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Before we can get started, we'd like your feedback. Please take this very brief survey - shouldn't take more than two minutes - to help us improve HockomockSports.com. Click HERE to take the survey. By Josh Perry, Managing Editor
ATTLEBORO, MASS. - It may not be very surprising that there was not a lot of red in the crowd, but there was plenty of blue and white as Attleboro native Geoff Cameron returned home from his World Cup exploits to receive the key to the city in front of a large crowd at Tozier-Cassidy Field. Attleboro High Principal Bill Runey, Attleboro soccer coach Peter Pereira, and Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas greeted Cameron, who played in three of the U.S. national team’s four games at the World Cup in Brazil. In front of an adoring crowd of youth soccer players, parents, friends, family, and well-wishers, Dumas announced that Thursday, July 17 was officially “Geoff Cameron Day” in Attleboro. “I remember the 1994 World Cup and my dad took me to the stadium and I think I got to see Colombia versus Ireland and I remember telling my dad that I wanted to play for the national team, that I wanted to play in the World Cup,” reflected Cameron. He continued, “The coolest moment is walking out of the tunnel that first time…and you’re thinking this is the moment that you’ve been waiting for your entire life, so take advantage of it.” Cameron has long praised the youth program in Attleboro and, in particular, Pereira for giving him the start to his soccer career and he reiterated that on Thursday evening. He said, “Attleboro Youth Soccer is where I started off my career and from there to playing for Bayside and then the Boston Bolts and then on to college and from college to getting drafted. I just had a love for the game, whether it was outside in the backyard or running over here and playing on whatever pitch I could find.” After the ceremony, as Cameron sat down for what turned out to be a couple hours of signing jerseys, hats, and posters and taking countless photos, Pereira recalled when he knew that the young player, who spent two seasons at Attleboro High before moving on to Providence Country Day, had the potential to make it to the next level. “When he was 10, you could already tell that he was quick and he could do stuff with the ball and he was always playing with kids that were two or three years older than him,” he said. “You watch him today and it was the same way that he played then.” Pereira, who has been the coach at Attleboro High for 34 years, was thrilled to be able to organize an event like Thursday’s ceremony. After all, it is only a select number of communities in the United States that can celebrate a player returning from World Cup duty. “It’s really exciting; it happens once in your lifetime. What are the chances that I’ll have another player that gets there? The road is long and hard to get there,” he said. “I’m really proud of him and I’m happy that he’s doing well and representing Attleboro and our whole community.” Attleboro High rising senior Matt Rodrigues, who was both a HockomockSports.com Best XI performer and Hockomock All-Star last season, has been close to Cameron for a number of years. He called Cameron an inspiration for the young players in attendance. “It’s just good to see that there is a chance for everyone to go somewhere -- no matter where it is,” said Rodrigues, who is currently looking to play at the Division I level in college with Cameron’s alma mater URI on the list of interested schools. “It’s good to see that he played club, went to college, and ended up playing professionally. So, everyone has their different path and where you take it is on you,” he continued. “It just shows that everyone has their own path and that they’ll end up somewhere.” Cameron reflected on his best and worst moments of the World Cup -- with the exciting victory over Ghana being at the top of the list and his exclusion from the group stage finale against Germany at the low point of the tournament. But, no matter the highs or lows, Cameron urged all of the aspiring soccer stars in attendance to keep their focus on improving each day. “Discipline, dedication, and desire -- three D’s that my dad taught me since I was a little kid,” he said. “Instead of going out with your friends and hanging out doing things you’re not supposed to, I was in the backyard juggling a soccer ball and challenging myself to get better and better every single day.” Cameron added, “Most importantly…dream big, take little steps each day to achieve those dreams, and anything is possible. Some people told me that I would never play soccer…but every single day I wake up and get to kick a soccer ball for a living.” Next up for Cameron is a return to his club team, Stoke City, in the Premier League. He will return to his home in Manchester, England and to the Potters at the end of July -- a much needed rest after the mental and physical toil of the World Cup. Even if this World Cup just ended last weekend, it’s hard for Cameron to not look ahead to the next four years and the possibility of taking the field again for the U.S. when the next tournament begins in Russia in 2018. “You never know when it’s going to be your last so you need to take full advantage of your opportunities,” he reflected. “Hopefully I will be back in four years and this crowd will be even larger.” Josh Perry can be contacted at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @Josh_Perry10. Last year, Franklin girls soccer set a precedent for the Top 15 Moments Countdown by going undefeated and winning the D1 State Championship. And this year's number one was no different: another unbeaten, state championship team. Mansfield football went 13-0 and used a second half surge to take down St. John's in the D2 State Championship, 28-14, at Gillette Stadium. Here is a look at the Hornets' season, from start to finish. First, we take a look at HockomockSports.com season preview for Mansfield: Mansfield came out and set the tone in the first game of the season, traveling to Baltimore and picking up one of the most impressive out-of-state wins from a Massachusetts team in over a decade. Tom Peace and Scott Barboza had the coverage for ESPNBoston.com: The Hornets traveled for an out of state showdown, as No. 4 Mansfield battled 9-time Maryland state champions, Paul Laurence Dunbar school out of Baltimore Friday night and came away victorious, winning 29-26 over the Poets. In game two of the season, Mansfield scored two running touchdowns - an 8-yard run from Chris Buchanon in the first quarter and a 39-yard run from Miguel Villar-Perez in the third quarter - and a 24-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Wisnieski to Brendan Keady and shutout Milton, 21-0. For game three, Mansfield came out against rival North Attleboro and showed up their swiss-army knife offense. Mike Scandura recapped the game for ESPNBoston.com: Mansfield coach Mike Redding is like a kid in a toy store. Next up was a date at the brand new Tozier-Cassidy Field and the upstart Attleboro Bombardiers. The battle of high octane offenses didn't disappoint either. Stephen Sellner covered the shootout for The Boston Globe: Third-ranked Mansfield survived a shootout with No. 20 Attleboro on Friday night, escaping Tozier-Cassidy Field with a 49-42 win. In their fifth game of the season, the Hornets opened the game with three scores in the first quarter alone and went on to rout Taunton, 42-8. Miguel Villar-Perez and Alex Ruddy each scored two touchdowns. The next week brought a battle of undefeated teams in Mansfield and King Philip. It was billed as a battle of Mansfield's offense and King Philip's defense but in the end, it was the Hornet defense that stepped up. Ryan Lanigan covered the game for HockomockSports.com: Despite all of the hype leading up the game, it wasn't Mansfield's offense or King Philip's defense that had people talking after the game. After the game against KP, Mansfield went on to travel to another rival: Franklin. But just like the previous games, Mansfield took care of business in a 35-13 win. Eric Young covered the game for the MetroWest Daily News: With its playoff life hanging in the balance, the Franklin High football team took the field Friday night knowing that a victory was of the highest order. Next up was the playoffs for Mike Redding and his Hornets. And that's when Mansfield unleashed another offensive weapon. Ryan Lanigan had the details for ESPNBoston.com: When it looked like Wellesley's defense found a way to limit Mansfield's high-power offense, the Hornets displayed yet another weapon. Next up was 4th-seeded Needham. Mansfield looked to be in control with a 35-7 lead, but had to hold on for a one-touchdown win. Peter Gobis covered the game for The Sun Chronicle: Scoring on their first five offensive possessions, creating a 35-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter of the MIAA Division 2 playoff game, the unbeaten Mansfield High School football team had executed its game plan to near perfection, in addition to securing a pair of takeaways and two quarterback sacks. Following the win over Needham, Mansfield had to take on Barnstable in the D2 South title game. Scott Barboza recapped the Hornets' win for ESPNBoston.com: At the heart of defending against Mansfield’s offense is a simple numbers game. Next up was the Division 2 State Semifinal. It was a battle of the D2 South and D2 North champs, but instead of a tight game, it was the equivalent to Germany's 7-1 win over Brazil in the 2014 World Cup Semifinal. Mansfield won, 41-0. Ryan Lanigan covered the game for HockomockSports.com: Mansfield scored on their first six drives of the game and their defense allowed just three first downs as the Hornets cruised to a 41-0 win over Waltham in the Division 2 State Semifinal. With the new playoff format, Mansfield had already secured their ticket to the Super Bowl but had one game prior to it. And it wasn't just a meaningless game - it was on Thanksgiving against longtime rival Foxboro. Redding claimed that Mansfield would play to win and that they wanted to be 12-0 going into the state title game. Mike Scandura covered the game for The Boston Globe: No Brendan Hill. And just like that, Mansfield was 12-0 and entered Gillette Stadium just a win away from a perfect season. Despite trailing at halftime, Mansfield showed their heart and came away with the win to complete the perfect season. Cameron Merritt covered the final win for HockomockSports.com: After a heartbreaking loss in this same game last season, the Mansfield High Hornets capped off an undefeated season by defeating the St. John’s (Shrewsbury) Pioneers 28-14 to win the MIAA Division II Super Bowl. Video from ESPNBoston.com The Top 15 Countdown
#2: Honoring Their Coach #3: Kings of the Mat #4: The Last Gasp Goal #5: Honesty, Sportmanship #6: True Teammates #7: Six Players Join The Club #8: A Shot Worth The Wait #9: Repeat Sectional Champs #10: The Rivalry Rematch #11: Vaulting To The Top #12: Triple Overtime Thriller #13: The Brick Wall #14: Making A Big Splash #15: The Buzzer Beater Honorable Mention: The Finalists 2012-2013: The Complete Countdown By Josh Perry, Managing Editor In the midst of another dominating and undefeated Hockomock League season by the Franklin girls’ lacrosse team, the coaches gathered and chose senior midfielder Marta Versprille as the league’s MVP. Four years ago, another Versprille was honored with the same award -- Marta’s sister Anne. “It meant so much to me to be named Hock MVP,” said Marta shortly after the season ended. “Many girls in the league are deserving of the title, especially a number of my teammates. I think it really could've gone to anyone this year and I’m honored to be chosen.” The two sisters can actually thank the middle sibling, their brother Jake, for beginning the family’s fascination with lacrosse. Jake and his cousin Sam were the first to pick up the sport in elementary school, the year that Franklin began a town league. It wasn’t until a few years later that Anne and Marta also had a league to join and they were instantly hooked as well. “Once I started playing, I loved it,” said Anne by email. “We always played a lot in the backyard together, and we still do. We have a small backyard so maybe that helped us with our stick skills a little bit -- after a few broken windows.” Jake, who just completed his sophomore season on the Springfield College men’s lacrosse team, added, “As much as my mom tries to avoid the subject at the dinner table, it seems like we always end up talking about lacrosse. Whether it’s a game in general, or specific plays of match ups and whatnot we always try to help one another out.” The long hours of playing in the backyard translated to success on the field. Anne was part of a Franklin team that started a run of domination in the Hockomock. Since her final season in 2010, the Panthers have gone 57-1 in the league (the lone loss was 11-10 to King Philip in 2012, according to former coach Chris Schmidt). This season was arguably the best in the program’s history. With Marta, who was named HockomockSports.com Player of the Year for the second season in a row (the first player to do so), leading the way as the “do-everything midfielder,” according to head coach Kristin Igoe, the Panthers capped a perfect league season by winning the team’s first sectional title (in the most dramatic way imaginable). Marta’s success on the field has come as no surprise to her family members. “Anne and I always said that Marta would end up being the best individual player, and right now it looks like she is,” said Jake. “I can definitely see Marta making a huge impact, if not an immediate impact going into her freshman year [of college].” Anne was on the sidelines as the Panthers made their run through the playoffs. Although she says that she tried to avoid giving too much advice, Anne was proud both as a Franklin girls’ lax alum and as an older sister. She explained, “It’s really fun to watch your siblings work hard and succeed at something you know they love to do. They both work really hard and are great teammates which makes me the most proud.” Marta noted that the success of Anne, who was named the NEWMAC Women’s Lacrosse Athlete of the Year this past spring in her senior season at Springfield College, helps provide motivation to work on her own game. (Of Anne, Jake noted, “There is an inside joke on my team at Springfield that they would trade me for Anne in any sport, not just lacrosse.") "I watched how hard they worked in high school in order to play in college and that inspired me to do the same," Marta said. "Every game and practice, I wanted to get better so I could have the chance to play in college just like them." With both of her siblings finding success at Springfield College, there was a measure of surprise that Marta would not be following them but will be headed to St. Anselm College in the fall. When asked about that decision, she explained, “It wasn't tough to make the decision because I never felt pressured by anyone to follow my siblings to Springfield. Both of them were extremely supportive with whatever decision I wanted to make and are very happy for me.” The word legacy can be daunting. When asked about the family's history of success at Franklin, all three were quick to point out the talented teammates that they played with. As Jake said, “Without help from our teammates, I am sure we wouldn't have been where we are today. Without them, there is no ‘legacy.’” Marta commented, “I think more about what Franklin lacrosse has done for my family members and I.” She continued, “The boys’ and girls’ lacrosse programs have given us countless opportunities to make new friends and be part of something at the high school. Due to the strength of the programs, we improved and were given chances to play at the college level.” Anne also pointed to the impact of the sport, the school and the programs on her family. “Now that all three of us are done, it’s pretty cool to look back and see that we all succeeded and had a lot of fun playing Franklin lacrosse but we got a lot in return,” she said. “We all used Franklin lacrosse as a platform that got us to the next level of academics and athletics. Now that I am done at both Springfield and Franklin, I really have an appreciation for both programs and what they have done for my life.” Josh Perry can be contacted at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @Josh_Perry10. Just over one year after the tragic passing of Oliver Ames senior wrestler Devin Ness, the Tigers lost another member of their athletic family. Oliver Ames boys basketball assistant coach Patrick Brennan passed away suddenly in February at the age of 65. As it was a year prior, mourning brought inspiration. In 2013, Oliver Ames wrestlers honored their teammate Ness for the rest of the season, including an emotional win from Jake McCabe at the Hockomock League Championships. In 2014, the Tigers hoops team was having an up-and-down season. They had lost three in a row to put their playoff hopes on the edge. They won two straight, including a rout of first-place Sharon, which was the last game Brennan would be on the bench for. Just a day after Brennan's sudden passing, the Tigers showed their emotions and edged rivals Stoughton. Oliver Ames went on to win their final three games after Brennan's passing to qualify for the postseason. It wasn't just the boys program at Oliver Ames that Brennan had an impact on as he was a guidance counselor at Brockton High for 36 years and coached multiple sports for the Boxers. The Brockton Enterprise covered OA's win over Stoughton: Amid a large pile of photos, scrapbooks and albums of Patrick Brennan on Paula Brennan's kitchen table is a small piece of paper that she locates. In a game at Bridgewater State, Brockton and Oliver Ames honored Brennan with warm up t-shirts with his name on them. Both OA coach Laney Clement-Holbrook and Brockton coach April Dingwell both knew Brennan. The Enterprise covered the game at BSU: Both teams entered the game with heavy hearts after the sudden passing of former Brockton girls coach and Oliver Ames boys assistant coach Pat Brennan last week. After a moment of silence before the game, Oliver Ames coach Elaine Clement-Holbrook and Brockton coach April Dingwell presented the Brennan family with flowers. Brockton players and coaches also wore T-shirts that had "Coach Brennan" on the back. "He just loved the game of basketball. We lost a great coach, and I lost a good friend," said Don Byron, head coach of the Oliver Ames boys basketball team. The Top 15 Countdown
#3: Kings of the Mat #4: The Last Gasp Goal #5: Honesty, Sportmanship #6: True Teammates #7: Six Players Join The Club #8: A Shot Worth The Wait #9: Repeat Sectional Champs #10: The Rivalry Rematch #11: Vaulting To The Top #12: Triple Overtime Thriller #13: The Brick Wall #14: Making A Big Splash #15: The Buzzer Beater Honorable Mention: The Finalists 2012-2013: The Complete Countdown During the winter months, a lot of attention goes to the ever-talented Hockomock basketball league - both boys and girls - as well as hockey, which always is competitive. But when it comes to success, it was a different sport that experienced the success. In wrestling this season, the Hock saw history be made at the league championship meet as well as multiple individual State Champions. Even more so, there were a couple of wrestlers that went on to have success at the New England Championship meet. First, it was Canton senior Chris Sullivan and made his way through arguably the most talented weight class - 152 - at the Hockomock League Championships. His win in the finals wasn't just another win either, it made league history. Josh Perry talked about the history making win for HockomockSports.com: With a victory in the final over North Attleboro’s Austin Renzi at 152, Canton senior Chris Sullivan accomplished something that had never been done before. The Bulldogs all-time leader in career wins -- with more than 130 -- became the first wrestler to bring home four Hockomock championships in a career. It was an exciting final at Oliver Ames High School, but in the end it was Franklin that walked away with the win. Here is the rest of Perry's coverage of the event for HockomockSports.com: On Saturday, the Franklin wrestling team added a team title at the Hockomock Championships to the league title that the Panthers had earned during the dual meet season. Franklin had five individuals bring home Hockomock titles and garnered 256 points as a team to hold off rival North Attleboro (225 points) to win the team crown at the meet, which was held at Oliver Ames. As the season went on, Hockomock teams and wrestlers advanced to the state tournament. There was plenty of success, including wins from Franklin's Cam Kelly (113) and Griffin Tighe (195). Jared Keene covered the D1 Central Sectional for The MetroWest Daily News: Franklin senior Cam Kelly and Lincoln-Sudbury senior Mac Hamilton have become quite familiar with each other on the mat this season. Franklin's duo weren't the only ones that went on to find success at state tournaments. In Division 2, three Hockomock wrestlers won state titles. North Attleboro's Austin Renzi (152), Milford's Grady D'Antonio (285) and Stoughton's Frank Girolamo (220). Jay Miller covered Girolamo's win for The Brockton Enterprise: Frank Girolamo of Stoughton was an underdog on Saturday night, even when he made it to the finals of the Division 2 State Wrestling Championships at North Andover High. Girolamo isn’t your typical 220-pounder, unless you’re creating a Flutie Class within that division. In Division 3's state meet, Canton finished second as a team behind first place finishes from Sullivan and Quinn Merrigan and a second place finish from Rob Dicalogero. Foxboro's Matt Kelley (113) and Brian Kelley (120) each finished second. At the All-State meet, Cam Kelly came in second at 113, Merrigan placed second at 138, Sullivan placed second at 152, North Attleboro's Evan Packert came in second at 170, Tighe won the 195 division, and Girolamo came in second at 220. At New Englands, three wrestlers made it all the way to the final four. Tighe bowed out in the semi-finals at 195 and Kelly and Merrigan each placed second in all of New England. The Top 15 Countdown
#4: The Last Gasp Goal #5: Honesty, Sportmanship #6: True Teammates #7: Six Players Join The Club #8: A Shot Worth The Wait #9: Repeat Sectional Champs #10: The Rivalry Rematch #11: Vaulting To The Top #12: Triple Overtime Thriller #13: The Brick Wall #14: Making A Big Splash #15: The Buzzer Beater Honorable Mention: The Finalists 2012-2013: The Complete Countdown North Attleboro senior pitcher Meg Colleran has been named the 2014 HockomockSports.com Softball Player of the Year after leading the Rocketeers to their first ever Division 1 South sectional final. Colleran was also selected as the league MVP by the coaches and was named the 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year. HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry said, "Meg was the dominant starter that everyone had expected her to be this season. She led the league in strikeouts and at times carried the Rocketeers against the best competition in the state. She was also a great hitter and part of North's potent top of the order. All-around, she deserved the accolades that went her way this season." Colleran was an absolute force in the circle for Big Red. She posted a miniscule 0.39 ERA in 162 innings pitched. She struck out a league-high 244 batters and allowed just nine earned runs all season. In the D1 Sectional Finals, Colleran allowed just one hit but the Rocketeers fell to eventual state champs, Bridgewater-Raynham. It wasn't just pitching for Colleran either, as she was second for North Attleboro with a .415 average and was first on the team with a .484 on-base percentage. Her 34 hits were a team-high, as well as her 30 RBI, eight doubles, three triples, three home runs and her .695 slugging percentage. Colleran will be playing for UMass Amherst next year. Honorable Mention: Jesse Aleixo, Taunton - Allie Piergustavo, Milford - Aimee Kistner, Taunton The 2014 HockomockSports.com Starting Lineup Catcher - Brie Flaherty, Franklin Franklin junior Brie Flaherty had a big season behind the dish for the Panthers. The 5'5" junior caught both Sabrina LoMonaco and Lilly Criscione throughout the season and was one of the top defensive catchers in the Hockomock. She batted .272 on the season and knocked in 22 runs for the Panthers. She scored six runs of her own and had seven doubles on the season. Flaherty also smacked four home runs in her junior campaign and listed History as her favorite subject. First Base - Allie Piergustavo, Milford Milford junior Allie Piergustavo had yet another strong year for the Scarlet Hawks. Playing at first, Piergustavo was a constant in the lineup for first-year coach Steve DiVitto. In the regular season, the 5'8" junior batted an impressive .413 and knocked in 23 runs. She had 26 hits in the regular season and hit four home runs. Piergustavo was named a Hockomock League All Star by the coaches and listed English as her favorite subject. Second Base - Marissa Gifford, North Attleboro North Attleboro's Marissa Gifford had another stellar year at second base for Big Red. The 5'4" senior was an anchor in the field defensively for the Rocketeers and also got it done at the plate. offensively, she batted .381 on the season with 32 hits. She knocked in 15 runs throughout the campaign to help North Attleboro to its first ever D1 South Sectional Final. Gifford was one of three Rocketeers named a Hockomock League All Star and said Biology is her favorite subject. Third Base - Shannon Jones, King Philip King Philip's Shannon Jones was one of the most solid defensive third baseman in the league. The senior also finished with a batting average of .310, including a .400 average over the second half of the season as the Warriors finished strong and clinched a tie for the Kelley-Rex division title. Shannon listed her favorite subject in school as Calculus. Shortstop - Jordan Wade, Taunton Taunton shortstop Jordan Wade followed up her impressive freshman campaign with another strong season. Defensively, Wade was on another level at the shortstop position for the Tigers. At the plate, she batted .375 on 30 hits, including eight extra base hits. She knocked in 23 runs and scored 27 runs herself. Wade was one of four Taunton players to be named Hockomock League All Star by the coaches and listed English as her favorite subject. Outfield - Kailey March, Taunton Taunton senior Kailey March was a vital part in leading the Tigers to 20 wins this season. March, who roams centerfield for Taunton, had a team-high 31 runs scored, nine doubles and three triples. She batted .337 on the season and knocked in 12 runs. Defensively, March made just one error all season, the least for regular field players on Taunton. March was also a threat on the bases, stealing five bases, third most for the Tigers. March said that Science is her favorite subject at school. Outfield - Brianna Sebio, King Philip King Philip junior rightfielder Brianna Sebio had a great year in the outfield for the Warriors, "flawless" according to KP coach Norm Beauchemin. Sebio, who was named a league all-star by the Hockomock coaches, also batted .413 on the season and drove in 17 runs while scoring 14 times herself. Sebio listed Chemistry as her favorite subject in school. Outfield - Missy Krim, Oliver Ames Oliver Ames' Missy Krim had a breakout year for the Tigers. The 5'0" sophomore was a key part in getting the offense going for Oliver Ames. Krim, a slap-hitter, batted .405 for the season, with a .446 slugging percentage and a .402 on-base percentage and knocked in 10 runs. She was also a threat once she reached base, stealing 14 bases on the season and scoring 16 runs. Krim listed English as her favorite subject in school. Designated Player - Aimee Kistner, Taunton Taunton sophomore Aimee Kistner had a breakout year for the Tigers this season. Kistner played multiple roles in helping Taunton reach 20 wins on the season, including pitching. At the plate, Kistner had an absolute monstrous year, batting a league-high .462 on the season and knocking in a league-high 36 runs. Her five home-runs were a team-best and she also led the Tigers in hits (36) and doubles (9). Kistner also had a good year on the mound, going 2-0 with a 0.78 ERA. Kistner was named a Hockomock League All Star and listed Anatomy and Physiology as her favorite subjects. BenchThe 2014 HockomockSports.com Pitching Rotation Starting Pitcher - Megan Colleran, North Attleboro Saying that North Attleboro pitcher Meg Colleran had a superb year would be a severe understatement. Colleran was far and away the best pitcher in the state this season, posting a 0.39 ERA with 244 strikeouts. She only allowed nine earned runs all season wand had a 0.51 WHIP. She walked just 21 batters in 162 innings pitched. She also batted a team-high .415 and knocked in 30 runs for Big Red. She listed Physics as her favorite subject and will be playing at UMass Amherst next year. King Philip sophomore Kali Magane was named the second annual HockomockSports.com Softball Underclassman of the Year after a strong performance in the circle and at the plate for the league champion Warriors. Magane started the season at second base and platooning as pitcher, but by midseason she had established herself as the Warriors No. 1 and not surprisingly that coincided with a solid stretch for KP that included 11 wins in a row. That stretch enabled the Warriors to earn a share of the league title with Taunton. "Magane showed tenacity as a pitcher and had the right combination of speed and movement to dominate games," said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. "Her ability to change a game both with the bat and in the circle was impressive for someone playing what was essentially their first varsity season -- expectations will be high for the next two years." Magane finished the regular season at 10-0 with 133 strikeouts and had a minuscule 0.75 ERA during that run. She also led the Warriors with a .436 batting average. “She’s been really pitching well, moving the ball around and not walking batters,” said KP coach Norm Beauchemin following the team's win over Franklin late in the season. “She’s been able to get herself out of trouble…We’re going to face adversity every game and we need someone to get out of it -- she can get out of it.” Magane is the second KP sophomore to have won this award, following teammate Rennee Poirier in 2013. Honorable Mention: Jordan Wade, Taunton - Aimee Kistner, Taunton - Mycala Moody, North Attleboro Coach of the Year - Dave Lewry, Taunton Taunton head coach Dave Lewry has been named the second annual HockomockSports.com Softball Coach of the Year after leading the Tigers to a share of the Kelley-Rex division title -- the program's first and the school's third overall since it joined the league two years ago. "Obviously, Taunton has a ton of talent," said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry, "but it was clear right from the start that they were also very well coached and fundamentally sound. The team was one of the best defensive teams in the league and also one of the best lineups top to bottom and a lot of that was from the work that the players did with the coaching staff." Lewry follows former Milford coach Brian Macchi as the second winner of this award. Honorable Mention- Bill Wallace, North Attleboro - Steve DiVitto, Milford - Mark Maguire, Foxboro It was a bit of a see-saw battle in the Division 1 East Finals between Franklin and Concord-Carlisle. The Patriots' offense went to work right away before Franklin finally settled down and took control for the middle portion of the game. In the second half, the Patriots battled back. But Franklin went with the strategy of keep away, and it worked -- well, almost. Leading 10-9 with a minute to go until they would crowned D1 East Champs, the Panthers turned it over and within 20 seconds, their one-goal lead turned into a one-goal deficit to CC. As the final seconds ticked away, it appeared that it would be the Patriots that would take the title, but with just two seconds left, everything changed again. Ryan Lanigan covered the game for HockomockSports.com: If you blinked, you might have missed it. Before every tournament game this season, Maegan Schmauder’s mentality has been, “Just don’t make this your last one.” The Franklin girls lacrosse team found itself in a familiar situation in the Division 1 East championship on Sunday. The Top 15 Countdown
#5: Honesty, Sportmanship #6: True Teammates #7: Six Players Join The Club #8: A Shot Worth The Wait #9: Repeat Sectional Champs #10: The Rivalry Rematch #11: Vaulting To The Top #12: Triple Overtime Thriller #13: The Brick Wall #14: Making A Big Splash #15: The Buzzer Beater Honorable Mention: The Finalists 2012-2013: The Complete Countdown On Thursday afternoon, North Attleboro principal Craig Juelis announced that Derek Herber had accepted the position as the head girls’ basketball coach. Herber takes over for John Del Bonis, who stepped aside shortly after the season ended with the team’s tournament loss to Foxboro. Herber was the boys’ track coach and an assistant coach with the football team at North Attleboro. He is also a history teacher at the school and a 1991 graduate of North. Although Herber has not coached basketball in several years, Juelis highlighted his understanding of the sport and what is needed to build the program as two of the reasons for his selection. “Derek has the right balance between basketball knowledge and working with the overall program,” said Juelis by phone on Thursday. “He will need to lead the program not just for this coming season, but for the next few years down the road.” There were two rounds of interviews, according to Juelis. The first was conducted by Athletic Director Kurt Kummer to narrow down the candidates to the top four and then a second interview was held with the principal. Juelis said that the two then worked together on the final decision. Juelis added that he believes Herber is the right person “to sustain the level of success” that the Rocketeers have enjoyed in recent seasons. North has won back-to-back Kelley-Rex division titles and returns a core of strong players including seniors Melissa Beaupre and Danielle Perron and talented young players with varsity experience such as sophomores Julia Strachan and Ashley Ahern. Herber gained national notoriety this past spring when he reported an incorrect score at the Division 2 track meet that cost the Rocketeers the state championship, which instead was awarded to Central Catholic. “I truly believe that any coach, any coach in North Attleboro, any coach at Central Catholic and 99 percent of the coaches in the state of Massachusetts in all sports would have done the same thing,” Herber told the Boston Globe. When asked about that incident and whether it played a role in the decision to hire Herber for the vacant position, Juelis said, “That says a lot about the character of the person. I think it’s something that we would expect of all our coaches…it’s within our culture here.” Juelis added, “He did the right thing; not the popular thing.” Franklin junior attack Jack Vail has been named the 2014 HockomockSports.com Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year. Vail was an offensive juggernaut, helping the Panthers to a share of the Kelley-Rex Division title. Vail was one of the best scorers in the entire league, scoring 60 goals on the season and adding 48 assists for an impressive total of 108 points. "Jack was one of the most consistent players in the entire league throughout the season," HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan said. "It seemed as though Jack was always involved in scoring a big goal for the Panthers. He not only had a great season in terms of scoring himself, he was able to draw the attention of defenses and became a true assist man as well. Those two things right there are big factors in why Jack was named Player of the Year for HockomockSports.com." Vail started the season with six points - two goals and four assists - in the first game and didn't slow down at all throughout the season. He scored six goals to help the Panthers avenge a loss to KP, which eventually led to a division title split between the two teams. In the playoffs, Vail scored four goals and added three assists to lead Franklin to a 12-6 win over Dartmouth. Honorable Mention: Luc Valenza, Foxboro - Johnny Piatelli, King Philip - James Kummer, North Attleboro Hock 5
King Philip sophomore attack Johnny Piatelli has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Lacrosse Underclassman of the Year. Piatelli set a KP record for goals scored in a season with 73 goals and was also voted a Hockomock League All Star by the coaches. Piatelli's record year propelled KP to a share of the Kelley-Rex divisional title with Franklin. On top of his 73 goals, he added 38 assists for a total of 111 points. Even more impressive was his 46% shooting percentage. "Johnny is a great all around attackman," KP head coach Jacob Kravitz said. "Obviously everyone noticed the goals, but his passing is excellent and his hustle in the ride game is underrated. He's very passionate about lacrosse and wants to push himself to play at the highest level he can." Piatelli is the second straight sophomore to win the award and the second straight Kelley-Rex player following Franklin's Michael Sullivan last season. Honorable Mention: Paul Macrina, King Philip - Pat McCarthy, Foxboro - Austin Kent, Franklin - Ben O'Neill, Canton Coach of the Year - Patrick Kelley, Sharon Sharon head coach Patrick Kelley has been named the 2014 HockomockSports.com Boys Lacrosse Coach of the Year. Kelley led the Eagles to their first ever Hockomock League Davenport Division title, going 10-3 in league play and 13-5 overall.
Kelley helped lead a young team through a tough season last year and into a turnaround season this year. The Eagles went 3-13 in 2013 before the complete turnaround this season. "Patrick was able to keep expectations high for his team and Sharon really flew high this season," HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan said. "It was clear the Eagles bought into his message and they believed they could beat anyone under his leadership." Kelley is the second straight Davenport Division coach to win the award, following Canton's Bill Bendell last season. Honorable Mention: Jacob Kravitz, King Philip - Lou Verrochi, Franklin - Kevin Young, North Attleboro Picture this: You're a coach that is set to step down at the end of the season and after years of hard work, you're team has achieved the ultimate goal of winning a state championship - for the second straight year nonetheless. That scenario seemed to play out perfectly for Derek Herber and the North Attleboro spring track team. In the final event of the D2 State Championship, North Attleboro did just enough in the 4x400 relay to edge Central Catholic by one point. It was almost a storybook ending for Herber, but during school the following week, something wasn't adding up. After calculating the results, Herber discovered something wasn't right. In today's society, there are plenty of people that would have been content to say, 'Oh well' and carry on with life as if nothing happened. But not for Herber, who consulted with assistant coaches to double check his math and then North AD Kurt Kummer. Once they figured out what happened, they contacted the MIAA without hesitation, completely ready to forfeit the state title, which in the end, they hadn't earned. Andrew MacDougall covered how everything unfolded for The Boston Globe: He is a teacher of history, not math, but something wasn’t adding up for Derek Herber. Herber's decision was a true breath of fresh air. In the news today, it's often the negative that's highlighted over the positive. Herber admitted to doing 20-plus interviews for just doing right thing, including getting recognized on Boston talk radio. Boston Globe columnist Chris Gasper had high praise for Herber: Thank you, Derek Herber, for reminding us you don’t have to win to be a winner, for reaffirming our faith in the idea that sports can be about more than the final score or first place. The Top 15 Countdown
#6: True Teammates #7: Six Players Join The Club #8: A Shot Worth The Wait #9: Repeat Sectional Champs #10: The Rivalry Rematch #11: Vaulting To The Top #12: Triple Overtime Thriller #13: The Brick Wall #14: Making A Big Splash #15: The Buzzer Beater Honorable Mention: The Finalists 2012-2013: The Complete Countdown During a season, there are countless hours spent by athletes on the courts, on the fields, in the weight room, at team dinners and on bus rides. Just about any other free time there is, is occupied by school work and more dedication to athletics. When it comes to playoffs, all of that can be taken away in an instant. No matter the ending, it hurts - bad, especially for seniors. It's even worse if you've put in all of that effort and miss the final game with your teammates. Oliver Ames boys soccer had their run come to an end in the D2 South Sectional Finals in a 2-0 loss to Walpole. You could see the players' emotion after the game during the trophy presentation. But for the Tigers, their day wasn't over. And though they lost the game, they finished the day as true winners. Chris McDaniels explained for The Brockton Enterprise: During player introductions at the Division 2 South Sectional final on Nov. 11, the Oliver Ames High boys soccer team had one player absent – Ethan Loewald. The Top 15 Countdown
#7: Six Players Join The Club #8: A Shot Worth The Wait #9: Repeat Sectional Champs #10: The Rivalry Rematch #11: Vaulting To The Top #12: Triple Overtime Thriller #13: The Brick Wall #14: Making A Big Splash #15: The Buzzer Beater Honorable Mention: The Finalists 2012-2013: The Complete Countdown Franklin senior midfielder Marta Versprille has been named the 2014 HockomockSports.com Girls’ Lacrosse Player of the Year. Versprille helped lead the Panthers to another Kelley-Rex division title and the program’s first ever sectional championship. This is the second year in a row that Versprille has been named the Player of the Year, which makes her the first two-time winner in any sport. Versprille is among the team leaders in a number of categories and plays an important role on both offense and defense for the Panthers. According to Franklin coach Kristin Igoe, Versprille finished with 53 points (46 goals and seven assists), 106 draw controls, 22 ground balls, and 24 caused turnovers. Igoe said, “Marta was our do-it-all midfielder again this year, and was a true leader on and off the field. She has an incredible work ethic and always gave 100 percent in practice and games, which helped her, and her teammates, get better. We are going to miss her next year, but I know she will do great at St. Anslems." “Marta was someone that had an impact on both ends of the field,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “She always seemed in control even against the top competition and, although she wasn’t the team’s primary offensive weapon, always seemed to step up with important goals and assists.” Versprille was also named the Hockomock League MVP by the league’s coaches and was once again named a league all-star. She will be continuing her career next season at St. Anselm College. Honorable Mentions: Katie Notorangelo, Foxboro - Emily Jeffries, Franklin - Julianne Piatelli, King Philip Hock 5
North Attleboro sophomore midfielder Hana Caster has been named the second annual HockomockSports.com Girls Lacrosse Underclassman of the Year. Caster set a North record with 62 goals this season and was named both team MVP by her teammates and a Hockomock League all-star by the coaches. In addition to her goal scoring, the speedy midfielder added 22 assists for the Rocketeers, who finished with a record of 8-10, just missing out on a playoff spot. Caster already has 87 goals and 33 assists in her young career. “Hana has amazing speed in the midfield, as well as, going one-on-one to the net,” said North Attleboro coach Karen Folan. “She doesn't slow down just because she has a lacrosse stick in her hands. Hana can receive and throw the ball at such a fast pace she easily moves by defenders.” Folan added, “As a sophomore, Hana is already a valuable player on the field for us. I expect to see many more great things from her next season as she returns to the field as a veteran player.” Caster is the second sophomore to have won this award, following Foxboro’s Marybeth Sweeney who was the inaugural recipient. Honorable Mention: Erin Fitzgerald, Oliver Ames - Caroline Maher, Mansfield Coach of the Year - Kristin Igoe, Franklin Franklin coach Kristin Igoe has been named the 2014 HockomockSports.com Girls’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year. The second-year coach led the Panthers to another Hockomock League title as Franklin dominated the Kelley-Rex division and went unbeaten (13-0) in the league for the second season in a row. After leading the Panthers to the program’s first ever sectional semifinal last season, Igoe, a former Framingham High and Boston College and current U.S. National Team midfielder, helped Franklin earn its first sectional title in 2014 with a thrilling overtime win over Concord-Carlisle in the Division 1 East final. This is the second season in a row that Igoe has been named the site’s Coach of the Year. HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry said, “Kristin has taken the program to another level in the past two seasons. The top programs in the state see the Panthers as a legitimate challenger and the sectional title win was the culmination of that progress.” Honorable Mention - Julie Boudreau, King Philip - Brittany Jamieson-Sherry, Foxboro Each year, the number of basketball players that join the exclusive 1,000 point club fluxuates. Last year, we recognized two players in the same countdown for achieving that goal. Even better might have been that both players, although from different schools, accomplished the same feat at the same school just days apart. This year, the number of players who hit the milestone tripled. Six players - five boys and one girl - all eclipsed the mark during the 2013-2014 season. Here are the six players, in chronological order: It's been a while since the Sharon High 1,000 point club has been updated - and Brian Mukasa remembers growing up watching his brother and telling his mom, "Mom, I'm going to score 1,000." Hard work has certainly paid dividends for Taunton's Shaquille Davis. The Attleboro High School 1,000-point club banner will soon have to come down to add a new name to the exclusive group. With a contested basket in the third quarter of the Blue Bombardiers’ game against the King Philip Warriors, Walsh scored his 1,001st point as part of Attleboro’s 55-47 win over the Warriors. With just under thirty seconds left, Sharon guard Jimmy Fritzson carried the ball up the court with pressure from before the inbounds. He was looking for a three pointer but was swallowed up and even had the ball knocked away. A lot has happened in 14 years - but a 1,000 point scorer at Canton High isn't one of them. And finally, the first girl of the season - and third Sharon player - Karlie O'Driscoll hit the milestone in the final regular season game. Yoni Monat recapped the event for The Sharon Advocate: Karlie O’Driscoll scored a basket and retreated to defend, a routine that the Sharon High girls basketball senior captain has practiced hundreds of times during her illustrious career. The Top 15 Countdown
#8: A Shot Worth The Wait #9: Repeat Sectional Champs #10: The Rivalry Rematch #11: Vaulting To The Top #12: Triple Overtime Thriller #13: The Brick Wall #14: Making A Big Splash #15: The Buzzer Beater Honorable Mention: The Finalists 2012-2013: The Complete Countdown |
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