Monday, June 29, 2009


Globe South Sports Notebook

Two local golfers

impressive at

Mass Open

Benjamin Spitz (above) of Norwell and Matt Parziale of Brockton.




By Justin A. Rice
June 28, 2009

The amateur field at this past week’s 100th Massachusetts Open was dominated by a pair of local golfers at a soggy Belmont Country Club.

Benjamin Spitz, a 25-year-old Norwell resident who plays out of The Harmon Club in Rockland, roared out to a an impressive two-day total 4-under-par 138 and was two strokes out of the lead heading into Wednesday’s final round.

But when he fell off the pace on the last day, Brockton’s Matt Parziale was there to pick up the torch.

“That’s too bad,’’ Spitz said after shooting a final round 77 to finish tied for fourth overall with a 2-over-par 215.

“I guess one of the amateurs played well, it’s always good to see an amateur up there,’’ said Spitz.

He was referring to the 22-year-old Parziale, who registered the low score of the day, a 3-under 68 to finish in a tie for second place with Greg Pieczynski at 212. Parziale started the final tied for eighth.

“I didn’t even know the scores were that high today until I walked off the 18th green,’’ said Parziale, who recently became a member at Thorny Lea GC in Brockton.

“I had a good chance [for birdie] on 17 and 18. This is the first time that I have played well here, which is nice.’’

A year ago, he failed to make the cut for the final round at the Open. Next year, he should be in the running to become the first amateur to capture the crown since 1999, unless he decides to turn pro later this summer.

He plans to travel to North Carolina this week to compete in the prestigious North & South tournament at Pinehurst before returning to play at the Massachusetts Amateur at The Country Club in Brookline July 13-17. He was the runner-up a year ago. Spitz, the 2006 State Amateur champ, will be there too.

Reality show winner returns to former stomping grounds
South Shore native Justin Peters, the inaugural winner of the Golf Channel’s reality show The Big Break in 2003 - competed at the Mass. Open for the first time since 2001. The 32-year-old, who now plays mini-tours in Florida, finished the tournament with a 12-over-par 231 (80-71-80).

“I had some success [at the Mass Open in the past], it’s a trophy I would love to get my name on,’’ Peters said. “I think I put extra pressure on myself. [It] just kicked my butt, I run back to Florida with my tail between my legs.’’

But first, he will play in this week’s Maine Open at Riverside GC in Portland.

Peters lived in Kingston the first 14 years of his life before his family moved to Pembroke. He no longer has any family living in the area, but this past week, he was planning to take his 8-month-old son and his wife of two years, Shelle, to see his childhood home and Plymouth Rock.

“She wants to see the exciting Plymouth Rock,’’ he said. “She’s from Indiana. She’s never been out this way.’’

Peters, who was working full time as a telemarketer before turning pro, doesn’t mind being known for his reality-TV exploits.

He’s focused on making the PGA Tour. “That’s the most important thing. I go about my business,’’ he said.

Thursday, June 25, 2009


Globe South Sports

Lacrosse standout

off to Australia



Hingham native Kate Sheridan is the only four-time All-American in the history of the Colby College women's lacrosse program.


Hingham native Kate Sheridan is the only four-time All-American in the history of the Colby College women's lacrosse program.

By Justin A. Rice
Globe Correspondent / June 25, 2009

Kate Sheridan lacks experience as a mixologist, but the Hingham native is willing to tend bar in Australia, renowned for rowdy partiers, as a means of continuing her lacrosse playing days a bit longer.

Sheridan recently graduated from Colby College as the all-time leading scorer for the women’s lacrosse program.

Today, the 23-year-old Sheridan departs for Adelaide, Australia, where she will play for the Wilderness Lacrosse Club, which set her up with a part-time bartending gig and an internship at the University of Adelaide.

“I’ve been playing since I was 10 years old,’’ said Sheridan, an alumna of Hingham Youth Lacrosse who attended Tabor Academy in Marion.

“It’s not an easy thing to give up, especially for women, because there are not as many chances to play for women as men. I thought it was a great way to extend my career a little bit and keep lacrosse involved in my life.’’

But for all the lacrosse experience she has, Sheridan doesn’t know the first thing about mixology.

“She seems pretty relaxed about the whole thing,’’ said Sheridan’s older sister, Amy, who played lacrosse at Brown before graduating in 1999.

“I think I’d be nervous trying to work in a bar and not know what I was doing. I was like, ‘They’ll just hire you as a bartender even though you have no experience?’ She never read a book about how to mix drinks. She wasn’t worried about it at all. I’m sure she’ll pick it up fine.’’

At least she is more than qualified when it comes to lacrosse.

The only four-time All-American in the history of the Colby women’s program, Sheridan helped power the Mules to back-to-back New England Small College Athletic Conference championships. Named to the first team by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association and womenslacrosse.com, she also repeated as the ECAC’s New England Player of the Year.

The target of double and triple teams by foes, she nonetheless paced the NESCAC in goals (34) and assists (51).

“I told her, ‘You might need to adjust your game,’ ’’ said Colby coach Karen MacCrate Henning. “Hopefully, we can score more, if you get the ball to the open people.’ She said, ‘whatever you need.’ And our team scoring did go up, and a number of players had great years That’s what she played for - our success, just total selflessness.

“She always challenged us to be better, and she is not afraid to take risks. She always wanted to do more.’’

In January, Sheridan was a member of an American travel team that played for two weeks in Australia and was invited back for the summer. The prospect of entering such a poor job market and leaving the lacrosse field for good made her more seriously consider the invite to spend the summer Down Under. But first she had to consult with her big sister.

“It’s hard being an athlete when it ends,’’ said Amy Sheridan. “I still play club lacrosse but it’s definitely not the same and not as competitive as what she’ll be doing. I think she should keep playing as long as she can.

“And of course, selfishly, it gives me an excuse to visit Australia. We’ll see if that happens.’’

She will not be the lone American player in the league. A few of her foes were members of the University of Maryland’s NCAA Division 1 national semifinalist squad and one of her teammates is the vice captain of the Australian World Cup team.

“To play with people at that skill level is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,’’ Sheridan said.

But the dynamics of the game will be slightly different. The size of the field is the same, but there are 11 players on a side, as opposed to 12 in this country. Players also can move on the referees’ whistle, unlike here. There are also no free possession shots.

“There will definitely be small adjustments, it will definitely give me a new appreciation for the game,’’ said Sheridan, who finished with 294 career points (181 goals, 113 assists) at Colby.

Sheridan’s new club team will provide her with room and board, but she had to pay her travel expenses get to Australia.

“I was fortunate my parents are supportive of the idea, which obviously a recent college graduate needs,’’ Sheridan said.

She was also fortunate to have an answer for everyone who asked her what she would do after graduating.

“Especially at graduation you get that question 15 million times; at least I had a response,’’ she said. “A lot of people are really excited about it and people I talked to said it will be great for my resume. That was really reassuring to hear.’’

Graduating with a degree in human development education, an interdisciplinary major that combines psychology and sociology, Sheridan said she hopes to get into event planning, marketing, or public relations when she returns to the states in August.

But she hasn’t ruled out coaching the game she loves.

“I don’t have my heart set on anything,’’ she said. “Who knows, I love lacrosse so much, and there’s an avenue open for coaching, I wouldn’t completely dismiss that out of my future plans.’’

MacCrate Henning said that she is “trying to convince her to come up here next spring [as an assistant]. Any program would take her in a heartbeat, she already sees the game through a coach’s eye. She could help any program be successful, either coaching or in the real world.’’

If a prospective employer asks her about her lack of experience, all Sheridan will have to do is recall the time she worked as a bartender in Australia for the summer.

“It’s going to be interesting,’’ she said, “but it will definitely toss me into the cultural experience.’’

Craig Larson of the Globe staff also contributed to this story. Justin Rice can be reached at rice.ju@gmail.com.





Oppenheim:

Mass. appeal

He adds Open title

to stately resume

By Justin A. Rice Globe Correspondent / June 25, 2009

BELMONT - A staple on the Canadian Tour, Rob Oppenheim isn’t used to winning in front of friends and family, or even playing in front of them, for that matter.

The 2002 Massachusetts Amateur champion from Andover, who now lives in Orlando, Fla., usually tenses up with loved ones in attendance. Especially at the Massachusetts Open, where he was 11th in 2006 and 13th in 2005.

Oppenheim changed that this week. With his father Jim walking all 54 holes at Belmont Country Club and his brother Kenny caddying for him in yesterday’s final round, Oppenheim became the fifth player in the event’s 100-year history to win both the state’s Amateur and Open crowns. Francis Ouimet, Jesse Guilford, Charles Volpone, and Kevin Johnson also hold that distinction.

“To win an event like this with family and friends here is really nice,’’ Oppenheim said. “Normally, when you play in Canada or in Mexico, you just have your golfing buddies around. It’s nice to have my good friends and family here and I’m looking forward to having fun tonight.’’

The 1998 Globe All-Scholastic took a two-stroke lead into yesterday’s final round, then finished off with a three-day total of 5-under-par 208. The nearest competitors, Benjamin Spitz of The Harmon Club and Jason Parajeckas of Pleasant Valley, fell off the mark, as Oppenheim won by four strokes to take home the trophy and $15,000 prize.

Spitz (70-68-77) and Parajeckas (73-66-76) tied for fourth at 2-over 215.

“It doesn’t console you,’’ Spitz said of his top-5 finish.

Spitz praised fellow amateur Matt Parziale for carding the day’s low score of 68 and finishing in a tie for second with Greg Pieczynski of Kingston, Pa.

Parziale, who plays out of Thorny Lea in Brockton along with his father, entered the day tied for eighth. Parziale’s father, Vic, was his caddie.

“[Dad] doesn’t really read putts; he does if I ask,’’ Parziale said. “It works well. We have a pretty good system.’’

Parziale, a recent Southeastern University graduate who failed to make the cut at last year’s Mass. Open, said he didn’t realize Spitz and Parajeckas fell back until he walked off the 18th green. He had a good idea his score was sound when he birdied the final two holes to finish at 1-under 212.

“This is the first time that I have played well here, which is nice,’’ Parziale said.

Oppenheim posted a 65 Tuesday, the low score of the tournament, which set a modern course record according to club officials. The layout was updated and renovated in 2006.

“[Tuesday] was one of those days that you don’t have very often; that was an exceptional day,’’ Oppenheim said. “The course played longer today and there was the pressure of trying to win this title. It’s not easy if you add those two up but I knew that par was going to be a good score.”

Nevertheless, the Rollins College graduate mustered a 1-over 72 yesterday.

He pulled away with birdies on the 411-yard, par-4 16th and the 501-yard par-5 17th to capture the Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial Trophy.

“That’s a nice feeling,’’ Oppenheim said of winning the state’s open and amateur titles. “I’ve been playing MGA events since junior golf, so to win both is special.’’

Rob Oppenheim

wins Mass Open

by The Republican Sports Desk
Wednesday June 24, 2009, 5:48 PM

By JUSTIN A. RICE

BELMONT - On a day when the front-runners fell off the pace, Matt Donovan shot his worst round of the year Wednesday.

That's what makes it most disappointing, he said after carding a 6-over-par 77 to finish the Massachusetts Open with a three-day total of 4-over 217 at Belmont Country Club.

Other than tournament winner Rob Oppenheim, who extended a two-stroke lead coming into the day into a four-stroke victory and took home the $15,000 prize, the rest of the Day 2 leaders also fell off the pace. Benjamin Spitz of The Harmon Club and Jason Parajeckas of Pleasant Valley were in second and third place, respectively, before finishing tied for fourth at 2-over-par 215.

"It was a good day to take advantage and move up, instead I went the other way with everyone else," Donovan said.

The Pittsfield native ended tied for sixth after he led the field after the opening day for the second straight year. Donovan was fourth going into the final round after a 72 Tuesday and a two-day-total of 2-under 140.


He said he finished the day with four three-putts and three birdies.

"I had a couple of good putts early and then I just faded at the end," he said. "I was still hitting good, positive stuff, and then I just didn't execute the shots. I had a couple lose swings."

Western Massachusetts second-highest finisher, Bill Downes of Hampden Country Club, had no reservations about saying he was worn out after three days of play. He finished tied for 11th. Still trying to get back to form after recent back surgery, the 43-year-old put in rounds of 75, 71 and 73 to finish at 6-over 219.

"I'm glad it's over," he said after carding one birdie and three bogeys. "I actually hit better but putted awful."

Nevertheless, Downes was glad to see his body could handle a full tournament. "I love playing golf even when I'm not playing well; hang around make a bunch of pars and still hope to shoot five or six under and move on up sometime," he said.

Adam Rainaud (73, 74, 74-221) of South Hadley was not pleased with his final-day round and three-way tie for 16th. Especially because he had a share of sixth place going into the final round and expected to win.

"I just got off to a bad start again," said the former University of Louisville player, whose home course is The Orchards. "The first three holes were solid and then I ran into a little trouble. I had a triple on four and then a bogey.

"I had two rounds this week with triple bogeys," Rainaud. "On a tough course like this you have to make sure you score no worse than a bogey, grind it out for par, and then there's a couple easy holes you can birdie."

Donovan and Rainaud will play next week's Maine Open while Downes will sit it out.

Oppenheim will also play at Portland, Maine, and, no doubt, be the talk of the town.

The Orlando, Fla., resident became only the fifth player in the event's 100-year history to win both the state Amateur and Open crowns. Shooting a three-day total of 5-under-par 208, the Andover native joins the ranks of Francis Ouimet, Jesse Guilford, Charles Volpone and Kevin Johnson.

"That's a nice feeling," Oppenheim said of winning his home state's open and amateur tournaments. "I've been playing MGA (Massachusetts Golf Association) events since junior golf, so to win both is special."

Learning experience

for Curran

By Justin A. Rice/Daily News correspondent
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Jun 24, 2009 @ 10:00 PM


BELMONT — Now that he has the Massachusetts Open under his belt, next week's Maine Open should feel like a cakewalk for Hopkinton's Jon Curran.

Playing his first tournament as a pro in a steady rain this week at Belmont Country Club, the Framingham Country Club member weathered a storm that gave him an unusual amount of seasoning.

"It will probably be a lot easier than this," Curran said of the Maine Open after carding a three-day total of 7-over-par 220 to finish in a three-way tie for 13th. "It will feel a little easier for sure. Playing the practice round here I thought I could tear this course up. But then the conditions changed. Next week will be totally different. It will be different golf. There will be a lot more birdies next week."

Tournament winner Rob Oppenheim became only the fifth player in the event's 100-year history to win both the state's Amateur and Open crowns yesterday. Shooting a three-day total of 5-under-par 208, the Andover native joins the ranks of Francis Ouimet, Jesse Guilford, Charles Volpone and Kevin Johnson.

Curran - who logged rounds of 75, 70 and 75 this week - got off to a tough start yesterday, bogeying the first, second and third holes. He steadied after that, notching two birdies and just three bogeys the rest of the way.

"I couldn't make a lot of birdies and that put me behind the eight-ball," he said. "I just think getting one full tournament under my belt (will help), just getting one in the books and moving on from here."

Curran said he felt fine physically despite the weather conditions this week, which finally lightened up a bit yesterday.

"That wasn't even the problem at all," he said. "It was kind of tough mentally. (The weather) wasn't that bad, my feet are a little wet, that's about it."

After playing at Portland's Riverside Municipal Golf Course next week, the recent Vanderbilt University graduate, who turned pro last month, will move to Orlando. Then he'll play on both the Hooters and Tar Heel Tours.

"I feel like I'm getting comfortable," he said. "I know I have the ability to do it. It's just getting the experience."

The only other area golfer in yesterday's final was Jedi Glass of Sudbury. Glass, whose home course has been Marlborough Country Club for the last three years, finished three rounds with a 13-over 232. He ended the week in a two-way tie for 43rd place.

Glass's second-day 71 was a huge turnaround from his opening round in Monday's torrential downpour when he shot nine-over-par after the first nine holes and finished with an 82.

"That got me on the cut," Glass said of his second round. "The weather was much better. There was no wind. It was warmer. I hit the ball a lot better. I had no big mistakes. It was nice to put a round like that together. But like all good rounds it's the good ones you say, 'I could've shot a lot lower."'

He had another tough start yesterday, going seven-over-par after seven holes. But he pulled it together the rest of the way to shoot 1-over on the final 11 holes.

Glass, who graduated from the Sudbury Valley School, spent the winter playing in Florida and wants to focus on being an amateur before going for his PGA Tour card. He failed to qualify for next month's State Amateur at The Country Club in Brookline by a few strokes.

"I'm just going to keep getting better and hopefully in a couple years I'll be ready," he said of going for his Tour card.

Two years ago Glass won six tournaments on the NAPGA Junior Tour. But now he's starting from scratch.

"The courses are a lot tougher and the competition is a lot tougher too," he said.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Massachusetts Open

Oppenheim

moves to top

By Justin A. Rice Globe Correspondent / June 24, 2009

BELMONT - The inclement weather during Monday’s opening round proved an opponent in and of itself. But in yesterday’s second round of the 100th Massachusetts Open, the conditions were far less of an impediment for the 150-player field at Belmont Country Club.

“I didn’t put the umbrella up at all; [on Monday] it was up almost the entire day,’’ said Andover native Rob Oppenheim, who heads into today’s final round of 46 players with a two-stroke lead over the field’s top amateur, Benjamin Spitz.

Oppenheim, a 1998 Globe All-Scholastic from Andover High who lives in Orlando, Fla., posted the lowest score of the day with a 6-under-par 65 for a two-day total of 5-under 136. Spitz, who plays out of the Harmon Club, was the low amateur for the second straight day. He shot a 68 and goes into the final round at 4-under 138.

Jason Parajeckas, a pro at Pleasant Valley, is third. The Woburn resident posted a 5-under 66 for a two-day total of 3-under 139. The only other player under par is first-round leader Matthew Donovan of Pittsfield, who followed his opening-day 68 with a 72 to stand at 2-under 140.

One of the highlights of the day for Oppenheim, the 2002 Mass. Amateur champion and Rollins College graduate, came after he made the turn at 2-under 34. On No. 10, Oppenheim sank a 50-foot putt for birdie on the 362-yard par 4.

“[It] went up and over a ridge and I was just trying to lag it as close as I could,’’ said Oppenheim, who finished with four birdies on the back nine. “It’s nice to make a putt to get some momentum. Once you do that, you start to swing better and you have confidence that you can get up and down for par or birdie.’’

For the second straight year, Donovan lost his opening-day lead but remains in contention.

“When you’ve got a lead like that and are playing well, you almost want to see the bad weather [continue] and [try to] hang in there,’’ said Donovan. “I didn’t expect to maintain my lead. I have to go out and play hard [today] and make some putts.’’

If Donovan was rooting for rain, Spitz was hoping for clear skies.

“There’s some good players up in the top and some low numbers,’’ said Spitz. “Hopefully it doesn’t rain.’’

Donovan falls to fourth

after shooting 72

by The Republican Sports Desk
Tuesday June 23, 2009, 9:11 PM

By JUSTIN RICE

BELMONT - Two of the best golfers in Western Massachusetts might have benefited from a little more of the wet stuff Tuesday at the 100th Massachusetts Open.

Leading the tournament going into Tuesday's second round at Belmont Country Club, Matt Donovan of Pittsfield fell off the pace after shooting 72 and is in fourth place at 2-under-par 140 going into today's final round.

Adam Rainaud of South Hadley also liked Monday's monsoon. He shot 74 Tuesday after an opening 73 to take a share of sixth place.

"It's pleasant to see that," Donovan said before admitting he almost hoped for worse weather. "It definitely brings some of the feeling back, but when you got a lead like that and are playing well you almost want to see the bad weather (continue) and hang in there. I still have to play good. I didn't expect to maintain my lead. I have to go out and play hard (Wednesday) and make some putts."

Rainaud said the rain actually makes it easier to play because it softens the greens. "It's the wind and the wind that makes it tough," he said.

"Today was definitely a lot easier conditions," said Rainaud, whose home course is The Orchards. "I would say I never had to use my umbrella (Tuesday). I just wore rain pants and stayed pretty dry. (Monday) was pretty darn wet and windier. I think my short game wasn't as good today."

Rob Oppenheim of Orlando, Fla., posted a Tuesday's-best score of 6-under par 65 to take the lead. The Andover native and 2002 Massachusetts Amateur champion has a two-day total of 5-under par 136.

Ben Spitz of Norwell is second and leads all amateurs at 138.

Jason Parajeckas of Pleasant Valley CC in Sutton fired a 66 and is third at 139.

"It was a much different day for sure, I grinded, it wasn't easy," Donovan said. "I played the front nine, the back nine for me, with two bogeys, and at the turn I was 2-over."

Even though he didn't putt well Tuesday, Donovan did finish on a positive note, sinking a 20-footer for birdie on the last hole.

"All in all it wasn't a bad day for having a cold putter," he said. "I'll work on my putting tonight."

The 150-player field was reduced to the low 46 scorers, including Billy Downes of Hampden Country Club.

The 43-year-old shot an even-par 71 and is tied for 12th at 146 with four others. Downes made 16 pars, a birdie and a bogey.

''After (Monday), it was kind of difficult," said Downes, who was soaked that afternoon as he shot 75 and wound up tied for 24th.

The first-year head pro at Hampden Country Club, who has been playing tournaments since 1989, is still trying to get back to form.

"I'd just like to hit a little better," Downes said. "I haven't been playing a lot of golf, so it's nice. I just hope to get a couple more rounds under my belt; I'm just struggling with my swing.

Steve Alminas of Longmeadow Country Club finished at 157 (85-75) and missed the cut, tying for 75th place. He said the combination of the rain and tough course took it out of him on Monday. That's why he was relieved when he looked out his window Tuesday morning and didn't see any rain.

"I thought maybe I could go out and play a great round and maybe I'll be able to make the cut at least," said Alminas, who has won the state four-ball with his brother twice. "The weather didn't help the course, and the course itself is tough. Anyone who breaks par is playing some really good golf.

"This course just wears on you. You have to be sharp on every part of your game."

Houston heats up,

but misses cut

By Justin A. Rice/Daily News Correspondent

MetroWest Daily News
Posted Jun 24, 2009 @ 12:01 AM

BELMONT -- Burgess Houston's short-lived softball career might be over, but his burgeoning golf game might start taking off any day now.

The Wellesley native rebounded from a rough opening day in the 100th Massachusetts Open yesterday, finishing with a total 155, missing the cut by just two strokes. The 3-over-par 74 came after he shot an 81 in Monday's opening round and six weeks after he sprained his ankle in a softball game.

"It's the end of my softball career, I knew from the get-go I realized what was going on," said the 2007 State Amateur champion, who will compete in that tournament again next month at the Country Club in Brookline. "After an 81, I needed any boost I could get. I just haven't played in a tournament in a while. It's been a couple months."

Hopkinton's Jon Curran continued to play well yesterday in his first tournament as a pro and was one of 46 players to make the cut. And Jedi Glass, whose home course is Marlborough Country Club, barely made the cut with a total score of 153 after shooting 82 yesterday and 71 Monday. He is tied for 39th place with eight other golfers.

After shooting a 75 yesterday, Curran carded a 70 yesterday to finish with a 145. Curran, whose home course is Framingham Country Club, is 1-under par overall and alone in 11th place going into today's final round. His improvement was partially thanks to weather conditions that, by comparison, were much better than Monday's monsoon, although forecasts had said yesterday was supposed to be just as soggy.

"The forecasts are god-awful," Curran said. "I'm starting to believe they are some of the worst forecasts ever. When they say there's a 50 to 60 percent (chance of a storm), that means maybe. You gotta pay attention so you can be ready and prepared and have your rain gear. You just have to play and get ready for a long day.

"It was still hard and nasty (yesterday), it wasn't playing easy."

Curran said another big difference yesterday was that he was hitting more greens and had a lot more putting chances. But Curran still wasn't pleased with his performance.

"I shot 1-under, but I left a lot of shots out there," he said. "I just have to try to get as low as I can. I just have to keep making birdies and go as low as I possibly can."

Curran won a state championship his junior year at Hopkinton High and was a 2007 All-American at Vanderbilt before turning pro last month, and he will go for his PGA Tour card this fall at the PGA's Q-School.

Houston, on the other hand, still feels like he's not ready to go for his card.

"I'm not really ready for the Q-School," said Houston, who finished tied for 56th with nine other players yesterday. "It will take six months to make it my job."

The 26-year-old, whose home course is the New England Country Club in Bellingham, has had a roundabout golf career. After graduating from the Rivers School in Weston he worked odd jobs, including delivering dog treats. He didn't get serious about golf again until he met Dave Adamonis, whose son Brad plays on the PGA tour.

"Dave told me I got something, and I might as well do something with it," said Houston, who eventually went to Johnson & Whales University in Aventura, Fla., and was a second-team All-American last year. "I owe the Adamonis family a lot."

They would have been proud of Houston's performance in the Mass. Open. Coming in nervous to Monday's round, he shot 11-over on the first nine holes before settling down.

"Something clicked, I just kept playing," he said. "I was 2-over the rest of the way. I needed to knock a little rust off."

But Houston will still take it easy before he gears up to go for his Tour card.

"I still want one summer of fun and relaxation before I hit the real world," he said.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Massachusetts Open

Welch's quest:

To soak it all in

By Justin A. Rice Globe Correspondent / June 23, 2009

BELMONT - The last several days have proven a hectic and soggy odyssey for Michael Welch of Quincy.

First, there was his experience at Bethpage Black, where the two-time New England Amateur champion failed to make the cut at the US Open.

He rushed home Saturday to prepare for the 100th Massachusetts Open that began yesterday at Belmont Country Club and encountered even worse weather.

“I haven’t been dry all week, I haven’t taken my rain gear off for a week,’’ said the 28-year-old, whose home course is Furnace Brook in Quincy.

When he emerged after his 2-over-par 73, which tied him for seventh with seven others, Welch tossed his soaking wet Titleist hat on a table in the clubhouse and wiped his brow. At the US Open, Welch played 36 holes in 22 hours because of weather delays and shot a two-round total of 9 over to miss the cut by five strokes. Although disappointed that he couldn’t continue on, Welch said he reassessed his approach to the game particularly seeing the fitness commitment of players at the top, such as Tiger Woods.

Welch said he needs to start eating better, take more instruction from coaches, and practice specific parts of his game rather than just play daily rounds, and last but not least, he needs to add strength training to his repertoire.

“I have never stepped foot in a gym my entire life,’’ said the 5-foot-11-inch, 170-pounder. “That’s one thing I’m thinking about doing.’’

Normally solid on the greens, Welch said putting was the one aspect of his game that let him down at the US Open. His troubles continued yesterday. Overall, his round was nothing short of erratic with one eagle, three birdies, three bogeys, and two double bogeys.

“I feel like I’m hitting the ball way too good to have these scores,’’ he said. “I think I hit 65 putts in two rounds [at Bethpage]. That’s unacceptable.’’

Welch was more than optimistic he can turn things around today.

“It would mean a lot to me,’’ he said of winning the Mass. Open, which will be cut to the lowest 40 scores and ties today prior to tomorrow’s final round. “I don’t think I could put it into words, but it would [mean] a lot to me.’’

Tournament leader Matt Donovan of Pittsfield, who heads into the second round two shots ahead of Benjamin Spitz after shooting a 3-under 68, knows Welch well and wasn’t surprised to see his pal rush back for this tournament.

“He’s playing for the same reason I am,’’ Donovan said. “It’s our job.’’

During the last decade, the only other player to play both tournaments was Geoff Sisk of Marshfield. Sisk tied for 40th at the 2004 US Open at Shinnecock Hills Country Club before driving overnight to play and eventually win the Mass. Open. In 2007, Sisk missed the US Open cut at Oakmont Country Club and won his sixth and most recent Mass Open.

Welch is hoping his next trip to the US Open means he won’t be rushing out of there for any reason.

“Once you get a taste you don’t want to leave, it’s where I want to be,’’ he said. “I wasn’t nervous. I felt like I belonged, I was ready to go. I’m definitely not hanging my hat on that. I’m moving forward.’’

And a Mass. Open title is the goal now.

Donovan leads the 100th

Massachusetts Open

by The Republican Sports Desk
Monday June 22, 2009, 9:12 PM

By JUSTIN A. RICE

BELMONT - Just about every player to come off the course in the opening round of the 100th Massachusetts Open Championship Monday morning was soaking wet.

Matt Donovan was the closest thing to bone dry as he possibly could have been in what where monsoon-like conditions at Belmont Country Club.

The 31-year-old from Pittsfield was also leading the tournament - at 3-under-par 68 - after the first round for the second straight year. This year, however, his father Jim, was his caddie.

"We had two umbrellas going," Matt said. "We're a good team. That was a very big key to playing well today."

It was the second time Jim, 65, a certified public accountant, caddied for his son since his wife died in January.

"She was sick for a lot of years so I couldn't travel," said Jim, choking up. "I made the (Mass) Open last year in Stockbridge, and I could make day trips, but I could never get away for a three-day tournament. So I'm enjoying this. He doesn't need me. If I wasn't here he'd bunk with one of his buddies. But it's a great bonding experience; the day after Father's Day."

Jim said he doesn't read greens or guess how much yardage there is to the pin. But he did push his son's cart, which had an umbrella attached to it while Jim held another umbrella over his son.

"He's real independent, I don't mess with that, I just carried his bag and kept him dry," Jim said. "It was important to stay dry and keep the club heads dry. It's critically important to have dry grips."

But while dad downplayed his role in yesterday's round, son couldn't speak highly enough about how much his father helped.

"I've been a pro since 2001, and he's maybe seen me play a handful of tournaments," Matt said. "So it's fun. It's good to have him out here."

But as well as the father-son combo worked Monday, Matt knows how early it is. He finished 28th last year after leading the first round.

"There are 100 guys still out there," he said. "It's a long day."

The Mass. Open means so much to Donovan, having playing in it for about a decade straight. His best finish came in 2003 when he was third.

"It's a good start, but it's always easy to come prepared for this tournament," he said. "For us mini-tour players it has the most prestige, purse-wise. It's always something you want to play well in."

The field running for the $15,000 first prize also included Michael Welch of Quincy, who just returned from the U.S. Open. Welch shot a 2-over 73 Monday and was tied for sixth.

Matt just missed the U.S. Open himself this year. After playing in the local U.S. Open qualifying tournament, Matt was listed as an alternate for the regional qualifier. He ended up being called to play in the Columbus, Ohio, regional.

In Columbus, Matt ended up in a nine-man playoff in which only the top spot moved through to the U.S. Open. Matt said he would have rushed back to play in the Mass. Open just the same had he qualified.

"He's playing (today) for the same reason I am, it's our job," Donovan said.

Adam Rainaud of South Hadley shot 73 to share sixth.

The low 40 scores after Tuesday's play will advance to the championship round Wednesday.

Hopkinton's Curran

debuts at Mass. Open


MetroWest Daily News
Posted Jun 22, 2009 @ 10:00 PM

BELMONT — In his first tournament as a pro, Jon Curran ran into a wall of water.

Playing in the 100th Massachusetts Open yesterday morning in monsoon-like conditions, the Hopkinton native shot a 4-over 75 about a month after graduating from Vanderbilt University and turning professional.

"I'm not really happy with the result, but the conditions were tough and scores were high," Curran said after finishing tied for 24th at Belmont Country Club. "But I think I could've done a lot better than that. It was just the way it went. It was tough but I could've done better."

Regardless of how he finishes up today - or tomorrow if he's among the low 40 scores after the second round - Curran knows his first Mass. Open was an invaluable experience.

"It's my first pro event playing for a check so it's a little different," said Curran, who won a state championship his junior year at Hopkinton High and was a 2007 All-American at Vanderbilt. "(It's nice to get) that out of the way and be over the hump, so to speak. Other than that it's a good event to get started. I feel like I can go out and make a decent check and get off to a good start."

Matt Donovan of Pittsfield led the field yesterday with a 3-under 68. Michael Welch of Quincy, who missed the cut at the U.S. Open over the weekend, was also in the field. He shot a two-over 73 to finish tied for sixth.

"If I made the cut I'd still come back and play it," Welch said of rushing back from the U.S. Open to play the Mass. Open. "But if I made the cut obviously I'd still be playing there (today)."

As bad as the conditions were in the morning, 29-year-old Jordan Burke of Needham said he thought the weather got worse throughout the day, judging from the higher scores. He shot an 80.

"It was one of the toughest days of golf I've ever played with the wind and the rain and the course is already tough as it is," said Burke, who is playing in his fifth Mass. Open and will try to make his first cut today.

With $15,000 going to the winner, Curran will have to make the cut to see some green of his own.

He can use all the cash he can get these days as he goes for his PGA Tour card this fall. To earn his card he will participate in the PGA Q-School in September, paying about $4,500 in entry fees when it's said and done.

"I think I can get that," he said of his PGA Tour card. "It's an expensive ordeal so I wouldn't do it if I didn't think I could get through."

To help his cause, the 22-year-old held a fundraiser at Framingham Country Club on June 15.

"It takes some money to get started," said Curran, who has been playing at the club for 16 years. "I needed a little help. A couple guys from Framingham decided to get something going. I was fortunate to get a fundraiser going in my name and get off to a start in terms of finances."

Curran's father, Peter, couldn't be more proud to see his son turn pro.

"He has a tremendous work ethic and never says die out there," Peter said. "He could have played better but if he didn't grind it could not have worked. That's the thing I like about him best."

Shooting 3-over after the first six holes, Curran settled down, birdied one hole and closed out his day with six straight pars.

"Six pars to close it out gives me some confidence going into (today)," he said. "You just have to plan for the absolute worst weather possible, which is tough to do because it's the middle of June, almost July.

"It's really brutal. You just have plan for absolute misery out there and get your mind ready for it that it's not going to be an easy day. You have to hang in and battle through, hopefully get a good round. Hopefully there will be a window where it's not nasty."

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Globe South Sports

South teams

triumphant

Local lacrosse teams

sweep state tourney

Westwood High girls celebrate after capturing the Division 1 state lacrosse crown in Worcester last week.

Westwood High girls celebrate after capturing the Division 1 state lacrosse crown in Worcester last week. (Barry Chin/Globe Staff)

By Justin A. Rice
Globe Correspondent / June 18, 2009

WORCESTER - Running late last Friday afternoon, the Westwood High girls’ lacrosse team arrived at Foley Stadium while the Longmeadow players were warming up on the midfield circle, hooting and hollering with every jumping jack.

“L-A-N-C-E-R-S’’ reverberated off empty metal bleachers as the Westwood players walked past, almost stoically, approximately 50 minutes before their matchup in the Division 1 state final.

Six minutes in, the Wolverines were staring at a 6-1 deficit.

Frazzled? No. Fazed? No.

Their confidence never wavered, and Westwood stormed back for an 11-10 win for the program’s second straight state championship, and fourth overall.

“In a lot of games, we dig a hole for ourselves and we just come back - I don’t know why,’’ said Westwood junior midfielder Misha Beatty.

Longmeadow coach Steve Dudeck conceded that dealing with Westwood’s relentless pressure is difficult, and playing a team as talented as the Wolverines can be intimidating.

The Wolverines’ run to a repeat was just one piece of what was a South sweep in the state lacrosse tournament.

The Walpole High boys followed up Westwood’s win with a 17-8 victory over St. John’s of Shrewsbury for the Division 2 crown. Two days earlier, Duxbury and Scituate pocketed victories in the Division 1 and 3 East finals, respectively, at Harvard Stadium. And Norwell stopped North Andover for the Division 2 girls’ title at Babson.

In his 23 years as a coach with the Hingham’ boys program, John Todd doesn’t recall such lacrosse dominance south of Boston, at least not since the sport expanded to two divisions a decade ago and to three about five years later.

“It’s a great testament to the growth of the game not only on the South Shore but across the state,’’ said Todd, a two-time state champion whose team fell in the quarterfinals of the Division 2 East tournament this year. “Both boys’ and girls’ [lacrosse] has risen to what 15 years ago were unimaginable heights.’’

Scituate coach Mark Puzzangara, who teaches elementary physical education, can see the popularity of the sport among his students.

“Lacrosse has a nice gear line - baggy shorts, tank tops - kids get into that stuff,’’ said the former Milton coach, who guided Scituate to its second straight title in his first year this season.

“They wear lacrosse shorts year-round - Syracuse, Princeton - every day at least one kid has on some sort of lacrosse paraphernalia.’’

The youth lacrosse boom hit the South Shore in the early ’90s, according to Todd, shortly before anywhere else. He credits Hingham resident Rich Santoro, a former player at Villanova, with starting one of the area’s first youth programs in 1988.

“At that point it was a totally foreign game,’’ Todd said, calling Santoro the godfather of youth lacrosse on the South Shore. “At that level, so many people hadn’t had experience. Ricky said to other organizations, ‘We’ll give you the games, you just get the kids.’ ’’


Hingham Youth Lacrosse now numbers nearly 800 players strong, according to Todd.

The sport appeals to parents and kids - not only because a number of players can take the field at once, and contribute in high-scoring games - but because athletic kids can excel even if they aren’t well-rounded players.

“Minor skills make dominant players,’’ Todd said. “A kid who can’t skate can’t play hockey. A kid who can’t dribble can’t play basketball. You don’t have to be the best shooter on a lacrosse field to be great. If you can scoop up a ground ball and hand it off to someone who is fast, you can be a hero.’’

And in the beginning, parents reached out to knowledgeable voices, such as Santoro, instead of trying to do it on their own. So young players on the South Shore not only learned the game in droves, they learned it from highly skilled coaches.

“The head high school coaches have such influence on the [youth] programs,’’ Puzzangara said.

“You can see there’s a progression in what they are being taught in Grade 1 to Grade 8. By eighth grade, they are running some nuance of the high school offense. So kids are not coming up lost, they don’t have to waste time reteaching basic skills.’’

No one has been more successful at creating synergy between its youth league and high school program than Duxbury, which has six straight Division 1 boys’ titles.

“You certainly hope to one day be at that level,’’ Walpole coach Jason Andalo said before guiding his Rebels to the school’s first lacrosse state title.

“Those types of teams are good year in and year out, that’s what you hope to do.’’

Girls’ programs south of Boston have served as a pipeline to a number of college programs, including perennial power Northwestern.

Under the direction of Hingham native Kelly Amonte Hiller, the Wildcats recently captured their fifth straight NCAA Division 1 women’s title with a roster featuring seven players from the South Shore.

Westwood has sent five players to Northwestern and 11 to Division 1 programs in coach Leslie Frank’s tenure. Contributing to the state title sweep made this year all the sweeter.

“That’s sick, the South Shore is mean,’’ said Frank as the Walpole High boys warmed up behind her. “You get strong by playing strong opponents.’’

A few hours earlier, Westwood arrived late for its own warmups. And as they mounted their comeback, the Wolverines drew on experience to remain composed despite Longmeadow’s ear-ringing rally cry.

“Lots of teams like to do that to get pumped up. My team, we’re used to it,’’ junior captain Kelly Rich said after finishing with four goals and two assists.

“They try to take us out of our game, but we use it to our advantage.’’

Rich, who has verbally committed to Northwestern along with Beatty, said Westwood sets its own tone with a more somber preparation.

“Our warmups are more quiet, more individual,’’ she said.

“I would be intimidated by our warmups.’’

Justin Rice can be reached at rice.ju@gmail.com. Globe correspondent Maggie Cassidy also contributed to this story.

ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT
Posted Jun 18, 2009 @ 12:40 AM

HINGHAM — When a shot down the line got past Craig Stewart to allow Hingham Post 120’s first run of the game to score in the opening inning, it seemed like it would be a long evening for the third baseman.

Two innings later, when Stewart made a diving, over-the-shoulder snag in the outfield near the third-base line, the evening’s end was just a matter of when the umpire would postpone the game due to darkness.

Brockton Post 35 led, 6-3, after four innings Wednesday at Cronin Field when the umps, who arrived late, called the game.

Brockton (3-1) and Hingham (5-0-1) will finish the game at 5 p.m. on July 1 before playing a scheduled game at Campanelli Stadium.

After Brockton gave up the first run on a play that Stewart believed was a foul ball down an unchalked base line, his team batted around in the second to scored five runs. Brockton led, 5-1, when Stewart made the dazzling play in the third.

“I didn’t agree with the call on the first one, but what are you going to do?” Stewart asked. “Just come back and don’t even worry about it and make a good play.

I saw it come up and I ran back for it. I didn’t think anyone else was going to get to it so I thought I’d try. I just ran after it and dove for it and got it.”

Brockton coach Dave Seropian said that type of play can change a game.

“Thats what we expect from Craig,” Seropian said. “He’s one of three returning starters and that’s what we expect.”

The play sparked a 1-2-3 defensive inning for Brockton.

“The other team played great defense and we hadn’t committed an error in two games,” Hingham coach Vin Murray said after his team committed two errors. “It was the first time we had an error in 14 innings.”

Stewarts web gem wasn’t Brockton’s only ESPN-worthy play. Brockton’s Jack Buckley also converted a suicide squeeze bunt in the second inning. Ryan Young took an early jump from third base before making the score 3-1.

“I saw him running out of the corner of my eye,” said Buckley, who added that it was his first-ever successful suicide squeeze. “On a suicide squeeze, you just have to get anything on it. It was kind of out of the strike zone, but it worked out.”

The final two runs of the inning came on a two-run double to right hit by Stewart, who noted that the team hasn’t been hitting the ball as of late. He can only hope it continues when the game resumes on July 1.

“I think we’ll be fine. Mike [Rodriguez] was pitching good and we’ll do what we do,” Stewart said of the starting pitcher, who allowed three runs on three hits and struck out one.

As well as he pitched in the beginning of the game, Rodriguez started to struggle in the fourth. He walked Matt Henrikson before giving up a double to Eric MacIver. A wild pitch scored Hetrikson and an Alex Cruscivocos fielder’s choice ground ball scored MacIver.

“It was nice they came out and scored those two runs in the fourth inning,” Murray said. “Those two runs are the difference between a 6-1 game and 6-3 game. So hopefully our bats will come alive and we can get more runs when we go back to Brockton.”

Hingham starting pitcher Zack Walker (1-0), who allowed all six runs on nine hits and struck out three, said he struggled to get going after the delay.

“It was pretty hard to keep warming up my arm,” he said. “My arm got tired. That was pretty tough. Hopefully, we’ll start good (on July 1) and get a couple runs back.”

Seropian also hopes his team picks up where it left off when play resumes.

“It’s tough when you had the momentum and were playing good baseball,” he said, adding that the two teams decided to play as much as possible before nightfall. “It’s too bad, but we had a gentlemen’s agreement before the game.”

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Globe South Sports

Ready to play

with the big girls

Griffin built skills against brothers


By Justin A. Rice
Globe Correspondent / June 11, 2009

Casey Griffin was willing to cut her hair in the third grade to play on older brother Corey's youth lacrosse team in Hingham. She even posted a sign on her bedroom door that proclaimed, "No girls allowed."

"I thought I was a boy," recalled Griffin.

She may have had no interest in playing with girls at an early age. But these days, the 18-year-old is pretty excited that she will be able to reunite with two of her closest friends, Ellie Clayton and Kelsey Johnson, on the women's lacrosse team at Dartmouth College this fall.

The last four years, the Hingham Youth Lacrosse alums were rivals, Clayton and Johnson suiting up for Thayer Academy in Braintree, while Griffin played for Noble & Greenough School, a Independent School League foe in Dedham.

"We hated the end of the game because one person had to lose," said Griffin, a four-year varsity player who helped Nobles win all four meetings against Thayer.

"It never feels good," she said. "I remember the last game this year we were so excited to play them and when the game ended they were just so bummed. I was saying, 'I'd be happy to play on their team and not against them.' "

Even though the three girls played for the Revolution Lacrosse Club throughout high school, Johnson and Clayton, both midfielders, couldn't be more thrilled about joining forces full time.

"She's definitely not someone who's fun to play against, I'm very relieved to be playing on her side," said Clayton, who contantly reminded her Thayer teammates never to think they had Griffin pinned down defensively.

"I was guarding her . . . and she just wound up and shot and it went in" from the 8-yard line, said Clayton. "I had her guarded as well as I could. You have to always be ready and on your toes because she'll surprise you. She's such a good person and deserves everything she's getting."

Griffin's resume is pretty impressive, with one common thread: success.

At Noble & Greenough, she was a member of 10 ISL championship teams, covering three sports, including unbeaten lacrosse seasons as a sophomore and junior. The Bulldogs lost just once this spring (13-11 to Buckingham, Browne & Nichols), but Griffin netted the winner in overtime of a 9-8 victory against Governor's Academy to secure the program's third straight league title.

The ISL girls' lacrosse MVP this spring, and a two-time high school All-American, Griffin finished her extraordinary career with 181 goals and 132 assists.

Griffin, who also captained the field hockey and ice hockey teams this year, said giving up hockey will be the hardest part of her transition to college.

"I was worried I'd be bored," she said of only playing one sport. "But going to Dartmouth and playing in a Division 1 program all year long, playing lacrosse every season, I will not have a big break. I think I'll be fine."

Crediting hockey for helping hone her lacrosse skills, Griffin also wields her stick so well because of all those years playing and practicing with the boys - especially her older brothers Corey, now 21, and 20-year-old Mike, who play hockey for Babson and Brown, respectively.

When Griffin was in elementary school, Hingham Youth Lacrosse only fielded a boys' team for her age group, so the coach told her and her dad, Robert, that if she cut her hair she could play. The coach didn't reveal her gender until after she scored six goals against rival Duxbury.

"I think I wanted to do it, honestly," Griffin said. "I was just willing to do whatever it took to play because there wasn't a girls' team. I loved playing with the boys."

That didn't last forever.

Robert Griffin said that when his daughter reached middle school, she noticed that the boys no longer liked pairing off with her during drills.

"Then she said 'Dad, I just want to go with my own' " team, he said. "But she still practiced with the boys, even in high school."

In seventh grade, playing with Johnson and Clayton for the first time, Griffin had immediate credibility.

"Everybody thought she was so cool because she played with the boys," said Johnson, an Under Armour High School All-American this year. "I wanted to be just like that."

"She was relentless," added Clayton, who also captained Thayer's cross-country team.

Now Griffin is passing those skills on, for a fee: She is charging roughly $40 an hour for lacrosse clinics in her backyard, using nothing but a net, a pitch-back, and her know-how.

"I have tons of little cousins and they always come over and I teach them to throw and pass," Griffin said. "They seemed to love doing it. I was sort of doing it my whole life without realizing it but I never charged for it. This summer I was looking for a job so I put up a flier and thought it would be a good idea."

In three weeks, Griffin, Johnson, and Clayton will head to Hanover, N.H., for the Big Green's rookie camp. Playing with Nobles graduates Sarah Plumb and Broghan Cully, the Hingham girls will start working toward the NCAA championship they always talked about as little girls.

"They're just such great kids," Griffin said of Johnson and Clayton. "I'm just looking forward to going to practice with them and hanging out every day. That will be the best part."

Justin Rice can be reached at rice.ju@gmail.com.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Walk-off wonder


Ken McGagh/Daily News staff
Ashland's Erin Gilfoy (earing helmet) is mobbed by her teammates after scoring the game-winning run in the eighth inning of the Clockers' 2-1 victory over Coyle-Cassidy.
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Jun 06, 2009 @ 10:43 PM
Last update Jun 07, 2009 @ 12:11 AM

TAUNTON — After giving up the first run of the game to Coyle-Cassidy in yesterday's Division 2 South Sectional championship at Taunton High, Nicole D'Argento dug in to lead off the bottom of the third inning when she noticed her team slouching on the bench.

"Everyone up, up and talking; everyone," the senior pitcher shouted just before grounding out to start the 1-2-3 inning.

D'Argento's constant encouragement didn't pay off until the sixth inning when the Clockers tied the game. But her optimism ultimately helped obliterate any thought of Ashland's 51-game unbeaten streak coming to an end after Katrina Capobianco's walk-off single in the eighth lifted the Clockers to a 2-1 win.

"The team has a good attitude behind Nicole," Capobianco said. "We knew it was just a matter of time. We have a good offense. We just had to stay with it."

Ashland will meet Concord-Carlisle at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Lowell's Martin Field.

"We'll come out Tuesday with the same intensity we had in the last couple innings, really attacking the ball," D'Argento said. "We were passive a little for the first couple innings. Once we came out attacking and put the ball in their court we put the pressure on them."

Most of the pressure, however, was on D'Argento, who threw a three-hit shutout in last year's Division 2 South semifinal to beat C-C. Last night, she allowed just four hits, struck out 13 batters and walked two.

"We wanted to win the game more than anything," she said. "We never played in the position of being down a run like that. It made us want it more. We wanted the come-from-behind win (and to be) 52-0."

Senior Erin Gilfoy opened the bottom of the eighth with a base hit. A wild pitch moved her to second and Kylene Pease's single put her on third.

Capobianco came to the plate next, with the game on her shoulders.

"I was trying not to think about it and do what I can at bat," said Capobianco. "I got the pitch I like and went with it to the opposite field and Erin got in."

Gilfoy got in, but by the skin of her teeth, sliding underneath the catcher's tag.

"Champions never quit," Ashland coach Steve O'Neill told his squad. "We forced the issue. We made things happen. We won that game as a team."

Ashland (24-0) fell behind after C-C freshman Patty Borges hit a one-out double in the third. D'Argento struck out the next batter before senior Jackie Enos sent a ball up the middle on a deliberate half swing, scoring Borges from second. On the same play, Enos was tagged in a rundown between first and second to end the inning.

D'Argento huddled Ashland in the middle of the fifth inning, shouting, "Do you want to win? Then let's do it now!" But the inning ended in another donut despite Megan Murray's leadoff double and Kristen Giombetti's sacrifice bunt to move Murray to third.

Senior Sarah Jeffrey got things going in the sixth with a one-out double, and was replaced on the base paths by sophomore Mariah Stuart. Pease then followed with a grounder to third, but the throw was wide and Stuart scored to tie the game.

Nothing happened for Ashland before the sixth inning. C-C's Kate Bolduc held the Clockers to three hits through five innings and finished with three strikeouts and one walk. In the meantime, D'Argento looked more nervous each inning out. With the game in Taunton, C-C was essentially playing a home game and had the support to show for it.

"The louder they got the harder I started throwing the ball," D'Argento said. "It definitely pumped me up. It pumped everyone up."

As Much as D'Argento likes to shoulder the burden, she loved watching Capobianco come through in the clutch.

"It's a lot of fun to get the winning hit or strike out the side to win the game," she said. "But when everyone steps up and someone else does it, that's more fun - to see other people succeed and make the game-changing play."

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Globe South Sports

Team called

out in Vermont

Program cut hits

south ballplayers


By Justin A. Rice
Globe Correspondent / June 4, 2009

When the University of Vermont baseball team made its annual pilgrimage to Little Fenway Wiffle Ball in Essex, Vt., a one-fourth scale replica of the Red Sox stadium, the three players hailing from Milton, Mass., dominated play.

"We were all on the same team," recalled UVM sophomore shortstop Matt Duffy, referring to junior pitcher Tom Kelly and freshman infielder James Katsiroubas, former teammates on the Milton Post 114 American Legion team that won the 2006 Northeast title. Duffy and Katsiroubas were also teammates at Milton High, while Kelly played at Catholic Memorial.

"It's known throughout the entire team that there's something about Milton Wiffle ball. That's what we grew up doing."

The Milton trio, however, will not be able to defend their self-proclaimed Wiffle ball crown next season, nor make a return to the American East playoffs with the rest of their Catamount teammates.

In late February, UVM officials cut a program that dates back to 1888, as well as the school's softball program, as part of a universitywide budget management plan. Facing a $1.1 million gap between projected revenues and expenses for next season, UVM cut the athletic department's general fund by 6.5 percent.

The news was an especially tough blow for the baseball team's 22-year head coach, Bill Currier, who guided the Cats to a 22-33 mark and the third round of the America East playoffs.

"He's had such a tremendous career," said senior pitcher Justin Albert of Hull, who hopes to be selected in next week's Major League Baseball draft. "Initially that was one of the first feelings I felt: grief for Coach. He's been beloved by the school and town [of Burlington] forever. It's so unfortunate they cut him short."

The news was a devastating blow to the Cats, who spiraled to a dismal 0-11 start. The decision also put 11 freshmen, seven sophomores, and five juniors back into the recruiting pool, competing with current high school seniors for roster spots. The NCAA allowed other schools to contact UVM players immediately and waived the rule that forces transfer players to sit out a year.

While Katsiroubas is transferring to the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, a Division 2 program, Kelly will stay at Vermont. A transfer from Suffolk University, he will accept the university's offer, which is allowing players to retain their scholarship and study at UVM.

In April, the hard-hitting Duffy signed with the University of Tennessee, leaving as the program's last America East batting champion. In addition to his .388 average, he also tied the program's single-season home run record (13), while also setting new marks in RBIs (57) and runs scored (57).

"Fortunately, I have a place to play," said Duffy, named the America East's Player of the Year and a finalist for the Brooks Wallace National Shortstop of the Year Award. "Some of these guys who love to play baseball won't have the opportunity I have.

"[Playing at Tennessee is] a good situation but it's obviously not my first choice to have to leave Vermont," Duffy continued. "It's a terrible situation with what's happened here. At the same time, you have to take the good with the bad and look at it in a positive light."

Duffy was also courted by Virginia Tech and Auburn but was sold on Tennessee after one visit to Knoxville. Other players were not as fortunate.

"I want to help them, more or less be their agent, and the guy who helps them get to another place," Currier said. "But it's also difficult having to send these kids off to other places. You're happy for them, but it's also like selling each piece of furniture in a house; you have a story about each piece."

This season was especially difficult for Katsiroubas, who was just starting his Division 1 career.

"I didn't let it ruin everything," said Katsiroubas, a third baseman who committed to UMass-Lowell after also considering Northeastern University. "It was just another issue you have to deal with and get through. It's life."

He has dealt with adversity before. His father, James Sr., who taught him the game as a child, died of a heart attack at age 54, when Katsiroubas was a sophomore in high school.

And while his story might put baseball in perspective, it will still be hard for Kelly this fall when he returns to campus solely as a student.

"It's kind of weird because baseball is something I've associated with my entire life," said Kelly, who compiled a 4-5 record with a 5.43 earned-run average in 15 appearances this season. "I've always thought of myself as a baseball player. It puts a different perspective on everything."

Kelly's college career and Milton's pipeline to UVM might be closed, but Currier said he will continue to tap the talent in the South Shore at whatever school he lands at next.

"All four of those guys have been quality players, helping us draw other kids out of that area," Currier said. "It was short-lived but it was a good linkage of good talent from that area. Wherever I go from here, hopefully we can keep that up."


Other programs

get budget knife

By Justin Rice Globe Correspondent / June 4, 2009

Her senior class was the last to wear a softball uniform at University of Vermont, a sad fact that Jeanine Connolly admits will likely not sink in until the end of the summer.

"I told everyone it probably won't hit me till August and I don't have to go back to Vermont," said Connolly, a 2005 graduate of West Bridgewater High who led the Catamounts (8-38) in RBIs this spring.

Vermont cut its softball and baseball programs in February for financial reasons. And at other New England colleges, athletes from communities south of Boston have also been adversely affected by program cuts.

Apponequet Regional grad Ethan Lincoln was on the men's soccer team at Maine, which has been cut along with women's volleyball.

"It's still just as frustrating but it makes it easier to know other people are going through it, too," said Lincoln, who hopes to transfer to Montclair State. "But it hasn't reduced our anger towards what has happened."

At MIT, Bohan Liu of Quincy (pistol) and Canton's Jake Shapiro and Jacob Sharpe (men's gymnastics) were members of two of the eight programs that will be eliminated.

Maine and UVM will honor scholarship commitments to athletes on cut programs who wish to remain at school. They also granted permission to any school that wants to contact an affected athlete. The NCAA allows the players to transfer and play immediately without sitting out a year.

Last week, Connolly said most of her former nonsenior teammates, including sophomore pitcher Jocelyn Abaray of Acushnet, were still in limbo while four others have decided to stay at UVM.

"It's very sad, considering our team had two juniors and two seniors and the rest of the team was sophomores and freshmen," said Connolly, who plans to attend grad school for athletic training for physical therapy. "We had a very young team so it was heartbreaking for these girls."