WHS Softball Team Earns First Victory
The Winthrop Vikings varsity softball team broke into the win column in a big way with a 19-7 triumph over Excel Academy Monday afternoon at the Little League field, marking the first career victory for new WHS head coach Erin Vercruysse.
Lily Tallent enjoyed a banner day, with four hits, including a pair of inside-the-park home runs, and five RBI. Teammates Gaby Golden, Hannah Barrett, Tina Fabiano, and Emma Harrison each had three hits. Gia Bakos delivered the base hit that drove in the game- ending run (invoking the mercy rule) in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Last Wednesday, the Lady Vikings dropped a nail-biter against Swampscott, 12-11.
“The girls played an incredibly hard-fought game,” said Vercruysse, who noted superb defensive plays by Golden, Amelia Spencer, and Tallent.
Golden, Tallent, Spencer (2), Bakos (2), and Samantha Harrison all tallied RBIs for Winthrop.
The Lady Vikings had the bases loaded in the last inning when Swampscott intentionally walked Golden, but Winthrop was unable to push across the tying run.
Last Friday, Vercruysse’s crew trekked to Salem for a chilly and windy battle and dropped an 18-6 decision in which Tallent delivered an inside-the-park homer.
“Our bats were hot, but they made some good fielding plays,” noted Vercruysse.
The Lady Vikings were scheduled to trek to Beverly yesterday (Wednesday) and will host Saugus tomorrow (Friday) at 4:30 at the Little League field. They will travel to Marblehead next Wednesday.
WHS Baseball Team Defeats Rockport, 10-3
The Winthrop High baseball team improved to 2-1 on the season with a 10-3 triumph over non-league opponent Rockport Saturday morning at Veterans Field.
“We scheduled Rockport this year knowing that they play in a tough conference, the CAL, and that they would be a scrappy team because they are very young,” said WHS head coach Mark DeGregorio.
Junior captain Matt DeCarney got the nod on the hill and turned in a superb effort, tossing five innings in which he struck out seven Rockport batters.
“Matt is a returning starting pitcher for us this year,” said DeGregorio. “He is someone who worked hard in the off-season and when he is locked in, his fastball can be electric.”
Senior Zach Bogusz came on in the sixth and shut the door on Rockport to earn the save.
The Vikings grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning after a leadoff single by Petey Silverman, who then stole two bases to get himself to third, from where he came home on a sacrifice fly by Phil Boncore.
“Petey had a great game at the plate and continues to show why he is a prototypical leadoff hitter,” DeGregorio said of Silverman, who went 2-for-2, with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, four runs scored, and three stolen bases, giving him five swipes for the season in three games.
Colin Kinsella swatted a two-run homer (with Silverman aboard) and the Vikings tacked on four runs in the sixth to put the game away.
Ryan Gagnon led off the sixth with a single, followed by a Silverman single and a walk to Kinsella. Phil Boncore accounted for two RBI with a base hit.
“Overall, we got some great contributions in this game from the entire team, and it was a good team win,” said DeGregorio. “We stressed how important these non-conference games are for us, knowing we play a much more difficult schedule this year and knowing how difficult the NEC is.”
Last Thursday, the Vikings played well in a 7-3 loss to a strong Peabody team.
“We knew going into the game that we were going to have to bring our ‘A’ game against them because they have been such a good team year after year and are very well coached,” said DeGregorio. “Overall, we played very well, but didn’t get the outcome we wanted.
“Phil Boncore started the game for us and really battled out there,” said DeGregorio. “It was his first varsity start on the mound and he was able to last five full innings. He is someone who is what we call a true competitor. The kid does not care who he is playing and how good someone else is. He has all the confidence in the world in himself, as do the coaches.
“We really liked the matchup with Philly against Peabody because he has a great slider,” continued DeGregorio. “Unfortunately, he had a tough time finding his slider, but he was able to utilize his cutter today to jam the righty hitters and get some outs for us.”
Peabody grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second inning, but the Vikings’ defense kept the contest close — Winthrop turned an inning-ending double play and made some spectacular plays in the field — heading into the fifth.
“I was really proud at how the team scratched and clawed their way back into the game going into the fifth inning, as it was 4-3,” said DeGregorio. “We had some timely hitting from Colin Kinsella who went 2-3 with two RBI and a triple, and Zach Bogusz who went 3-3 with two doubles.
“We have been really happy with how these two have been swinging the bat this year thus far. They have really done a good job of putting the ball in play and driving the ball,” DeGregorio added.
The visiting Tanners added three markers in the sixth and seventh innings to pull away for the win.
“After the game I stressed to the team that the results do not always fall the way we want,” said DeGregorio. “I truly believe that we played a great game, but we had a few tough breaks in the game. That happens in baseball and unfortunately that affects the final result. Peabody played some great defense and took away some extra base hits from us, and it ended up being a good win for them.
“I have asked this team to do one thing this year, and that is to ‘compete,’ compete every single day, in the classroom, at practice, in games and in life,” said DeGregorio. “If they want to achieve their end-of-the-year goals, they have to compete every single day and they will be happy with the end results. So far, we have competed well in every game and that is all a coach can ask for.”
The Vikings were scheduled to host Danvers yesterday (Wednesday) and will trek to Swampscott tomorrow (Friday) and to Saugus next Wednesday morning.
Cappuccio, Galuris Lead Way for Boys Track
Nichiolas Capuccio and George Galuris turned in outstanding individual performances for the Winthrop High boys outdoor track and field team in their meet last week with Swampscott.
Cappuccio won the high jump with a leap of 5′-8″, captured the 100 meter dash with a sprint of 11.4, and took second in the long jump with a flight of 17′-0″ to tally 13 points for Winthrop.
Galuris likewise placed 13 points on the Winthrop side of the scoresheet with victories in the long jump with a leap of 17′-2.5″ and the 200 dash in 24.75, and a second place in the 100 dash in a time of 11.66.
“Nick and George crushed it,” said WHS head coach Nk Beshere.
Daniel Guauque won the triple jump with a hop, skip, and jump of 33′-7.5″ and took third in the shot-put with a toss of 30′-11″ to register six points on the day.
Scoring three points for the Vikings with second-place performances were: Benjamin Prew in the javelin (102′-7″); Brady Tallent in the 400 meter hurdles (80.9) and the 110 meter hurdles (22.9); Demetri Koutsouflakis in the 200 (27.25); and Liam Natareno in the mile (6:09.8);
Adding single points to the WHS scoresheet with third place finishes were: Thomas D’Amico in the triple jump (27′-6.5″), the two-mile (13:41.3) and the 400 dash (61.3) and Liam Kenney in the 800 (2:29.3).
In addition, the 4 x 100 relay quartet of Galuris, Koutsouflakis, Guauque, and Brody Burrell outsprinted their Swampscott counterparts to win their race with a time of 49.9.
Abbott, Ferguson, Cappuccio Shine for Girls
Although the Winthrop High girls outdoor track and field team came up on the short end of an 89-43 decision to Northeastern Conference rival Swampscott in the season-opening meet last week, a number of the Lady Vikings turned in superb performances
April Ferguson won both the javelin with a toss of 64′-3″ and the two-mile run in a clocking of 15:41.6 and also added a third place in the 800 in 3:04.9 to accumulate 11 points for the Lady Vikings.
Arianna Capuccio was a double-winner, capturing the long jump with a leap of 14′-1″ and the 100 meter dash with a sprint of 13.8 to tally 10 points.
Shannon Abbott scored nine points, tying for first place in the high jump with a leap of 4′-4″; taking second place in the long jump with a flight of 13′-1.5″, and finishing in third place in both the 110 meter hurdles with a clocking of 20.0 and the 100 dash in a time of 14.5.
Contributing three points to the WHS cause with second-place finishes were: Jillian Buonopane in the 400 meter hurdles (1:27.1) and the 400 dash (77.2) and Daniela Gomez in the 200 dash (32.79);
Adding single points to the Lady Viking score sheet with third place efforts were: Marwa Mimouni in the high jump (4′-2″); Gabriela Currier in the 400 meter hurdles (1:27.5); Lylah Cassidy in the 400 dash (82.4); and Libby Carney in the mile (6:50.4).
“Shannon Abbott and April Fergurson are both establishing themselves as true track stars and very strong performers who can do multiple events,” said WHS head coach Warren MacPhail. “Arianna Cappuccio was a double-winner and first-year track athletes Jillian Buonopane, Gabriela Currier, Lyla Cassidy, and Haven Pereira all look to make our team deeper and better each week.”
Girls Lacrosse Defeats Saugus
The Winthrop High girls lacrosse team posted a 13-1 victory over Northeastern Conference rival Saugus last Thursday.
“It was a great game for us,” said WHS head coach Emma Marrs. “We were able to work on different parts of our attack and defense that we have been practicing during our practices. It’s pretty awesome when it all starts to come together and we can see success.”
Emma Holmes led the Lady Viking offense with four goals and an assist. Hannah Parker and Mia Norris scored two goals apiece and Julia Holmes, Elizabeth Quinn, Talia Martucci, Avalina Coffey, and Reese Ferrara all reached the back of the Saugus net.
This past Monday the Lady Vikings dropped a 9-6 decision to Swampscott.
“It was an awesome game,” noted Marrs. “Our defense looked really strong and our goalie, Adrianna Rizzotto, had some incredible saves. Our midfielders really worked hard to slow the ball down in the transition and our attacks did a great job possessing the ball and waiting for the right opportunity.”
Rizzotto finished with six saves on the day. Parker notched four goals and Emma Holmes struck for two tallies.
Marrs and her crew host Beverly today (Thursday) at Miller Field at 4:00 and will entertain Gloucester next Tuesday morning at 10:00. They will trek to Danvers next Thursday.
Undefeated Boys Lax Hosts Danvers Next Thurs.
The 3-0 Winthrop High boys lacrosse team will take on a trio of Northeastern Conference opponents this coming week. Coach Brian Donnelly’s crew will travel to Beverly today (Thursday) and to Gloucester on Monday.
They will return home to host Danvers next Thursday morning (April 20) at 10:00 on the turf at Miller Field.