach Marie Finn termed “the best match of his career” with a victory in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, over his Gloucester counterpart.

“Every game was a close one, but Bobby was placing his shots beautifully,” said Finn.

The Winthrop second doubles duo of J.D. Parker and Ryan Kfoury also engaged in a hard-fought encounter, but prevailed in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5.

James Sicurella played well at first singles in a 2-6, 2-6 decision, as did Evan Smotrich at third singles, 3-6, 3-6.

“Evan is a senior who is playing tennis for the first time, but has been a major contributor to our team,” noted Finn. “He’s a hard worker and has been improving throughout the season.”

The first-doubles tandem of Augie Cherico and Ari Hain played well, but came up short by a score of 4-6, 3-6.

Finn and her crew will host Beverly tomorrow (Friday) at Ingleside Park at 4:00 in a contest that will be highlighted by Senior Day festivities.

WHS Girls Tennis Team Improves to 7-4

The Winthrop High girls tennis team improved to 7-4 with a 5-0 shutout of Gloucester this past Monday. 

The teams agreed to play a format of eight-game pro sets, instead of the usual best-of-three sets, because of the intense (95 degrees) heat on the asphalt courts at Ingleside Park.

Senior captain Natalia Kirilova handily won her match at first singles with an 8-2 victory over her Gloucester counterpart.

Senior captain Jami Snow triumphed at second singles, 8-4, and freshmen Genesis Bueno cruised to a win at third singles, 8-3.

The first doubles duo of juniors Emma Forsyth and Maddie Rossi edged their Lady Fishermen opponents in a close match, 8-6, and the second doubles tandem of seniors captain Emma Foley and fellow senior Karina Silva completed the shutout with an 8-3 victory.

“I was very happy with the team for battling the heat,” said WHS head coach Mike Nickerson. “The win guarantees us a winning record this season.  Only Natalia (Kirilova) played varsity in the past, so this is quite an accomplishment for the girls. 

“I am so happy that the seniors got a great win for their last match at home,” Nickerson added. “They are excellent role models for the younger players and I am so proud of all that they have accomplished.”

Last week Nickerson’s crew took the measure of Peabody, 4-1. 

The Lady Vikings swept the three singles matches, led by Kirilova’s win in straight sets at first singles, 6-2, 6-2.

Snow also glided to victory at second singles in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1, as did Bueno at third singles, 6-0, 6-2.

The first doubles team of Madeleine Rossi & Emma Forsyth won their match in come-from-behind fashion, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Winthrop was leading at second doubles, having taken the first set in a tiebreaker and holding a 2-1 advantage in the second, but had to withdraw from the match in order to get to their Class Night at the high school.

“I was really proud of Natalia, Jami, and Emma, who went to the prom the previous night and played on very little sleep,” noted Nickerson.

Winthrop has two matches left in their 2021 season. They will trek to Beverly tomorrow (Friday) and head to Danvers on Monday.

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