Whitman-Hanson Express

You are here: Home / Archives for Sports

Colclough stars for the Stripes

By

Hanson Middle Schooler earns Team USA Football opportunity

It’s not everyday that a local athlete has an opportunity to represent the town of Hanson at the national level, but this was the case for incoming eighth grader Maddox Colclough last month.

The Hanson Middle School student was selected to play for the USA National football team, Middle School Division. From there, he traveled to Canton, Ohio — home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame–to practice from July 2 to 7. He then took part in the bout between the U-14 Stars vs. U-14 Stripes as a member of the Stripes.

“It was pretty fun, but nerve wracking,” Colclough, who plays center, said of the experience. “I didn’t really know what it was going to be like.”

Players arrived early to check out the field and see what everything was like.

“I got comfortable with the team and there was a lot of kids who were a lot bigger than me there, so it was tough at practice and all that,” he said.

Not only did he earn the opportunity to play against some of the best talent the country has to offer for his age group, but he also had the opportunity to represent his state and hometown in the process.

“It was a really good experience,” Colclough said. “You get to see what the talent was like around the country, who the best were and where they’re from.”

One challenge the game offered Colclough was the size difference between kids from around the country. While playing for the Hanson Warriors of the Old Colony Youth Football League, Colclough must adhere to a strict weight limit where no player can start the season weighing over 165 pounds. However, Team USA football does not have a weight limit and there was a lineman from Kansas City, Mo., who participated and weighed 320 pounds, Colclough said.

Since the Pro Football Hall of Fame is in Canton as well, it goes without saying that Colclough checked it out.

“That was so much fun,” he said. “Me and my dad (Christopher) went and that was really fun and a cool experience.” Being on the field too was pretty fun. We also went into the downtown area and were able to do a lot there.”

Now, Colclough will turn his attention to the Hanson Warrior Division 4 Midgets team which will start practicing later this month. Their first game is on Sunday, Sep. 9 against Pembroke at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School (1p.m. start time).

Panther spring All-Scholastic honorees

By

Eleven Panthers have been tabbed as Enterprise All-Scholastics.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High baseball players headlined the list of Enterprise All-Scholastics after the team’s second straight Patriot League Keenan Division crown. Here is a look at the whole spring list.

BASEBALL

Mike Cook – Junior back-to-back league all-star led the team with a .394 average and 22 runs batted in … Blasted a leadoff homerun May 23 in an 8-7 victory over Middleboro.

Ethan Phelps – Junior solidified himself as a force on the mound, hurling a 1.36 ERA … At the plate, the pitcher/center fielder and league all-star hit .300 and drove in 15 runs.

Ryan Sawtelle – Senior, who is headed to Castleton University, hit a team-high .400 and knocked in 13 runs … Was selected as a league all-star.

Rian Schwede – Junior co-captain and staff ace pitched to the tune of a 1.64 ERA and 5-3 mark … Was tabbed a league all-star.

SOFTBALL

Hailey Norris – Third baseman was tabbed a league all-star … Senior led the team with a .418 average and knocked in 15 runs.

Victoria Ryan – Sophomore first-year starter at second base and Patriot League All-Star hit .382 with 12 RBIs … Hit two home runs in a game against Rockland.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Lauren Bonavita – Senior scored a team-high 67 goals and dished out 11 assists … Racked up 117 draw controls.

Kasey Molito – Senior was a three-year starter in goal and two-time league all-star … Set the program’s single-season saves record with 268 this spring.

GIRLS’ OUTDOOR TRACK

Allison Bartlett — Junior qualified for states in long jump and 100-meter hurdles. … Top 10 in school history in six events. … Placed 14th overall in South Sectional heptathlon. Also participates in cross country.

Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue – Junior was named the team MVP and a league all-star … In the South Sectional heptathlon, she placed 15th.

Samantha Perkins — Sophomore captain-elect was Patriot League all-star. … qualifyied for states in javelin and placed 20th in South Sectional heptathlon. … Also participates on the winter track and soccer teams.

Whitman skaters bound for Nationals

By

WHITMAN — Fifteen members of the All-Star Roller Skating Club will be competing in the U. S. National Championship in Lincoln, Neb., July 21 through Aug. 5 after winning 34 gold, eight silver and two bronze medals in regional competition. All age groups and skills divisions will be competing. The club representing the Carousel Family Fun Center range in age from 7 to adults in their 70s.

Senior Club members competing in Nationals placed as follows in the regionals:

• Leo Brehm — two golds in Bronze Div. 3 Men’s Figures and Solo Dance;

• Lisa Brenn Scarborough — two gold in Gold Div. 1 Team Dance and Bronze Div. 1 Women’s Figures as well as one bronze in Silver Div. 1 Women’s Figures;

• Christine Cizmar — one gold in Gold Div. 1 Women’s Solo Dance and a silver in Silver Div. 1 Team Dance;

• Ella Connell — three golds in Elementary A Solo Dance, Elementary International Solo Dance and Elementary International Solo Free Dance;

• Diane DeSilva —  silver in Bronze Div. 3 Women’s Figures;

• Perry Jones — silver in Silver Div. 1 Team Dance;

• Sharyn Lyons-Morin — silver in Gold Div. 2 Women’s Solo Dance. She also placed fourth in the Silver Div. 2 Women’s Solo Dance;

• Allie Mello — two golds in Senior Small Show Group and Open B Creative Solo Free Dance as well as a silver in Freshman/Sophomore B Solo Dance;

• Bethany Mello — six golds in Freshman/Sophomore B Team Dance, Senior Small Show Group, Freshman A Solo Dance, Youth International Solo Dance, International Solo Free Dance and International Solo Dance/Free Dance;

• Christopher Miller — six gold in Primary Boys’ Figures, Primary Boys’ Loops, Primary Boys’ Figures & Loops Combined, Juvenile Team Dance, Primary A Boys’ Freestyle and Elementary A Creative Solo Free Dance as well as a silver in Primary A Solo Dance and a bronze in Elementary International Solo Dance;

• Laura Miller — six golds in Primary Girls’ Figures, Primary Girlss’ Loops, Primary Girls’ Figures & Loops Combined, Juvenile Team Dance, Primary A Girls’ Freestyle and Primary A Solo Dance as well as two silvers in Elementary A Creative Solo Free Dance and Elementary International Solo Dance;

• Stephen Mills — one gold in Gold Div. 1 Team Dance;

• Elsy Urzua — one gold in Elementary A Creative Solo Free Dance;

• Isaiah Urzua — two golds in Freshman/Sophomore B Men’s Figures and Freshman/Sophomore C Solo Dance and;

• Joshua Urzua, two golds in Freshman/Sophomore B Team Dance and Freshman/Sophomore B Solo Dance.

Coaches for the team are DeeDee Viola, John Viola, Jodee Viola, Christine Cizmar, Ken Kucick and Nancy Doyle.

A Year of Panther Sports in Review: 2017-18

By

The sports season was decked with numerous storylines, highlights and memories this year at Whitman-Hanson Regional High.

From August to June, it was a grind to the end. Here is a complete look back on all the action.

FALL

FOOTBALL

Storyline: Junior-laden football team inching toward ultimate goal.

The rundown: For the third straight season the football team finished the fall at 7-4 and fell in the first round of the tournament (30-21 to Stoughton). However, of the Panthers’ four losses, three came by two touchdowns or less and in the other (23-9 against Duxbury), they maintained a brief 7-0 lead before it spiraled out of control. The Panthers will return a solid core of nine rising seniors with starting experience under their belt as they look to get over the hump.

Top game: 28-24 victory over Plymouth North on Oct. 6 in which junior quarterback Ethan Phelps drove down the field 60 yards with 50 seconds to go for the game-winning score.

Top quote: “I’m very proud of this team. I’m very happy with the way that the seniors handled things and I’m very happy with the way we’re moving.”– head coach Mike Driscoll

FIELD HOCKEY

Storyline: Field hockey nets success, posts best season in over 30 years.

The rundown: In its third campaign back at the varsity level after a 30-year hiatus, the field hockey team – led by a 15-player senior class – set highs in goals scored (30) and wins (six). Three teams deep, the program fielded a record 64 girls. It’s going to be a new-look varsity team this coming autumn, but the upcoming girls now have the experience from the lower levels.

Top game: 8-2 victory over Norwell on Oct. 27 during the final game of the season that saw all the Panthers goals come from seniors playing in their final game. Captain Tina Woodward led the way with four tallies.

Top quote: “I can’t even begin to tell you how special that group is. They’ve been with me since the beginning. They shaped [and] molded the entire program and just their positive attitudes and their willing to take risk has elevated our entire program, and I couldn’t be more proud of them and grateful.”– head coach Todd Humphrey on his senior class

BOYS’ GOLF

Storyline: Consistency lies on the green.

The rundown: As under-the-radar as it flies, the boys’ golf team is one of the most consistent programs Whitman-Hanson offers. The Panthers – paced by seniors Tommy Bombardier, JP Drier (captain), Nick Duffy and Anthony Palmacci, junior Owen Manning (captain) and sophomore Matt Korzec – finished the year at 9-8 and qualified for the tournament for the fifth time in the past seven years. W-H will look to regroup on the fly as it will lose nine seniors off its roster.

Top match: 232-241 victory over Duxbury on Oct. 11 for the program’s first ever win over the Green Dragons.

Top quote: “I’m very proud of the recent success of the program. I give all the credit to the leadership on the team each year. The commitment of players to the sport continues to grow every year.” – head coach Brian Dempsey

BOYS’ SOCCER

Storyline: Boys’ soccer turns it around under first-year head coach Dave Leahy.

The rundown: W-H made short memory of a one-win 2016 as it finished 11-8-1 this fall under the watch of new head coach Dave Leahy. Included in the Panthers’ 11 wins was a 2-1 triumph over Catholic Memorial in the preliminary round of the Div. 2 South Sectional tournament before a 4-0 loss to eventual sectional champion Oliver Ames in the first round. W-H will return many of its top offensive threats this coming fall, but has big shoes to fill in net with the departure of Anthony Pasciuto. There will be no easy replacement for captain Kyle Nehiley either.

Top game: 2-1 victory over Catholic Memorial Nov. 4. Seeded No. 13, W-H faced a 1-0 deficit to No. 20 CM with 20 minutes to go before knotting it at 1-1 and winning it in penalty kicks thanks to an epic performance by Pasciuto in goal.

Top quote: “I am extremely proud. This team had to learn a lot and do it quickly together. They came together and worked hard for each other and kept pushing forward. It was a fun ride.”– head coach Dave Leahy

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Storyline: Girls’ soccer flexes depth amid injures.

The rundown: The girls’ soccer team’s miraculous season was halted in the Div. 1 South Sectional semifinals with a 2-1 overtime loss to Newton South. The Panthers, who finished the year with a 17-2-1 record, battled through a rash of injuries over the fall, including playing the entire season without All-American Taylor Kofton. In Kofton’s absence, fellow senior Lauren Bonavita took her game to a new level, notching 43 goals and breaking the school-record with 113. The Panthers graduated a hefty senior class, but return significant key pieces, such as goalie Skylar Kuzmich and defenders Olivia Johnson and Sammy Smith, among others.

Top game: 2-1 victory over Hingham on Nov. 7 in the quarterfinals. Seeded sixth, the Panthers visited the Harborwomen and rallied back from a 1-0 deficit behind a pair of Bonavita goals. W-H fell to Hingham, 3-1, in the regular season.

Top quote: “We’re fortunate that we have a number of good players and sometimes I think people who don’t know our team real well may focus on a couple players who get the headlines. We’re very fortunate to have a number of talented players.” – head coach Dave Floeck

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Storyline: Young girls’ volleyball team finally finds grove.

The rundown: The Panthers entered the season with some holes to fill due to the graduation of many integral pieces from the previous fall. Sitting at 2-17 with two games to go, W-H won out, defeating Middleboro and Bridgewater-Raynham, both by 3-1 scores, to end the season with a 4-17 record. The string of success had head coach Ashley Balbian wishing there was more time left to the season. Key graduates include Amanda Anderson, Halle Julian and Tori Perry. Rising senior Allison Hanlon and rising juniors Alexis Connolly, Olivia Martin and Ella Sweeney will headline the returnees this fall.

Top match: 3-1 win over Middleboro on senior night Oct. 25. Mammoth games from seniors Julian (18 kills) and Perry (40 assists) pushed the Panthers past the Sachems.

Top quote: “It was huge boost in confidence, especially for the girls that are younger on the team and were getting more time on the court, and they feel a little more prepared coming in with the seniors leaving next year.”– head coach Ashley Balbian on the season-ending two-game winning streak

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY

Storyline: Newman leads charge as boys’ cross country finishes 4-3.

The rundown: Senior Andrew Newman was unbeatable in his first five meets, racing to first-place finishes in everyone as the Panthers finished the season at 4-3. Senior captains Jack Ryan and Alex Uva and freshmen Liam Cafferty and Theo Kamperides played large roles for the Panthers as well.

Top meet: 15-50 win over Silver Lake on Oct. 10. This was the Panthers most convincing win — in terms of its margin. Newman won at 16:38 and finishing second through fifth were Ryan, Cafferty, Kamperides and Uva.

Top quote: “Andrew’s consistent improvement is a result of his effort over and above what we ask for. With high school runners, we’d ordinarily see a drop off in performance given the number of miles a runner like Andrew logs each week. We have not seen that in Andrew. He thrives on high mileage.”– head coach Steve George on Newman

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY

Storyline: Norve, girls’ cross country team race to 3-4 mark.

The rundown: The girls’ team, which finished at 3-4, was in a lot of close meets, as three of its losses came by 15 or fewer points. One runner who stood out from the rest was Nicole Norve. The senior captain hustled to a first-place finish in the Panthers’ first five races. Seniors Julia Cosgrave and Camryn Boyce were about were a steady presence all season. The fall also saw 16 Panthers establish personal records.

Top meet: 27-28 victory over Plymouth South on Oct. 24. W-H, despite Norve’s second-place finish, still was able to edge the Patriot League’s other Panthers in a meet for the ages, and their final one of the season.

Top quote: “She wants to improve every time out and loves a challenge. Nicole’s success may stem from the fact that she is strong enough to run hard virtually every day, recover, and do it again the next.”– head coach Steve George on Norve

WINTER

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Storyline: Boys’ basketball overcomes tough start to make tournament and grab share of league title.

The rundown: It wasn’t your typical W-H boys’ basketball team on the floor this season as the 3-ball wasn’t one of its strengths, rather its inside game. Buoyed by Patriot League Keenan Division MVP, senior Sean Leahy (19.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG), the Panthers went 16-5, which marked the sixth straight season in which they won at least 16 games, made the Division 2 South Sectional tournament for their 10th straight campaign and grabbed a share of their third consecutive Patriot League Keenan Division title and fourth in the past five years. All that came after a 5-4 start to the season. In the playoffs, the sixth-seeded Panthers succumbed to 11th-seeded Nauset, 65-56, in the first round.

Top game: 68-51 victory at Hingham on Feb. 9. Twenty-seven points from Leahy willed the Panthers to a blowout win over the Harbormen, which moved them into a first-place tie for the Keenan Division lead. Hingham dealt W-H its worst loss in over 10 years (71-45) four weeks before. Junior Tajh Hunter held Hingham star John Gates to one point in the win.

Top quote: “It was definitely a tough matchup, he’s definitely one of the best shooters in the league. I just moved my feet, tried to stay with him and tried not to let him get in my head.”– Tajh Hunter on guarding Hingham’s John Gates

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Storyline: Girls’ basketball trusts the process.

The rundown: The girls’ basketball team – boasting just two seniors – finished the winter with an eight-year best 13-9 record. The Panthers opened the season 7-0 – which included a 3-0 trip to Florida that resulted in a tournament title – but scuffled in the second half, going 6-9 the rest of the way. But, for a young team (six juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen), the second-half dip was not a surprise. In the tournament, W-H – back in Div. 1 South for the first time since 2012 due to realignment – bowed out to Wellesley, 46-37, in the first round. Fifth-year head coach Jenna Olem will return a bevy of key players this coming winter as rising seniors and captains Kathryn Dunn and Erin Leahy will lead the way.

Top game: 56-34 win at Hanover on Dec. 21. Behind 12 points and six rebounds from Dunn and 10 points and three blocks from senior Alyssa Nicholson, W-H stunned the Indians for the first time since 2011.

Top quote: “It was just important to stay focused and stay positive each day. To play present was also a point of emphasis. No season goes by without having to withstand some adversity.”– head coach Jenna Olem

BOYS’ HOCKEY

Storyline: Boys’ hockey flips the script on last season, narrowly misses out on tournament. 

The rundown: The boys’ hockey team knew it was better than what its previous season’s record indicated, and that was certainly the case. The Panthers increased their win total from one to eight this winter and just missed out on the tournament by two points. After a 6-3-1 start, injuries took a toll on W-H as it finished the year at 8-10-2. Senior Ryan Sawtelle led the defense and classmates Korey Howard (18 goals, 10 assists) and Alex Uva (9 goals, 16 assists) provided a chunk of the offense. Key returnees next winter include: rising seniors Ed Scriven (11 goals, 11 assists) and Owen Manning (7 goals, 6 assists) and rising junior Adam Solari (8 goals, 11 assists). Rising sophomores Jack Allen, Josh Pike and Kevin Willis also form a solid nucleus set to return inside the blue line.

Top game: 6-1 victory over Plymouth North on Lori Sawtelle Night Jan. 6. The Panthers honored the late mother of its captain Ryan Sawtelle and potted five goals the game’s final nine minutes for the victory.

Top quote: “We definitely knew what we were playing for tonight and this whole season, too, so it meant a lot.” – Ryan Sawtelle of the win on Lori Sawtelle Night

GIRLS’ HOCKEY

Storyline: Girls’ hockey mounts some success amid rebuild.

The rundown: Head coach Kevin Marani didn’t want to use the term “rebuild” at the outset of the winter, but after the final whistle was blown there was really no other way to describe the season. Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake entered the year tasked with making up for the loss of over 80 percent of its offense from the previous season and many key defensemen. The young Panthers – who sported 15 new players – hung tough, and finished the year with a 2-18 record. Freshman Emily McDonald, from Whitman, ranked third on the team with three goals.

Top game: 3-2 victory over Plymouth on Feb. 2. WHSL stunned a white-hot Plymouth team, which had beaten it 8-1 earlier in the season.

Top quote: “In the tryouts, she was pretty good and every game she got better. Now she’s one of the better players. We expect big things from her next year, absolutely. She’s a very, very smart player, got great hands, strong skating. She’s got all the ability. You could see if by the end of the year, she was carrying the play. She’s a good player, very good player.” – head coach Kevin Marani on McDonald

WRESTLING

Storyline: Youth takes over wrestling mats.

The rundown: The future is bright for the wrestling team, which finished the year at 7-13. Of the Panthers top four wrestlers, three are set to return next winter. Rising junior Steve Brooks led the team with 19 wins, rising sophomore Matt Butler was second with 11 and rising senior Joel McInnis posted 11 pins, which was good for third.

Top meet: 45-36 victory at Duxbury on Jan. 10. Butler, Ben Cordingley, Damari Goldsmith-Greene, Myles McInnis, Theo Kamperides, Steve Osborne and John Youngman all posted victories in the triumph.

Top quote: “We had a great group of freshmen this season and I am looking forward to many of them playing a big role in next year’s team. These kids are the future of our program. With another class like these guys next year, we could be a force before too much longer. I really see us winning 75 percent of our dual meets next year, [but] time will tell.”– head coach Gary Rabinovitz

GYMNASTICS

Storyline: Blackstone, gymnastics team surprise many. 

The rundown: Perhaps the biggest surprise of the winter was the success of the gymnastics team. The Panthers went from just three wins the year prior, which was its first season, to a 9-4 record this season. Senior first-year member Britney Blackstone seemed to be the missing piece W-H needed as she put together a spectacular campaign which ended in postseason competition.

Top meet: Dec. 19 victory over Pembroke/Silver Lake (123.3), Marshfield (123.05) and Hingham (121.75) with a score of 125.1. With the win, the Panthers matched their win total from the previous season.

Top quote: “I like to think that I’m very approachable and they think of me as a good role model. The big sister, someone fun that they can talk to and then they can put any stresses or worries away and bring their positive attitudes into the gym and use that to help them perform their best.” – head coach Rachel Sferruzza

BOYS’ SWIMMING

Storyline: Pham, W-H dives into boys’ swimming/diving.

The rundown: W-H expanded its partnership with Middleboro – which already included a girls’ swimming/diving team – with the formation of a co-op boys’ swimming/diving team. Freshman Brian Pham took the pool by storm, qualifying for sectionals in a pair of events. Junior Nate Manley also chipped in by scoring in a few meets for the co-op, which finished with a 3-5 record.

Top meet: 80-62 win over Rockland on Jan. 9. Pham swam a 1:09.41 in the 100-meter breaststroke in the victory.

Top quote: “We are one team – Middleboro and Whitman Hanson. W-H having a boys’ team allows us to increase the numbers for that team and it also gives us depth as a team.”– W-H head coach Sean Siciliano

GIRLS’ SWIMMING

Storyline: Girls’ swimming/diving swims to success.

The rundown: The co-op – under the leadership of senior captain Phoebe Bonney –  improved on its season last winter with a 5-3-1 record. Rising juniors Niki Kamperides, Madison Navicky and Sabrina O’Connor, all from W-H, performed well in the pool.

Top meet: 90-69 victory over Rockland on Jan. 9. O’Connor posted her highest score ever with 185 in diving and Navicky also swam to a first-place finish.

Top quote: “She can swim pretty much anything and she is just fun to have at practice. She is an amazing swimmer and an amazing leader and she is so coachable. I think that she will be one of the biggest contributors for the girls team this season.” – W-H head coach Sean Siciliano on Navicky

BOYS’ INDOOR TRACK

Storyline: Seniors dominate for boys’ indoor track.

The rundown: The Panthers, who finished the season at 2-3, owned wins over Duxbury (55-45) and Silver Lake (54-45) and were clipped by Hingham (57-43) and Pembroke (57-41). Senior captains Brian Edwards and Andrew Newman (Patriot League All-Star) and classmates Brett Holmes (Patriot League All-Star) and Jack Ryan (Patriot League All-Star) all qualified for the Div. 3 All-State meet. Junior Billy Martell also put forth a solid season in the 300 meters and on the 4×200 relay team.

Top meet: 55-45 win over Duxbury on Dec. 19. The Panthers won the final two events – 4×200 and the 4×400 relays – to hand the Green Dragons their first loss of the season.

Top quote: “These kids worked really hard. We had a small senior class with only six seniors, but four of them are state-level competitors. I’m happy with the young kids, I’m happy with the older kids, we had a lot of freshmen, we had a lot of new kids this year, so the numbers are good.” – head coach Mike Driscoll

GIRLS’ INDOOR TRACK

Storyline: Girls’ indoor track puts rough start behind it, finishes season at 1-3-1.

The rundown: After an 0-3 start to begin the season – partly due to injuries – girls’ indoor track bested Silver Lake (51-49) and tied Pembroke (49-49) to finish the winter strong. Senior Nicole Norve was the team’s lone league all-star and represented the Panthers in the Division 3 All-State meet, where she placed 10th in the 1,000-meter run (3:09.28) and 12th in the 1-mile run (5:26.81). Seniors Camryn Boyce and Julia Cosgrave provided a steady presence. Freshmen Isabelle Amado, Hailey Minicucci, Alaina Mutascio and Emma Rogers all showed some real ability in multiple events.

Top meet: Jan. 24 51-49 victory over Silver Lake. Trailing by three, the relay team of Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue, Cosgrave, Courtney Woodward and Victoria Boss bested its competition, winning the meet for W-H.

Top quote: “The Patriot League is an extremely competitive league with some enormously talented athletes. We faced the very best teams during those first [three] weeks. While we kept it close with most, we had some key athletes go down with injuries.”– head coach Steve George

CHEERLEADING

Storyline: Cheer on: Cheerleaders capture state title No. 13.

The rundown: The Panthers – brought together by the phrase “we believe” – overcame heaps of adversity to capture their 13th MSAA Division 2 state title. W-H – captained by rising senior Anna Franklin – also won the Patriot League title.

Top competition: March 11 state title competition. On its home floor, W-H boasted a 200.1 score to claim the title. Milford, which finished second with a score of 196.2, edged the Panthers, 195.40-194.70, the week before in the South regional competition.

Top quote: “They came together, they worked hard from the second they arrived on Sunday to the second they left. I could see it in their face. I could tell that this is what they worked for and they weren’t going to let anything stop them.” – head coach Alyssa Hayes on her team’s state title win

SPRING

BASEBALL

Storyline: Baseball team looking ahead to next spring.

The rundown: Not even two games in, the baseball team was dealt a major blow when it found out its ace and reigning Patriot League Keenan Division MVP – senior James Dolan – wasn’t going to be able to pitch due to tendonitus. While that would have been the downfall for many teams, it certainly wasn’t for the Panthers. Rising senior Rian Schwede (5-3, 51.1 IP, 1.64 ERA) asserted himself as the ace and classmate Ethan Phelps (3-0, 36.0 IP, 1.36 ERA) burst onto the scene on the hill. W-H finished 15-6 and grabbed a share of its second straight Patriot League Keenan Division crown, but was subject to a first-round exit in the Div. 2 South Sectional tournament via a 3-0 loss to Nauset. Schwede, Phelps and fellow rising senior Mike Cook (.394, 22 RBIs) key the returnees next spring; all were league all-stars. Dolan (.317) and classmates Ryan Sawtelle (.400) and Caleb Burke (.294) are the only three starters to graduate.

Top game: 3-2 victory over Hanover on May 4. In his first varsity start on the mound, Phelps dazzled the Indians, hurling a complete-game win while throwing just 16 balls. It was one of only three losses over the course of the regular season for Hanover.

Top quote: “I’m just having so much fun coaching these guys, they’re a blast.”– head coach Pat Cronin

SOFTBALL

Storyline: Softball builds for future.

The rundown: Like the baseball team, the softball team went the entirety of the spring without its ace as an injury in the first game of the year sidelined senior Colleen Hughes for all but four games. In her absence, freshman Abby Cleary tossed 94.1 of W-H’s 125.1 innings and collected five wins. Senior Hailey Norris paced the young Panthers offense – which had as many as six freshmen and sophomores penned into their lineup and manning pivotal positions – with a .418 average, 15 runs and 18 RBIs. Sophomore Victoria Ryan was not far behind Norris, hitting at .382 with 12 RBIs and 13 runs scored. Freshman Reese Codero hit at a .377 clip and scored 13 runs.

Top game: 15-6 victory over Hingham on May 10. Up 1-0 entering the bottom of the first, W-H surrendered six runs in the bottom of the frame. Stagnant on offense until the fourth, the Panthers busted it open with four runs in the frame, followed by a three-run fifth, a two-run sixth and a seven-run seventh.

Top quote: “They definitely showed glimpses of potential and how good they could be when they put it all together. Whether it was for a few innings or a few games, we did a lot of good things this year despite our record.”– head coach Jenna Olem

BOYS’ LACROSSE

Storyline: Boys’ lacrosse hangs around.

The rundown: Boys’ lacrosse concluded the spring with a 2-16 mark, but dropped six of those tilts by five goals or less. Junior defender Ryan Trongone was the team’s lone league all-star and classmates Mason Gorman, Sean Joanis and Shane Ross found the back of the net many of times.

Top game: 12-6 victory over Cardinal Spellman on April 3. The Panthers rallied back from an early deficit to claim their first win of the season as eight different players scored. Rising senior Mario Troiani had 22 saves in net.

Top quote: “To come in here and get a victory [gets] the ship going in the right direction. It’s a long season, we’re nowhere near where we can be at the end of it. Against Hingham (17-2 loss), we crawled, Scituate (13-6 loss) we walked and today we ran.” – head coach Rob White on the win over Cardinal Spellman

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Storyline: Girls’ lacrosse never backed down.

The rundown: Staring at a 1-6 record with 11 games remaining, if the girls’ lacrosse team was going to make the tournament then it could only afford to drop three more contests. The girls won two must win games – on consecutive days – to close on the regular season, punching their ticket to the postseason for the program’s fourth time in five years. In the tournament, W-H downed Nauset on the road, 10-4, in the preliminary round, before succumbing to top-seeded Notre Dame Academy, 18-3, in the first round. The season saw senior captain Kasey Molito set to the single-season saves record – which now stands at 268 – and classmate Lauren Bonavita become to first W-H athlete ever to score 100 goals in two sports. The Panthers’ final record was 10-10. The Panthers will graduate eight of 12 starters, but rising seniors and captain-elects Anika Putur (defense), Samantha Whitman (eight goals, two assists) and Zoe Lydon (30 goals, 23 assists) along with rising junior Riley Bina (29 goals, 21 assists), provides them with a solid core to build around.

Top game: Preliminary round victory against Nauset, 10-4, June 5. W-H faced an early 3-0 deficit, but never backed down and rallied for a win behind five goals from Bonavita.

Top quote: “I’m actually really proud. It’s something I’ve been aiming to work on, aiming to get.”– Kasey Molito on setting the single-season saves record

BOYS’ TENNIS

Storyline: Stability at the helm of boys’ tennis team.

The rundown: The boys’ tennis team – under the watch of first-year head coach Alyssa Hayes – finished the year on a three-game winning streak with victories against: Quincy (3-2), Cardinal Spellman (5-0) and Braintree (4-1). Sophomore Brian Fox, despite a slow team start, rallied off four straight victories in No. 2 singles from May 2 to May 7. The Panthers finished the season with a 5-12 record.

Top match: 5-0 sweep of Cardinal Spellman on May 23. Victories from singles players Tyler Rice, Brian Fox and Eric Muha and the doubles teams of Sean Leahy/Jason Bannon and Stephen Collins/Matt Hickey sparked the Panthers.

Top quote: “I think consistency is so important in any sport, in any classroom, so if I can give them that consistency and kind of just make sure that they know practice is important, matches are important, being here is important, that it’ll kind of carry forward into their matches.”– head coach Alyssa Hayes

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Storyline: Girls’ tennis almost makes tournament.

The rundown: It was a tale of two halves of the season for the girls’ tennis team. The Panthers put a tough 1-5 start to the spring behind them, pulling off wins in their next four contests to reach the .500 mark. Sitting at 9-10 with one match to go, W-H had to win to make the tournament, but was swept by Duxbury, 5-0, ending the season with a 9-11 mark. The Panthers return a heavy dose of their team next spring with No. 1 and No. 3 singles players and rising juniors Alexis Connolly and Abby Pulling back. Julia Benvie (rising sophomore), Nandita Kumar (rising junior), Divya Kumar (rising sophomore) and Chloe Wilson (rising junior) also contributed in doubles play. Senior captains Jess Green and Hannah Faghan will be missed.

Top match: 5-0 victory over Cardinal Spellman on May 1. Wins by Connolly, Green and Pulling in singles, coupled with doubles wins from Faghan and Nandita Kumar and then Chelsea Getchell and Benvie propelled the Panthers to the sweep, and the match was the start of a four-match winning streak, pulling them to .500.

BOYS’ OUTDOOR TRACK

Storyline: Boys’ outdoor track battles tough. 

The rundown: The boys’ outdoor track team – under the direction of first-year head coach Steven Schlicting – finished the spring with a 1-4 record. W-H captured that win in its first meet of the season with a 125-10 rout of North Quincy. Senior captain Jack Ryan, classmate Andrew Newman and junior Billy Martell were standouts all season long.

Top meet: 125-10 win over North Quincy on April 3. Martell led the way for the Panthers with wins in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and triple jump.

Top quote: “I’m really excited. There’s over 50 boys on this team. We’re up as far as numbers are concerned [from the winter season].”– head coach Steven Schlicting

GIRLS’ OUTDOOR TRACK

Storyline: Girls’ outdoor track finishes 1-4.

The rundown: Competing against some of the top competition in the state, such as Duxbury, Hinghan and Plymouth North, the girls’ track team raced to a 1-4 record. In their fourth meet of the season, the girls clipped Silver Lake by the final score of 73-63. W-H had a solid mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen contributing all season. Freshmen Isabelle Amado and Anna Sullivan were standouts.

Top meet: 73-63 victory over Silver Lake on May 8. Junior Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue led the way with wins in the 400-meter hurdles and high jump as eight Panthers recorded victories in the triumph.

Top quote: “A winning record [is our goal]. We have five dual meets scheduled and three of the teams are some of the top teams in the state in Hingham, Duxbury and Plymouth North High School, so they’re very difficult opponents but we hope to maybe steal one of those meets.”– head coach Steve George

Season Review: No-quit mentality: W-H girls’ lacrosse never backed down — and it paid off

By

The Panthers huddle around head coach Dave Rowell on April 30. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ lacrosse team, which started the year at 1-6, cracked the tournament for the fourth time in five seasons this spring.

Heart, resiliency and perseverance were at the forefront of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ lacrosse team’s play this spring.

Sitting at 1-6 with 11 games remaining — the Panthers could only afford to drop three more tilts the rest of the way to make the postseason. That was no issue at all and it was almost like déjà vu for fifth-year head coach Dave Rowell.

“The past two years, we scrimmaged very talented teams in the preseason and started with our league leaders in wins — Scituate, Hingham and Duxbury — in the first half of the season,” he explained. “Both years we started the season in with a 1-6 record and both seasons we fought for a trip to the tournament.”

Even after an 18-1 setback to Duxbury — the defeat that dropped them to 1-6 — Rowell had a feeling that his club would turn the corner.

“I knew with every fiber of my being that we were a good team,” Rowell said. “I saw in that Duxbury game, that I had a team that wouldn’t quit even when we were down 18-0 and they were still trying to score on us. I played everyone in that game so they could each gain experience against the best team in our league.

“We lost the game, but everyone fought for every loose ball and never quit … I always tell them that if we truly want to make tournament, then we have to earn it.”

And earned it the Panthers did by winning eight of their next 11 to make their fourth trip to the Division 1 South Sectional tournament in the past five years. So, what was the key?

“We just had to work that much harder and execute better,” Rowell said. “Every day I encouraged them and focused on our weaknesses. I kept them focused, the captains led by example, and everyone bought in.”

Making the tournament certainly came down to the wire for W-H because after a 14-5 loss to Silver Lake, it had to win out in its final two games, which were on back-to-back days. But, after an 8-6 home victory against Abington, the Panthers clinched in their final game of the regular season with an 8-5 triumph over Hull.

In the Panthers’ last eight regular-season wins, their defense — which was a focal point at outset of the season to improve — allowed just a tick over 5.5 goals a contest.

The defense was led by defenders Cam Boyce and Camille Miller and goalie Kasey Molito (Patriot League All-Star), who set the Panthers’ single-season saves record (268); all were captains.

“Every player I had learned how to play good, legal defense,” Rowell said.

TOURNAMENT RUN

That defensive mindset flowed into the tournament as the No. 17 Panthers held No. 16 Nauset to four goals in a 10-4 road victory.

W-H faced an early 3-0 deficit and was down its center 10 seconds into the game due to a yellow card, but it hadn’t laid down all spring and it wasn’t about to that game either.

“This moment was indicative of our whole season,” Rowell explained. “We don’t panic and we certainly don’t start blaming each other. We collected ourselves and executed what we worked on all year. We came back and never took our foot off of the gas pedal.”

Senior Lauren Bonavita – like she did all season — led the offense with five goals and eight draw controls. Bonavita finished her campaign with 67 goals, which included the 100th of her career.

“Lauren was just awesome,” Rowell said. “She was at every practice and always gave 100 percent. She really became a great lacrosse player, not just a great athlete that played lacrosse.”

However, the Panthers would fall to top-seeded Norte Dame Academy (Hingham), 18-3, in the first round. Regardless, it was one memorable ride.

“I absolutely would say this season was a success,” Rowell said. “If you came to any practice, whether we were winning or losing, the girls were always working hard and still having fun. The most important thing for me is that they get better every day and enjoy the sport. I find that if that is the foundation, wins are a byproduct.”

A LOOK TO FUTURE

As the Panthers turn for next season, they’ll have some holes to fill with the impending departure of eight of 12 starters. However, the return of rising seniors and captain-elects Annika Putur (defense), Samantha Whitman (eight goals, two assists) and Zoe Lydon (30 goals, 23 assists) along with rising junior Riley Bina (29 goals, 21 assists), provides them with a solid core to build around.

“This program keeps getting bigger and better,” Rowell said. “I feel like we always have a next girl up mentality and we will be ready to go in March. Three pillars of our system will always guide us: belief in each other, 100 percent effort every day, every play, and perseverance.”

Season Review: Baseball team turns focus to next spring

By

The Panthers during their tournament game against Nauset. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers have already turned their focus toward next year.

While the 2018 season came to an abrupt ending for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High baseball team, veteran skipper Pat Cronin is not shocked it concluded the way did, and is already thinking ahead.

Seeded third in the Division 2 South Sectional tournament, W-H hosted No. 14 Nauset. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they ran into Warriors ace Stephen Kalinick, who was sidelined for most of the spring, which played in to the Warriors’ then 6-12 record. However, the southpaw didn’t skip a beat, shutting the Panthers out 3-0.

“People saw Nauset’s low seed and had no knowledge of their pitcher, who had had a sore arm during most of the season,” Cronin explained. “He was the reason they had one some big games early in the season, and his injury was the reason they lost their last six in a row.

“I had scouted them and knew he was a possibility. Pitching dominates at all levels; he was a dominating pitcher. He beat us and we beat ourselves on defense and at the plate. Disappointing, yes, but once I saw him, not surprised.”

Cronin added, “Whitman-Hanson is already looking forward to next season.”

So, why the optimism out of Cronin after the Panthers’ second straight campaign in which they finished 15-6, which included a first-round exit in the postseason? That would be because despite the disappointing ending, just to get to 15 wins — 13 of which came in the Patriot League as the Panthers grabbed a share of the Keenan Division title for the second consecutive season — was a success in itself.

On the mound, W-H was without its ace — senior captain James Dolan — for all but 1.2 innings due to tendonitis. Dolan was coming off a season in which he won six games and pitched to the tune of a 0.35 ERA over 40.1 innings en route to Keenan Division MVP honors.

The injury thrust junior captain Rian Schwede into the ace role, granted he pitched like one the year prior, and he collected five wins, held hitters to a .172 average and posted a 1.64 ERA. But, Schwede was going to get his innings regardless, but classmate Ethan Phelps likely wouldn’t have. However, Phelps (also hit .300) did, and hurled 36 of them, going 3-0 with a 1.36 ERA.

“Both are now seasoned veterans,” Cronin said.

Both are also captain-elects, were tabbed league all-stars and are part of seven starters set to return next season.

Along with his 1-2 in the rotation, Cronin will return junior second baseman Mike Cook and freshman short stop Danny Kent up the middle.

Cook ranked second on the team with a .394 average and knocked in a team-high 22 runs; he was also named a league all-star for the second consecutive season and is a captain-elect as well.

“He made some incredible plays at second base, and he hit for average and for power,” Cronin said of Cook. “He was almost impossible to throw out on the bases as well.”

Kent was a diamond in the rough type of find as W-H was in need of a short stop, and he was the one to answer the bell.

“We took a chance when we thought Cook would be better at second instead of short, as we had planned to move him there,” Cronin explained. “Once we saw that Kent was mature enough to handle it, we decided it was worth it to start him this year and then have them both next season together in the middle of the infield. We just let Danny play, encouraged him constantly, and tried to keep the pressure off of him. He was amazing all season. Next season he will be a year older and stronger and should be able to handle varsity pitching a little more. I think he eventually will be a very good hitter.”

Junior Derek Frank is another key returnee next season, but not to his right field post, but rather behind the plate, where he’ll have big shoes to fill. Frank, who hit .291 this season, will take over for Ryan Sawtelle. Sawtelle led the team with a .400 average and was named a league all-star.

“He [leaves a big hole] in many ways,” Cronin said of Sawtelle. “His handling of pitchers was impressive and constantly getting even better as the season went on. Most obvious was his hitting; he became a force this year by shortening his swing and being aggressive from the first pitch.

“He will be tough to replace, but we think Derek Frank will be an excellent replacement next season. Derek is an outstanding receiver himself, but did a great job in right field for us this season.”

Junior Will Newell (four RBIs) and freshman Chris Kenney (five RBIs) are the other two starters back in the fold next season.

As for departures, in addition to Sawtelle and Dolan, Caleb Burke (.294 this season) — who manned the hot corner for the last two springs — and starters Korey Howard (3-0, 1.84 ERA, 19 IP) and Jason Green (3-0, 2.30, 24.1) will be missed.

“To accomplish what they had was really quite remarkable given they did it without their ace,” Cronin said. “They have already changed the way W-H baseball is now thought of. Be proud and enjoy it.”

VIP pass to parking safety

By

A dangerous parking lot situation at Friday night football games is being addressed — while also helping raise funds for the WHRHS athletic programs — through a one-year trial program of “VIP parking passes.”

Athletic Director Bob Rodgers also received the School Committee’s backing to accept a $25,000 donation from the J.J. Frisoli Foundation toward the installation of a new scoreboard at the football field.

It was the idea of the parking passes that generated the most discussion. The School Committee unanimously approved both proposals.

“I’m not really about this as much about the revenue, although we can use every penny we get,” Rodgers said of the parking fee idea School Committee member Fred Small has been talking about for a couple of years. “My concern as the athletic director is safety.”

He said Friday night football games present a traffic nightmare of double-parking, parking in fire lanes and by fire hydrants, creating access problems for ambulances, no matter how many police officers there are working traffic details. Children running through the parking lot also present a dangerous situation, Rodgers said.

“I want to create an environment down there [in the lot in front of the football field known as the junior lot] where parking is a little bit more structured, a little safer … and we can make some money in the process,” he argued.

The proposal would make the entire 150-space junior lot VIP parking, either on a pre-paid permit basis, for $50 for the football season or for $10 per game. There is ample free parking elsewhere on school grounds and the seniors’ lot to the left front of the school is actually a shorter walk to the field than some of the junior lot spaces.

He will also offer football parents a parking pass for $30 above the user fee. Handicapped placards will allow motorists to park there free of charge.

“I’m trying to convince myself to vote for this,” said School Committee member Robert Trotta, who was concerned about angering the community. “It’s like fee, fee, fee, fee, fee. [But] I understand the purpose.”

School Committee member Dan Cullity was concerned about the fairness of asking taxpayers to pay for parking at the school that their tax dollars support.

Rodgers countered that they are already charged admission to the game and school plays.

“It comes down to safety,” he said. Signs and hired parking lot details would direct motorists and enforce paid parking restrictions.

School Committee member Alexandria Taylor asked if a game/parking fee package was considered, but Rodgers said it would make his accounting to the auditors more complicated at this point.

“At least right now that’s not something I want to do,” he said. “I don’t know how this is going to go. We can try it for a year and, if we don’t like it, we can undo it.”

“Between safety and revenue, I’m all for trying it this year,” School Committee member Michael Jones said.

NEW SCOREBOARD

Regarding the scoreboard, Rodgers said a new one is needed. His request to the School Committee was in three parts: acceptance of a $25,000 donation from the Frisoli Foundation toward a new scoreboard; allow him to obtain sponsors for scoreboard ads; and give Rodgers, new Principal Dr. Christopher Jones and new Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak authority to contract with advertisers on the scoreboard.

The total cost is estimated in the $50,000 range.

“There are 36 panels in that current scoreboard we have that is quite old,” he said. “Each [panel] costs between $1,600 and $2,000 and we’ve already had to replace four of them.”

The main panel, showing the minute number, has just failed and must be replaced if the old scoreboard is kept. There are also frequency problems between the controller and scoreboard.

“Bottom line is we need a new scoreboard,” he said, and it was not a high enough priority for the capital plan. Rodgers, therefore, began working on obtaining one without the school district or towns having to pay.

A $25,000 donation has been secured from the Frisoli Foundation, named for W-H alum and football and wrestling standout J.J. Frisoli. To pay any up-front costs, no matter what scoreboard is purchased, Rodgers said he would have to use the athletic revolving account, reimbursing it when the sustaining advertising revenue comes in.

“His name will be on the scoreboard at some point,” Rodgers said. “He represented the ideals that we want here at W-H.”

There are also two advertising panels, for which sponsors are currently negotiating with Rodgers, and two additional sponsored ad panels would also be included, as well as a four-foot-by-10-foot video panel.

Rodgers said the video panel “which is going to open so many doors for us to be able to raise revenue” for the athletic program, which one of the lowest-funded — if not the lowest-funded — programs in the Patriot League. Among services not funded are uniforms, officials, buses, athletic trainers and equipment.

Advertisers would have to meet School Committee policy standards opposing ads that discriminate against any group or promote the use of tobacco or alcohol, and must be approved by the superintendent and principal at rates set by the School Committee.

“We really don’t want to raise user fees because, frankly, a lot of families can’t afford that,” Rodgers said. “This scoreboard … could be a sustainable source of revenue moving forward.”

He also argued the video screen could be a safety consideration, permitting important messages on where to park or where safety officers are when it is hard to hear the public address system. Postive messages on sportsmanship and student-athletes’ work on community projects could also be posted there, Rodgers said.

The scoreboard would also be relocated to a more visible location.

Youth sports groups would be able to use the scoreboard, and perhaps a scroll of pre-recorded sportsmanship messages on the video screen, but not live use of the screen.

Panthers named division all-stars

By

A slew of Whitman-Hanson Regional High athletes have been named all-stars.

The list of Patriot League Keenan Division All-Stars has been released, and there are plenty of Whitman-Hanson Regional High Panthers on the lists.

BASEBALL

Mike Cook– Junior second baseman, who was a league all-star last spring, ended the regular season 26 for 66 (.394) at the plate with a home run and a team-high 22 runs batted in.

Ethan Phelps– Junior pitched to the tune of a 3-0 record and 1.36 ERA with 33 strikeouts over 36 innings in the regular season.

Ryan Sawtelle– Senior backstop led the team hitting at a .400 clip while knocking in 13 runs during the regular season.

Rian Schwede– Junior, who is a back-to-back league all-star, went 5-3 on the mound with a 1.64 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 51 innings over the course of the regular season.

SOFTBALL

Hailey Norris– Senior third baseman led the Panthers in a slew of offensive categories, including: average (.418), hits (28), RBIs (15), runs (18), doubles (six) and triples (one).

Victoria Ryan– Sophomore second baseman led the team with two home runs and hit .382 with 12 RBIs.

BOYS’ LACROSSE

Ryan Trongone– Junior was a constant force on defense all spring long.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Kasey Molito– Senior captain and netminder, who was a league all-star as a sophomore, owns the single-season saves record of 268.

BOYS’ OUTDOOR TRACK

Andrew Newman– Senior was also tabbed a league all-star for cross country as well as indoor track. … He was victorious in the 2-mile run in all five regular-season meets this spring and placed 14th in it during the MIAA Div. 2 Championship.

Jack Ryan– Senior captain placed first in the 800-meter run four times during the spring and then placed ninth in it during the MIAA Div. 2 Championship.

GIRLS’ OUTDOOR TRACK

Dorothy Dimascio-Donohue– Junior placed first in the 100-meter hurdles and the high jump twice, and placed first in the 400-meter hurdles as well as the long jump once.

Samantha Perkins– Sophomore won the javelin event four times this spring and placed first in the 100-meter dash once.

A look back at Panther spring sports highlights

By

The season was highlighted by a pair of tournament berths.

The spring sports season has officially come to a close at Whitman-Hanson Regional High. Here is a look back on the past few months of action.

Baseball, led by captains James Dolan and Rian Schwede – grabbed a share of the Patriot League Keenan Division for the second straight spring. Pat Cronin’s club finished the year at 15-6 after a first-round exit to Nauset in the Div. 2 South Sectional tournament. In his first year as a varsity starter, senior Ryan Sawtelle burst onto the scene – pacing the Panthers with a .400 average. The 1-2 punch of juniors Schwede and Ethan Phelps anchored the rotation – combining for an 8-3 regular-season record. In Cronin’s three years as the W-H skipper, the club is 46-18.

Softball, which finished the season at 7-13, played all but five games without its senior captain Colleen Hughes due to injury. Regardless, the Panthers never laid back and swept the season series with league foes Hingham and Quincy. Senior Hailey Norris led the Panthers’ offense in nearly every statistically category while sophomore Victoria Ryan established herself as a threat in the heart of the order. Freshman Abby Cleary also earned valuable innings, setting herself up as the Panthers’ ace of the future.

Boys’ lacrosse concluded the spring with a 2-16 mark, but dropped six of those tilts by five goals or less. Junior defender Ryan Trongone was the team’s lone league all-star and classmates Mason Gorman, Sean Joanis and Shane Ross found the back of the net many of times. The Panthers’ first win of the season (12-6 against Cardinal Spellman) saw them battle back from an early deficit.

Girls’ lacrosse saw a tale of two halves. After beginning the season 1-6, Dave Rowell’s club won eight out of its next 11 games – including two must-win games in the final week – to punch its ticket to the Div. 1 South Sectional tournament for the fourth time in the last five years. In the tournament, W-H downed Nauset on the road, 10-4, in the preliminary round, before succumbing to top-seeded Notre Dame Academy, 18-3, in the first round. The season saw senior captain Kasey Molito set to the single-season saves record – which now stands at 268 – and classmate Lauren Bonavita become to first W-H athlete ever to score 100 goals in two sports. The Panthers’ final record was 10-10.

Boys’ tennis (5-12) – under the watch of first-year head coach Alyssa Hayes – finished the year on a three-game winning streak with victories against: Quincy (3-2), Cardinal Spellman (5-0) and Braintree (4-1). Sophomore Brian Fox, despite a slow team start, rallied off four straight victories in No. 2 singles from May 2 to May 7.

Girls’ tennis came down to the wire of getting into the tournament but with a 5-0 season-ending loss to Duxbury fell just short, ending the spring at 9-11. After beginning their campaign at 1-5, a four-game winning streak – sparked by the play of sophomores Alexis Connolly and Kelly Fleming and seniors Kelly Flemming, Jess Green (captain) and Hannah Faghan (captain) – pulled the Panthers to .500.

Boys’ outdoor track finished the season at 1-4 under first-year head coach Steve Schlicting. Its victory came in its opener, 125-10 against North Quincy. Seniors Andrew Newman and Jack Ryan wrapped up heralded careers as league all-stars and both competed in the MIAA Div. 2 Championship.

Girls’ outdoor track raced to a 1-4 mark under the guidance of head coach Steve George. W-H’s win came May 8 against Silver Lake by the final score of 73-63. Sophomore Samantha Perkins and junior Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue were the team’s league all-stars.

Season Review: Youth decks diamond this spring for softball

By

Photo by: Sue Moss

The young Panthers softball team finished the year at 7-13.

It was an infusion of youth on the diamond this spring for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High softball team.

On some occasions, the Panthers had as many as six freshmen and sophomores penned into their lineup and manning pivotal positions en route to a 7-13 record.

In all, W-H worked in a half-dozen new starters while junior Kayla Crawford was converted from second base to catcher.

The Panthers did most of their business this spring without their senior captain, top returning bat and ace — all combined into one — Colleen Hughes, who hurt her patella in the third inning of the season opener, which forced her to miss the next 15 games. Hughes, a three-year starter and the team’s MVP and a Patriot League All-Star the last two seasons, entered the spring having hurled 106 of 133.2 innings last season while hitting a team-high .486 with 25 RBIs.

“She was one of the best hitters on the South Shore, in my opinion, over the course of her career,” fifth-year Panthers skipper Jenna Olem said. “No one took the injury harder than [Colleen], but she stayed so positive and became such a strong leader and even a secondary coach at practice and on the bench. She started every game for me up until this year, and picked up pitching her sophomore year out of necessity.”

Hughes returned with four games remaining and hit .467 while manning left field. However, her absence left two glaring needs: innings to be logged and runs to be driven in.

Stepping up on the bump in a big way was freshman Abby Cleary. Cleary tossed 94.1 of W-H’s 125.1 innings and collected five wins. Her finest outing came May 2 on the road against Quincy, as she went the distance and two-hit the Presidents in a 2-1 victory.

 “At first I was going to have [her and Colleen] split starts and go from there, but obviously, a lot more was put on Abby’s plate when Colleen went down,” Olem said. “When she was on and able to limit walks she got herself into a really nice groove.

“Abby has a pretty steady presence on the mound. She was able to get herself out of multiple jams this year which is a good sign going forward. I believe if she can increase her velocity and hit her spots a little better she is going to take a big leap as our ace next year.”

HOT BATS

Shining offensively were most notably senior Hailey Norris and sophomore Victoria Ryan. Both were tabbed league all-stars.

Norris hit a team-high .418, knocked in a team-high 15 runs, crossed the plate a team-high 18 times and led the team with seven steals.

“Hailey Norris has been on the varsity since her sophomore year,” Olem said. “Last year, she solidified her role as our starting third basemen and this year her offense really took off. Her batting average from last year (.200) to this year shows the huge leap she took. She also limited her strike outs from 15 last season to just three all year. Hailey always was capable of hitting for power, but bailed us out consistently this year.”

Ryan hit .382 with 12 RBIs and 13 runs scored.

“She looked real good in the cage from the onset of the season and [I] thought she was going to be able to handle varsity pitching just fine,” Olem said. “She did just that, and I only expect her to improve as she becomes a junior next year.”

Also, proving to be a catalyst for the Panthers’ offense was freshman Reese Codero, who hit at a .377 clip and scored 13 runs. Codero also had 68 putouts from her post at shortstop.

TALENT TELLS

“A lot of the things she does on the field are just from raw athleticism,” Olem said. “Reese improved so much over the season. For anyone, it is an adjustment to catch to varsity pitching and to try to eliminate some bad habits, but she is quite the competitor and chipped away and started to really improve with her approach at the plate (taking pitches that were out of the zone, fouling off 0-2 counts, etc.).

“Defensively, Reese is really solid. I think by the end of her career she will be an all-star and one of best shortstops in league.”

Also, catching Olem’s eye were two of Codero’s classmates — Emily McDonald and Kaitlyn McNaught.

“Emily is also another really athletic kid,” Olem said. “She started in the outfield for us and also got some good experience behind the plate. Her speed on the bases next year, along with Reese, and freshman Kait McNaught (mostly used as a DH), will definitely be a good thing to have.”

COMING BACK

Crawford, who is also set to return next season, was fourth on the team with a .431 on-base percentage.

Olem said the highlight of the season came May 10 against Hingham.

“We were still trying to stay afloat [and] it was a must-win game by my standards,” she explained. “We jumped out to a 1-0 lead [and] then gave up six in the first inning. Our offense couldn’t do anything until the fourth inning when we blew it up. We ended up winning 15-6. Abby didn’t allow a run after the first.”

The resiliency shown set the bar for the future and was a flash of what is to come for the young W-H softball team.

“They definitely showed glimpses of potential and how good they could be when they put it all together,” Olem said. “Whether it was for a few innings or a few games, we did a lot of good things this year despite our record.”