Globe Top 20 softball poll: Attleboro racing up the rankings as two new schools join
Four-time defending Division 1 champion Taunton holds an iron grip on the top spot, and all the teams in the top 10 stay in the top half in the poll.
Two new teams join the poll this week, with the additions of Merrimack Valley Conference power Tewksbury and the South Shore League's Abington. Reading and Weymouth drop out.
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Records based on scores reported to the Globe.
The Globe's Top 20 softball poll
The Globe poll as of May 7, 2025. Teams were selected by the Globe sports staff.
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No.
Team
Record
Previous
1.
Taunton
11-0-0
1
2.
Silver Lake
10-1-0
3
3.
Dighton-Rehoboth
11-1-0
4
4.
King Philip
11-2-0
2
5.
Bishop Feehan
11-1-0
6
6.
Lincoln-Sudbury
7-3-0
5
7.
Central Catholic
8-1-0
7
8.
Joseph Case
10-2-0
8
9.
Bedford
9-1-0
9
10.
Walpole
7-3-0
10
11.
Norton
12-1-0
11
12.
Pentucket
12-0-0
13
13.
Attleboro
11-2-0
18
14.
Marblehead
9-1-0
12
15.
Apponequet
11-4-0
14
16.
Bridgewater-Raynham
7-4-0
15
17.
Hopkinton
9-3-0
16
18.
Needham
8-2-0
17
19.
Tewksbury
10-3-0
–
20.
Abington
11-2-0
–
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Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Boston Globe
Nine takeaways from Wednesday, when girls' golf champions were crowned and Georgetown hired a new basketball coach
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Westwood's Izzy Walsh supplied the heroics in the bottom of the seventh, delivering an RBI single to capture a 4-3 Division 2 softball win over Malden Catholic. 4. Going, going, gone Power came in bunches, with Bedford's Alyx Rossi and King Philip's Petrillo both blasting a pair of home runs in wins. Walpole's Adriana Torres , Norah Broderick , Abby Riley , and Grace Todd all homered in a 17-0 softball win over Stoughton and Middleborough's Taylynn Robinson and English High's Manny De Jesus both recorded round-trippers. Advertisement 5. Three stars De Jesus, English High — The senior struck out three in three shutout innings, allowing just two hits while collecting three of his own, including an inside-the-park home run, to spark second-seeded defending Division 5 champion English to an 8-0 second-round win over Westfield. Kanakis, Apponequet — The sophomore shortstop was summoned for a relief appearance with the bases loaded and the Lakers trailing, 3-1, in the third inning. He proceeded to pitch 4⅔ shutout innings with five strikeouts, allowing 16th-seeded Apponequet to rally for an 8-3 win over top-seeded St. Mary's. Rossi, Bedford — The Boston College-bound senior was unfathomably good in a 10-0 second-round win over Duxbury, homering twice while also pitching a perfect game (her second of the season) with 16 strikeouts. 6. Daily lacrosse leaderboard Goals Braeden Sutton , Medfield, 9 Evie Bernard , Hamilton-Wenham, 8 Reese Bromby , Newburyport, 7 Jack Cooper , Andover, 7 Caroline Nozzolillo , Westwood, 7 Thomas Donovan , Mansfield, 6 Cece Levrault , Apponequet, 6 Eddie Breslin , Medfield, 5 Tristan Clayton , Acton-Boxborough, 5 Jameson Murphy , Falmouth, 5 Lucas Ogden , Dracut, 5 Emilie Demaio , Westwood, 4 Jack Sovik , Duxbury, 4 Cece Thurmond , Westwood, 4 Points Breslin, Medfield, 11 Sutton, Medfield, 10 Bromby, Newburyport, 8 Matt Grafton , Abington, 8 Finn Wright Jr. , Ipswich, 8 Cooper, Andover, 7 Liam Goodwin , Duxbury, 7 Grace Maroney , Hingham, 7 Nozzolillo, Westwood, 7 Will Cronin , Acton-Boxborough, 6 Levrault, Apponequet, 6 Nico Smith , Medfield, 6 7. 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Coaching carousel Georgetown boys' basketball, coming off a Division 4 state title, has a new coach. After coach Josh Keilty left for St. Mary's, the school announced the hiring of Kevin Fair , a Milford High Hall of Famer (class of '91) who is still the Scarlet Hawks' all-time leader in rebounds, steals, and blocks. Fair also coaches the Royals' girls' soccer team and was named the 2024 MIAA Division 5 Coach of the Year. 🚨Royal News: 🏀New Head Boys Basketball Coach: Kevin Fair Elected to Milford High School Athletic HoF in 2018. MHS all time basketball leader in rebounds, steals, blocks. Fair currently is the Royals Girls Soccer Coach and was the 2024 MIAA D5 COY — Georgetown Royals Athletics (@GMHS_Royals) Brendan Kurie can be reached at
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Matt Vautour: In protesting volleyball player's detainment, Milford students show more humanity than ICE
MILFORD — As the Milford boys volleyball team lined up numerically on the end line before Tuesday's MIAA Division I Tournament game against Taunton, they left a space in the middle. The gap was between No. 9 Jason Comisky and No. 11 Eston Lebron, an acknowledgement that Marcelo Gomes, usually No. 10, was missing. A week ago, Gomes wasn't famous. He was a well-liked honor student, a drummer in the MHS band and an outside hitter on the Scarlet Hawks volleyball team that was eyeing a deep run in the postseason. But on Saturday, Gomes, who was born in Brazil, but has lived in Milford since he was 5 years old, was stopped and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They were looking for his father, whose car Gomes was driving to volleyball practice. But rather than admit their net hadn't hauled the intended fish, the ICE agents padded their stats and basically kidnapped a teenager and made Gomes a flashpoint in a polarizing national debate. Addressing immigration problems humanely in the United States requires a careful scalpel. But, lacking that patience, ICE has plowed ahead with a chainsaw. Milford was just the latest community left with a scar. So Gomes didn't drum in the band at graduation on Sunday or the march to the town hall afterward when Milford students and residents gathered to protest his situation. He wasn't in school on Monday when his friends and schoolmates walked out of class in a demonstration against the cruelty of his detainment and he wasn't between Comisky and Lebron on Tuesday night. But still, his presence was everywhere on Tuesday. Marcelo Gomes was on the minds of everyone at Milford High School as the Scarlet Hawks prepared to play their first game without him. The largest volleyball crowd long-time Athletic Director Peter Boucher has seen in 12 years at the school, not only filled the seats, but spilled over into the corners where many people stood. About 80 percent of that crowd wore white T-shirts. Just three days after Gomes' detainment shocked the Central Massachusetts town where the Mass. Pike meets 495, people mobilized into countless shirt-making gatherings. The result was hundreds of homemade white tops, with different messages in different colors. They included: 'Free Marcelo' surrounded by a heart 'A Kid not a Criminal' 'Jesus told us to love your neighbor' 'It's too warm for ICE' There were signs on the walls and in the crowd. The quality ranged from Sharpie-on-posterboard to a rush order created with pictures at a print shop. Between the first and second games, someone arrived with a roll of newly minted 'Free Marcelo' stickers that were quickly passed around the bleachers. A basket of yellow ribbons greeted visitors at the entrance for anyone to take and wear in solidarity. When Taunton arrived, its players and even some of their parents were in their own 'Free Marcelo,' T-shirts. Like Milford, Taunton is a town that has been enriched by its immigrant population and two of the Tigers players have been club teammates with Gomes. When they learned what Milford was doing, they wanted to show support. 'One of our players, Ike Asiengnbunam, was really emotional because he'd played with him in club,' Taunton coach Toby Chaperon said. 'He and Danny Freitas really spear-headed doing the shirts. Coming from the players makes it that much more special.' The Milford crowd greeted them with an appreciative ovation. They weren't the only rivals in the building. Members of the Marlborough and Nipmuc boys volleyball squads came in large groups and Boucher thought several Bellingham players were in attendance, too. Before the starting lineups, Boucher took the microphone and both praised the Milford students for channeling their energy into making their voices heard and encouraged them to continue to do so with the same maturity that had guided them so far. 'I'm spectacularly proud of how peacefully and professionally we've let the world know that we love Marcelo and we want and expect him to be returned home,' he said. It was a smart announcement to make, but their actions from the start of warmups to the end of the game indicated it was probably unnecessary. Anger would have been understandable. This game and this tournament should have been remembered for the terrific volleyball, one last time for this group together before the seniors move on and the rest of the team scatters for the summer. Instead, they tried to play a volleyball game through fear and worry that no kids should have to experience. But there were no middle fingers. No words of rage on the back of their shirts. They stood respectfully through the national anthem. Just days after Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, was sarcastic and smug in his press conference defending Gomes' detainment, the Milford students showed a level of class that gave reason to hope that the nation's future leaders might have more humanity than the current ones. There were signs throughout the crowd, many with his picture, all imploring the government to send their friend home. If Gomes is anything like the people supporting him, the country is probably a better place with him in it. Early on, the Scarlet Hawks looked like they might put together an inspirational win on an emotional night. They came from behind to win the first game and were points away from a commanding 2-0 lead after Game Two, but Taunton rallied to knot the match at 1-1 and scored the first five points of Game Three. Maybe it was the humidity of the filled gymnasium. Maybe it was toll of the last few days catching up with them. Or maybe it was just some terrific play by Taunton, whose level of play increased with its momentum. Either way, Milford couldn't keep up and fell 3-1. 'We didn't get the win tonight, but we played with him in mind,' Comisky said. 'His absence was really known. You could really feel it.' Season-ending losses are always emotional, but the Scarlet Hawks players stayed on the floor for a long time, huddling, hugging and clinging to a team that has become a support group in recent days. Milford coach Andrew Mainini was disappointed but proud of the way his team rose to the moment despite the result. The town remains hopeful that after appearing before an immigration judge that Gomes will come home. Mainini wanted the chance to tell him about how the town came together for him. 'I want him to see pictures and to see how many people in the community showed up,' Mainini said. 'Milford showed up for volleyball, but this wasn't for Milford, this was for Marcelo. 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Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
Marcelo matters. On court, and in crowd, Milford voices its unconditional support for detained student.
They joined the sea of tees on the Milford players and in the bleachers. The crowd was there to support the host Scarlet Hawks, but also to show that everyone wants Marcelo Gomes da Silva back home after he was detained by 'He's my friend. I played with him,' Asiegbunam said of the 18-year-old Milford High junior. 'I got really close to him. He told me so many things. He taught me life lessons . . . He makes me smile . . . He brings warmth . . . I'm demanding for him to be free.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Added Freitas: 'Once I started [playing volleyball], Marcelo was there for me. We saw on Instagram that they were going to wear white shirts, so we had to support. Marcelo was friends and family with all of us.' Advertisement Milford volleyball players draped their arms around each other's shoulders during the national anthem before the start of their Division 1 second-round playoff game against Taunton. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Milford athletic director Pete Boucher said that after a crowd of 1,000 packed the gym, about 200 went to the auditorium to watch a live stream. Though the crowd watched the 22nd-seeded Scarlet Hawks (13-10) play their last point of the season, it kept cheering hard every time the team made a play. 'The Milford community was amazing,' said coach Andrew Mainini. 'Obviously the volleyball community was there, but also the townspeople. That was huge. One thing that was really touching to us was that there were other volleyball teams we don't have relationships with there, like Marlborough. They wanted to show their support. From Medfield, from Nipmuc, alumni from Natick. The diversity of the people who showed up in age, culture was amazing.' Advertisement The Scarlet Hawks appeared to run out of steam after dropping the second set, but star hitter Gus Da Silva, who is Brazilian like Gomes da Silva and several others on the Milford team, kept popping kills where he could. 'The whole thing was for Marcelo, and I'm really upset that I couldn't bring out the victory for him,' Da Silva said. 'I miss that kid more and more every day . . . I just want to give him a big hug now. 'That's my best friend. We grew up together. We've always been close. Nothing separates us.' Milford fans wearing Free Marcelo t-shirts cheered on the Scarlet Hawks against Taunton. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Freitas dished 36 assists, finding classmate Travis Johnson (15 kills), junior Donny Providence (9 kills) and Asiegbunam (7 kills), as the No. 27 Tigers (18-4) became the lowest seed in statewide tournament history to reach the quarterfinals. 'I was nervous and getting emotional at the same time,' said Johnson, who is also friends with Gomes da Silva. Taunton coach Toby Chaperon was all for it when his players wanted to sport the T-shirts, and he watched them perform on the emotional night. 'When it's coming from the players, it makes it a little bit more special and genuine,' he said. 'We know it's going to be a raucous environment and I think we did handle it well.' Related : The match lasted two hours, a culmination of a whirlwind in the past few days, in which many at Milford lost sleep. The school had a walkout on Monday, among other protests. Advertisement 'It's a challenge because you really are focusing on the kid Marcelo,' Boucher said. 'We love that kid. That kid would talk to me every day. You have to try to encapsulate that . . . you want to do the kid justice, you want to do the incoming team justice, you want to do the crowd justice. 'You want to make sure we're focusing on volleyball, but we're still thinking about him.' Related : Milford freshman Lucas Ribeiro does not know Gomes da Silva, but after seeing the Instagram post, made his FREE MARCELO tee and was part of a one-of-a-kind volleyball crowd. 'For me, it was important [to come] because, you know, my parents are [Brazilian] immigrants, and as a son of an immigrant, I feel it's kind of mandatory for me to come here and support my community. 'I didn't know him personally, but he was just a kid.' Milford's Diego Inacio-Santos (center) celebrates a point with his teammates during their Division 1 second-round playoff game against Taunton. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff A student with a Free Marcelo sticker on her cheek watches Milford's Division 1 second-round playoff game against Taunton. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Milford's Paullo Mota (12) spikes the ball against Taunton. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff A Milford High School student who had painted Marcelo Gomes da Silva's number on his cheek stood for the national anthem. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Milford players Paullo Mota (left) and Colin Greco wore T-shirts in support of their missing teammate Marcelo Gomes da Silva. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff AJ Traub can be reached at
