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Season Preview: Improvement key for girls’ cross country

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The Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ cross country team is searching for improvement.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ cross country coach Steve George wants to see improvement from his team this fall.

“Not necessarily with respect to their win-loss record as we still have three outstanding opponents in Marshfield, Hingham and Silver Lake who all return some really phenomenal runners,” said George, whose club finished 2-3 last season. “But from an individual standpoint, I’m looking for big things from our captains Myah Kamperides, Anna Flynn and Sarah Boulger. Each is talented and has worked very hard over the summer preparing for the upcoming season. We had a good freshman class last year and with another year of experience and after a good summer of training, they too will make an impact this season.”

Kamperides legged out two first-place finishes, a second and a third last season to earn league all-star status for the second straight fall.

“Myah is one of the more dedicated and enthusiastic runners I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach,” George said. “She also follows our training plan to perfection. Well almost. On a [run last month], she was asked to run an out and back on the Rockland Rail Trail/Hanover Branch Rail Trail, 5.3 miles. When she returned to the starting point she continued running. ‘In order to get to an even six miles,’ she said. Myah loves being a runner. I expect she’ll be doing this for another 50 years or so.”

Flynn had top-five finishes in wins over Duxbury and Plymouth North last season, while Boulger was a few spots behind her in that Plymouth North win. Both will be key this season.

The girls open the season Thursday, Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. at home against North Quincy/Quincy.

“I’m really looking forward to see the results in Week 1,” George said. “Not just the final score, but even more so how our girls finish. Where they stand, relatively speaking, right now. Can somebody step up and challenge Myah? Will Sarah challenge Anna? How about Erin (Kelly) and McKenna (McCarthy) in their first year of cross country? Who else has made a big jump in competition? I honestly don’t know what to expect, but I can’t wait to find out.”

Season Preview: Boys’ cross country a ‘confident’ bunch

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The Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ cross country team, the defending Patriot League Keenan Division champion, is brimming with confidence heading into the new season.

After running the table last season en route to the Patriot League Keenan Division title, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ cross country team is a confident bunch.

“Last year, we went into the season thinking we could win each time out,” said head coach Steve George, who enters his eighth season leading the Panthers. “I think this year that mindset has carried forward. They are putting in the same effort and taking the same approach as last year’s team.”

The faces have changed. League MVP Theo Kamperides has graduated, as have league all-stars Liam Cafferty and Chris MacDonald.

But the Panthers do return some talent in the likes of senior captains and 2020 league all-stars Gordon Johnson and Nathan Tassey.

“Both [were] top-five runners last year [and] are really inspiring their teammates,” George said. “They got a taste of success last year and are out to prove it was no fluke.”

The sophomore class also has George really excited.

“Logan Bourgelas, Gavin McCarthy and Shane Johnson, all top-seven runners a year ago, are back,” he said. “And we’ve added Alex Kehayias and Ryan Crowley, both of whom have considerable potential. While others returning from last year’s team, Connor McCarthy, Adam Vinton and Andrew Buckley have shown dramatic improvement already. All told, we have 16 boys from the Class of 2024 who will impact our program over the next three years. That’s exciting.”

George said juniors Jonathan Young, James Molito and newcomers, Nathan Scaccia and Shaine Mwicigi should also make an impact.

W-H opens the season Thursday, Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. when it hosts North Quincy/Quincy.

“I’ve always said the most important tool in distance running is in each team member establishing and working toward individual or personal goals while being fully supported by his teammates,” George said. “If every runner does that, everything else will fall into place.”

Checking in with W-H AD Bob Rodgers

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Following a year like we’ve never seen before, sports are back to normal — for the most part — at Whitman-Hanson Regional High.

The Express caught up with W-H athletic director Bob Rodgers for a preview of the 2021-22 year.

Q: What gets you most excited for a new year of athletics?

A: “It’s always exciting to come back in the fall and have this sense of renewal. Everyone has a chance to begin with a clean slate and soon we learn how hard the kids worked over the summer.”

Q: What’s your favorite part of the school year and why?

A: “The return to school is always my favorite time of year as we see our seniors take on a new leadership role in the school and the freshmen joining the Panther family.”

Q: How do you feel playing a sport benefits students?

A: “There are so many aspects to what sports can do for young people. They learn many life lessons and develop important characteristics such as dedication, discipline, resiliency, loyalty just to name a few. But I think it is the relationships that matter most. In many cases, kids are making friendships that will last a lifetime.”

Q: What are the highs and lows of being an AD?

A: “The best part is seeing kids grow from that young freshmen to that confident senior. It is a privilege to play a small role in that. The low point comes when people hold coaches and officials to a standard that no one can live up to. None of us, in any walk of life, can be perfect. It takes the joy out of the experience when this happens.”

Q: For those who don’t know, what goes into the role of an AD?  How much time do you have? 

A: “Being an AD encompasses so many different elements. From hiring, mentoring and supervising coaches to scheduling games, dealing with the financial challenges, building culture, training student leaders and administering all of the rules from the state and the league there really is very little time to take a breath.”

Q: When you look back on last year, what moment(s) stick out? 

A: “Two things come to mind immediately. The first is just how great it was to see kids back competing after losing that chance due to COVID the previous spring. We all had a renewed appreciation for what we have. The other was seeing the boys’ cross-country team go undefeated. Coach [Steve] George is such an amazing man and a terrific coach who is so deeply committed to our kids. Seeing them win it will be a highlight that will stick with me for a long time.”

Q: Have there been any improvements in athletics for this upcoming year?

A: “We continue to be a beta testing school for HUDL. All of our teams have access to this video system but now out at the fields we have HUDL focus and sideline which will give our coaches an automated way to record games.”

Q: Are there any changes in W-H athletics this season from coaches to schedule release? 

A: “We do have some new coaches this fall. Tony Reis replaces Dave Leahy as boys’ soccer head coach. Dave had to step away due to his work commitments. Zack Botelho is our new football coach taking over for Mike Driscoll, who retired to spend more time with his family. 

“One of the other major changes this school year deals with the MIAA. They have changed to a new website and scheduling system. The old app and website will not longer be the place to find schedules and information. Now people will want to download the arbiter sports app. A link to the schedule and calendar can be found at www.whathletics.com.”

Q: Are there any teams at W-H that you have your eye on to make a deep postseason run or perhaps surprise some people?

A: “Wow, that is such a tough question because the kids in so many sports have been working so hard. We are lucky that our teams compete at such a high level and sometimes we get a little spoiled. I know this, any W-H sporting event will be a fantastic event for Whitman and Hanson families to attend.”

Q: Are there any dates that fans of W-H athletics should mark down on their calendars for any reason?

A: “Maybe Christmas? It may be the only day of the year where there isn’t some W-H athletic practice or game taking place.”

Q: What are you hoping to see as the year gets underway?

A: “I want to see kids smiling, having fun and showing great sportsmanship.”

Kamperides back in stride

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After a summer of dealing with the side effects of a bout with COVID-19, Whitman-Hanson Regional High senior cross county and track standout Myah Kamperides was on the course this past Sunday. 

Myah and her sister Savannah, a sophomore, took part in the Falmouth Road Race. 

“The race was the most fun I have had all summer,” Myah said. “I had COVID back in May and haven’t been the same since. The Falmouth Road Race made me re-love running and built a sense of confidence for my senior cross country season.” 

Myah placed 15th out of 156 runners in the female age 15 to 19 group, while Savannah placed 33rd. It wasn’t Myah’s first time running the seven-mile course — and it won’t be their last. 

“I ran the race back in 2019 after my biology teacher, Ms. Geagan, had offered me a spot to run through her running group,” Myah said. “I had so much fun and instantly knew I was going to continue racing. Since this past spring was Savannah’s first year of high school track she decided to do it with me since our charity group had another opening. It will definitely be an annual tradition from now on.”

Together, the two raised also almost $2,000 for the Lurie Center for Autism through Mass General.  

“Our mom’s co-worker has a son with autism who runs for the same cause every year,” Myah said. “They had gotten in contact with my mom and of course I was going to run for such a great charity. Our older sister, Lexie, has Ohdo Syndrome, so I know that life may get tough sometimes for people with special needs.”

Great event for a great cause. 

Reis hired as boys’ soccer coach

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Tony Reis is the new man in charge of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ soccer team.

Reis takes over for Dave Leahy, who stepped down after four seasons due to a work commitment.

Reis, who works for the Upper Cape Regional Vocational School, spent six seasons as Upper Cape’s head coach. His teams won three league titles and qualified for the MIAA tournament six years in a row.

Reis played his high school ball at Taunton High.

“Coach Reis has a passion and love for the game of soccer,” said W-H athletic director Bob Rodgers. “His success speaks for itself, but his view of the role of athletics in a student’s life is what excites me about having him joining our staff.”
Reis also owns a soccer academy down the Cape.

W-H finished the shortened 2020 campaign with a 6-7 record.

Goldsmith-Greene joins 100-win club

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Damari Goldsmith-Greene and his team following his 100th win. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Damari Goldsmith-Greene has become the fifth Whitman-Hanson Regional High wrestler to reach 100 wins.

Welcome to the club, Damari Goldsmith-Greene.

The senior captain racked up his 100th career win Wednesday, June 16, becoming just the fifth Whitman-Hanson Regional High wrestler to reach the century mark in wins, joining Nate Dineen (125 wins), Eric Runci (123), Ben Dineen (121) and Dave Osborne (108).

The 152-pound wrestler Goldsmith-Greene reached the feat with an 8-4 victory against Plymouth South.

“It means a lot to me to make history in the Whitman-Hanson program,” said Goldsmith-Greene, who finished his W-H career with 101 wins after a victory against Hingham in the Div. 2 South tournament. “In the past, there was a lot of great wrestlers, so it feels good.”

W-H wrestling head coach Gary Rabinovitz said he knew there was little margin for error heading into this shortened season if Goldsmith-Greene was going to reach the milestone.

“I could not be any prouder of Damari,” Rabinovitz said. “Damari and I discussed his goals after last season and knew he only needed 12 wins as he ended his junior year with 88. No one could see this pandemic and his goal was in jeopardy. If this would have been a normal season, Damari would have become the all-time win leader for our program.”

Goldsmith-Greene also capped his W-H wrestling career as a two-year captain.

“I take a lot of pride in [leadership],” he said. “As a senior, I want to leave the team with good things and good energy, so they can keep the train rolling for next season.”

“Damari leads by example, he never complains and shows up for practice everyday ready to wrestle,” Rabinovitz said. “He treats every one of his teammates with respect.”

Goldsmith-Greene, who began his wrestling career at Josiah Quincy Upper School before he moved to Whitman at the outset of his freshman year, will take his talents on the mat to Plymouth State University next year.

“I want to thank everyone through the program that helped me make history,” he said.

Spring sports regular season nears a close

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The final full week of the spring sports regular season is in the books at Whitman-Hanson Regional High.

Here’s how it shook out:

Baseball (8-2) opened the week with a 15-0 beat down of Silver Lake on Monday, May 24. Senior Bobby Marshall struck out nine to pick up the win. Senior Ty Gordon chipped in a bases-clearing double to spark the offense. … On Wednesday, the Panthers topped Marshfield, 7-4. Marshall had three hits, while senior Mike Hutchko picked up his second win of the season on the hill. … On Friday, with the Patriot League Keenan title on the line, W-H fell to Plymouth North, 4-3. The Panthers tied it at three in the fifth but the Blue Eagles plated the winning run in the sixth.

Softball (5-5) fell to Silver Lake, 14-5, on Monday, May 24. Junior Annie Cook led the Panthers with three hits. … On Wednesday, Jordan McDermott’s club dropped a slugfest against Marshfield, 12-11. Sophomore Haley Leeber went 5 for 5 at the plate in the loss. … On Friday, W-H lost a 10-6 decision to Plymouth North. Senior captain Abby Cleary and junior Erin Burke each had solo home runs.

Boys’ lacrosse (2-8) fell to Duxbury, 18-1, on Tuesday, May 25. … On Thursday, the Panthers fell to Plymouth North, 12-4.

Girls’ lacrosse (3-6-1) lost to Duxbury, 16-2, on Tuesday, May 25. … On Friday, AC Decker’s team closed out the regular season with a 9-4 win over Marshfield. Senior Bryn Miller and sophomore Ella Nagle each had two goals and two assists, while juniors Joli Flamos and Emily Leitch anchored the defense.

Boys’ outdoor track (0-2-1) fell to Marshfield, 95-41, on Tuesday, May 25. Junior Jake Caterer picked up wins in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and triple jump

Girls’ indoor track (1-1-1) also fell to Marshfield, by a final score or 105-31, on Tuesday, May 25. Senior Madison Scaccia was a standout for the Panthers with wins in the 100-meter dash (:12.9), the long jump (14 feet, 11.5 inches) and the triple jump (32 feet).

Boys’ tennis (3-7) opened up the week with a 3-2 win over Silver Lake on Monday, May 24. Senior captain Cameron Lindsay and brother teammate Zach Lindsay took care of their opponents at the first doubles position, 6-1, 6-1. Freshmen Tristan Baker and partner Nate Burt also won in the second doubles spot, 6-1, 6-2. Junior Sam Ennis clinched the win for W-H in third singles, 6-2, 6-1. … Josh Lopes’ squad made it three straight wins on Wednesday with a 4-1 victory over Marshfield. Junior Aidan Hickey (6-1, 6-3) won in third singles, Ennis (6-2, 6-2) won at No. 3 singles, the Lindsay brothers (6-4, 6-2) took care of business in No. 1 singles and Baker and Burt (6-2, 6-2) secured the win in second doubles. … W-H wrapped up the regular season with a 4-1 loss to Plymouth North on Friday. Baker and Burt had the Panthers’ lone point with a win in second doubles, 6-2, 7-5.

Girls’ tennis (2-8) was edged by Silver Lake, 3-2, on Monday, May 24. … On Wednesday, W-H was shut out by Marshfield, 5-0. … The Panthers closed the week with a 4-1 loss to Plymouth North on Friday.

Wrestling (4-3) took down Marshfield, 48-24, on Wednesday, May 26. Junior Joe Boss (113 pounds) and senior captain Declan Hanapy both won via pin, while sophomore Aidan Guiliani (126), freshman Grady Maynard (132), junior captain Pat Collett (145), senior captain Damari Goldsmith-Greene (160), junior Rocco Ruffini (220) and sophomore Maddox Colclough (285) also had wins. … On Friday, W-H defeated Scituate, 48-24, but fell to Bridgewater-Raynham, 48-18, in a tri-meet. Boss, Guiliani, Goldsmith-Greene and Ruffini were all double winners for W-H.   

*Express weekly roundups include scores from Sunday to Sunday. 

Leahy steps down as boys’ soccer coach

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After four seasons, Dave Leahy has stepped down as the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ soccer head coach.

A challenge.

That’s what Dave Leahy was looking for — and had — when he took over the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ soccer team back in 2017.

Leahy inherited a team that won just one game the previous season, hadn’t been to the tournament in three years and plays in one of the toughest leagues in the state, to boot.

“My goal for the program was to make them believe they could be winners, by putting in the hard work, believing in the results and playing together,” he said.

His message resonated. The Panthers made the postseason in Year No. 1 and went on to two times in his first three years.

But after a four-year run at W-H, which saw the program finish about .500 twice, Leahy has resigned due to work commitments.

“I’m very proud of what the team was able to do during my four years at W-H,” Leahy said. “In three out of the four years we were a playoff-quality team. Every year we had a member of the team graduate and go to play soccer in college, including two that will play this fall. As a team, we started to believe we could defeat the perennial power houses in our difficult league.”

And as a team, W-H kept it positive on the pitch.

“We were good sportsman in my four years, never getting a red card and getting few yellow cards over that time,” Leahy said. “Our style of soccer became very fun to watch overall.”

Leahy said it was a difficult decision to step down.

“It was very hard,” he said. “I really enjoyed being a Panther. Plus, the current team is ready to have a very strong year, and more importantly they are a great group. I wanted to be there to help lead them in any way I could.”

What’s Leahy most proud of accomplishing during his tenure at W-H?

“I’m most proud that opponents and observers of the team respect us now,” he said. “Every team knew they had to play their best, or we were going to come away happy if they didn’t.”

Leahy said he enjoyed his time on the Panthers’ sideline.

“It was a pleasure coaching at W-H,” Leahy said. “I got to coach some incredible young men. Everything wasn’t always easy, as most high school coaches and teachers find in our current times, but the positives were so much greater than the negatives. I hope for nothing but the best for the players I’ve coached at W-H and good luck to ones I didn’t get a chance to coach.”

Kings of the Hills: Marshall twins leading the way on the mound

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Twins Tommy and Bobby Marshall are leading the way on the mound for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High baseball team.

Twins brothers, Tommy and Bobby Marshall have a lot in common.

That list includes tossing complete games.

Tommy opened the Whitman-Hanson Regional High baseball team’s season with a complete-game shutout against Duxbury, striking out nine.

“Tommy came to me before the season even started and put that bug in my ear and said, ‘Coach I’m going to distance in the first game,’” said W-H skipper Pat Cronin.

Bobby had the best seat in the park for his brother’s gem because he caught it.

“I just congratulated him and wanted to match it,” said Bobby, who also plays outfield, third base, and pitcher.

He didn’t have to wait long. Bobby was on the hill the following game against Hingham. And he matched in, tossing a full seven innings, surrendering zero earned runs while punching out five in the 7-2 win.

Bobby Marshall tossed a complete game against Hingham this season. / Photo by: Sue Moss

“Once [Tommy] did it, you’re talking like refrigerator material in the Marshall house,” Cronin said with a laugh. “Bobby, of course, came right to me the next day and said, ‘Coach, I’m going the distance, too.’”

Tommy didn’t seem too surprised by his brother’s follow-up act.

“We’re very competitive,” said Tommy, who is coming off a 15-strike out, complete-game shutout against Duxbury last Tuesday. “Everything is a competition.”

Tommy Marshall is 3-0 with 30 strikeouts in 19.0 innings this season. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The two have combined to fire 31 innings and post a 4-0 record for the Panthers, who are off to a 6-1 start.

“They kind of energized the team,” Cronin said. “Everyone loves playing behind them. They love baseball, it’s all they want to do is play baseball. They’re very positive, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them negative — and then you add the skill factor. They can both bring it. They can both throw very well for high school kids. They have good skills defensively and they’re aggressive at the plate.”

Tommy is in his third season on varsity, while Bobby is in his first after getting called up during the 2019 MIAA tournament.

“We have a lot of fun together because we get to play together, ” said Tommy, who is also hitting a team-high .478 with seven RBI’s. “There’s nothing better than that.”

That fun will continue next year. They’ll both attend Curry College, where they plan to play baseball.

A busy week of spring sports action

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Baseball (4-0), behind a complete game from senior Bobby Marshall, rolled past Hingham, 7-2, on Tuesday, May 11. Marshall gave up no earned runs and stuck out five Harbormen. Hartford University-bound senior Danny Kent had three hits to spark the offense. … On Wednesday, sophomore Connor Sottak launched a pinch-hit, three-run home run as Pat Cronin’s squad topped Silver Lake, 6-2. … The Panthers capped a perfect 3-0 week with a 4-1 win over Marshfield on Friday. Senior captain Tommy Marshall drove in two in the victory.

Softball (4-1) dropped a 6-3 decision to Hingham on Tuesday, May 11. Senior captain Abby Cleary hit a solo home run in the fifth. … Jordan McDermott’s team bounced back the following day, rally past eight-in-a-row Patriot League Keenan Division champion Silver Lake, 10-6. W-H trailed by three heading into the fifth before it was able to break away. Sophomore Allison Larkin went three for four at the dish, highlighted by a solo home run. … The Panthers posted another comeback win on Friday, rallying from five down in the seventh to edge Marshfield, 7-6, in extra innings. Larkin leveled the score at six in the seventh with a three-run homer. Senior captain Emily McDonald scoring the winning run in the eighth on a passed ball.

Boys’ lacrosse (1-4) opened the week with a 16-4 setback to Plymouth South on Tuesday, May 11. … On Thursday, W-H fell to Division 2 power Hingham, 19-1. Senior Aiden McCarthy had the Panthers’ goal off an assist from his younger brother, Gavin McCarthy, a freshman. … On Saturday, the other McCarthy brother, freshman Connor McCarthy, struck for four goals to propel W-H past North Quincy, 7-2, and into the win column for the first time this spring.

Girls’ lacrosse (1-2-1) routed Abington, 16-3, for its first win of the season on Monday, May 10. Junior Tiffany Joyce paced the offensive attack with two goals and three assists. Seniors Brynn Miller, Katie Mulligan and junior Jackie Keenan all had three goals and an assist in the win. … On Tuesday, the Panthers rallied back from five down in the fourth to tie Plymouth South, 14-14. Sophomore Ella Nagle paced the offense with three goals and an assist. On Thursday, W-H jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead but it didn’t last as it fell to Hingham, 20-3. Nagle had two goals in the defeat, while Joyce added the other.

Boys’ outdoor track (0-1) fell to Duxbury, 92-52, on Tuesday, May 11. Senior captain Theo Kamperides posted wins in the mile and 2-mile runs.

Girls’ outdoor track (1-0) came out on top in its opener with an 87-49 victory over Duxbury on Tuesday, May 11. The Panthers were led by senior Madison Scaccia, who had wins in the triple jump (30-foot-1) and 200-meter dash (:29.41), and junior April Keyes, who won in the 400-meter hurdles (:71.5) and 100-meter hurdles (:17.77).

Boys’ tennis (1-3) fell to Hingham, 5-0, on Monday, May 10. … The Panthers rebounded on Wednesday for a 3-2 win over Silver Lake for their first victory of 2021. At the first doubles position, senior captain Cameron Lindsay and his brother, sophomore Zach Lindsay, won in two sets, 6-4, 6-3, while freshman duo Tristan Baker and Nate Burt made short work of their opponents at second doubles, winning 6-0, 6-3. Junior Will Mulligan clinched the victory with a win in third singles, 7-5, 6-4. … On Friday, W-H was clipped by Marshfield, 3-2. Junior Aiden Hickey won in first singles, 6-4, 6-2 and the freshman duo of Baker and Burt continued to play well, winning their match at the second doubles spot, 6-3, 6-2.

Girls’ tennis (1-3) fell to Hingham, 4-1, on Monday, May 10. Senior Julia Benvie scored W-H’s lone point with a win at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-3. … On Wednesday, the Panthers topped Silver Lake, 3-2, for win No. 1 of the year. Seniors Rylie Harlow and Nora Rooney won at No. 1 doubles, 6-1, 6-2, and the second doubles tram of seniors Erin Tilley and Kyla Faghan won, 6-1, 6-2. Benvie picked up the third point win a win in No. 2 singles in a tiebreaker. On Friday, W-H fell to Marshfield, 3-2. At No. 2 singles, Benvie won in a super breaker third set, 10-4. Tilley and Faghan won in second doubles, 6-4, 6-1.

Wrestling (0-1) opened its first ever spring season with a 42-24 loss to Silver Lake on Wednesday, May 12. Sophomore Aiden Guiliani (126 pounds) and senior captain Damari Goldsmith-Greene (152) both won via pin; Guiliani’s came at 1:42, while Goldsmith-Greene’s was at 2:25. Senior captain Aiden O’Brien (138) and junior captain Pat Collett (145) also collected wins.

*Express weekly roundups include scores from Sunday to Sunday.