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Boston Globe
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Tufts, Colby, Middlebury to represent New England in Division 3 women's lacrosse Final Four
Three-time reigningchampion Middlebury will face Colby Friday at 4 p.m. at Roanoke College, in Virginia, while the Jumbos will take on Gettysburg (Pa.) at 7 p.m. Both semifinal games on Friday will be available to stream on The winners will advance to the championship game, set for Sunday at noon. Advertisement Bedford's Allie Zorn leads Tufts (20-1) in points (82) and is second on the team in goals (59). The junior was a 2022 Globe All-Scholastic and girls' lacrosse player of the year during her senior year at Bedford High. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Tufts beat its first two NCAA Tournament opponents by a combined 20 points before eking out an 8-7 win over Salisbury (Md.) to advance to the national semifinals. On the other side of the bracket, Colby (17-3) will face powerhouse Middlebury (19-1), which has lost just two games in the last four years: against Tufts in the 2022 NESCAC tournament final, and against Wesleyan in this season's NESCAC semifinals. The Panthers have won three straight NCAA titles and are led by former Globe All-Scholastic Hope Shue, a graduate of Dover-Sherborn High School. Now a senior, Shue was Advertisement The attacker leads the Panthers in goals (76) and points (107) and is second in assists (31). She's the program's all-time leading goal scorer (296) and this season broke Middlebury's all-time points record with 379 and counting (the previous record was 347, which Amy DiAdamo set from 1994-97). Gillette Stadium will Emma Healy can be reached at
Boston Globe
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
With the addition of pitcher Jill Ondrick, Weymouth softball accelerates its ascension
Finally, a breakthrough – 11 victories in 2024 secured a postseason berth. The arrival of Jill Ondrick , a two-time Globe All-Scholastic committed to South Carolina, stamps the Wildcats' legitimacy. 'Last year was to build their confidence,' said fifth-year Weymouth coach Vanessa Haen . 'This year, they don't need that. They recognize that they can play.' Ondrick, the Catholic Central League MVP last year at Archbishop Williams, hit .411 with 13 home runs and 31 RBIs at the plate and fanned 227 in 127 innings, posting a 1.16 ERA last season. Advertisement Now a junior, Ondrick decided to transfer back to public school, reuniting with her hometown friends. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Related : Playing club for the highly touted Louisville Sluggers 18U Huecker team on the national circuit, Ondrick reached 69 miles per hour from the circle, equivalent to over 100 m.p.h. from the baseball mound. Flamethrower? Absolutely. But there's far more to her game. Described as the hardest worker in the room by Haen, Ondrick trains tirelessly. She's determined to surpass her home run record and altered her vertical movement pitches, specifically her riser and drop ball. 'I feel like I've come a long way with my work ethic and being productive,' said Ondrick, who drew motivation from seeing high-level athletes at travel tournaments. 'At times, I'd want to get better and work harder, but it was harder to focus on work on the things that I'd need to. I've gotten so much better at going outside and hitting or going inside to pitch.' Advertisement South Carolina-bound junior Jill Ondrick struck out 227 batters in 127 innings last season. Barry Chin/Globe Staff The lone senior on the team, catcher Paige Sellon , trained with Ondrick four times a week in the offseason. Committed to Mass Maritime, Sellon needed to be prepared for the spin and velocity that Ondrick delivers. 'Most people don't play on a team with someone who's committed to South Carolina,' said Sellon. 'She's definitely going to make everyone better.' The workouts aided Ondrick, on and off the field. After all, they were teammates beginning in third grade. 'She was one of my biggest supporters when I was coming back to Weymouth,' said Ondrick. 'She was by my side through it all.' Related : With Ondrick, the sky could be the limit. Sophomore shortstop Bella Pires , who joined the team as an eighth grader after playing baseball all her life, anchors the lineup alongside Ondrick. Pires had to learn the game: throwing a different ball, contrasting bat shapes, even new pants. A Bay State All-Star last season, she's a vocal leader on a team filled with young talent. 'You have to start them young,' said Pires. 'You have to have kids be excited about softball. When they get to varsity, they'll know what they are doing.' Vanessa Hoen leads Weymouth through an indoor practice as they look to improve on last year's 11 wins. Barry Chin/Globe Staff It's been a labor of love for Haen to grow the softball program. It used to be an afterthought, an activity to pick up for two months before leaving the bat and glove to collect dust for 10 months. 'Everyone started to realize that this is a more serious program than it was in past years,' said Pires. 'I could see more of a mentality change in everyone.' Advertisement Now, everyone plays year-round. There's been a mentality shift, buoyed by a collective buy-in. The objective is no longer just to compete — it's to win, and to do it against elite competition. 'Oh, softball, it's the losing team for Weymouth,' said Sellon. 'Now, we're competitive like the baseball team. It's finally a turning point.' It's time to put Weymouth softball on the map. 'The stigma behind what softball used to be here is gone,' said Haen. 'That's not here anymore.' Now in her fifth season, coach Vanessa Hoen has flipped the perception of Weymouth softball. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Extra bases ▪ Coming off its 'Throughout the last couple of weeks, we've found a system where we think we can replicate [last year's success],' coach Nate Farrington said. 'We have a lot of players coming back with experience, who got a taste of what getting that far in the tournament felt like, and we really feel like we can do it again.' Related : Expanded roles for sophomores Kate Suneson and Hailey DaRosa , as well as senior Christina Magnett (a two-time South Coast All-Star), provide a battle-tested presence. Freshman Reese Taylor , who threw four hitless innings and struck out 11 Sarah DelVecchio joins Taylor on the pitching staff, with senior Caleigh Venuti , who is committed to Emmanuel, providing consistency behind the plate. In a deep South Coast Conference that features defending state champions (Dighton-Rehoboth, Joseph Case) and perennial contenders, the road ahead will not be easy. Advertisement 'We play really competitive games throughout the year and that helps everybody,' Farrington added. 'Those are the kind of games and kind of teams we want to play, because that's what's going to continue to make us better.' ▪ It's a new era for Bishop Stang, with Halle Young stepping in as head coach following a 4-win season in 2024. The Spartans picked up their first win under their new skipper with a 20-8 decision over Bourne. ▪ One of the best softball products out of Massachusetts in recent years, 2023 Games to watch Wednesday, No. 17 Attleboro at No. 15 Norton, 3:45 p.m. — Each squad's offense has been firing on all cylinders, but neither has faced a highly-touted opponent. Wednesday, No. 18 Middleboro at No. 14 Apponequet, 4 p.m. — The Sachems look to rebound after an opening setback against Dighton-Rehoboth, while the Lakers aim to earn an early Top 20 win. Friday, No. 11 Bridgewater-Raynham at No. 2 King Philip, 4 p.m. — King Philip will be a difficult out, but don't sleep on these Trojans. Friday, No. 3 Dighton-Rehoboth at No. 1 Taunton, 6 p.m. — An early-season battle of juggernauts and defending state champions takes center stage. Cam Kerry can be reached at
Boston Globe
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Childhood neighbors to playoff heroes, Alex Peck-Sam Hubbard connection lifts Natick boys' hockey past Weymouth
After the Wildcats (13-8-2) equalized with Ryan MacDonald's goal with 2:05 left, the Redhawks responded. On a low-to-high play, Peck found junior Grady Flynn at the goal line. Flynn returned the favor back to Peck in the high slot, and he made no mistake. Advertisement 'You're not even thinking out there, honestly,' said Peck, who netted his 18th goal of the year. 'Pass it down low, get it right back. Once I saw it go in, it's one of the best moments ever.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Natick's Sam Hubbard (left) is joined by teammate Tate Cogliano to celebrate one of his two goals against Weymouth. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Natick took leads of 1-0, 3-1, and 4-3, but each time, Weymouth had an answer – except in the final two minutes. 'With 13 seniors, being able to refocus is the most important,' said Natick coach Karl Infanger. 'We've practiced all year for the final two minutes.' Related : Hubbard upped his goal total to 29, slamming home a power-play one-timer off a feed from Peck. In the third period, Hubbard scored shortside, more than willing to showcase his devastating wrist shot. Hubbard, the team's leading scorer, was also a Globe All-Scholastic on the gridiron. He proved his football prowess with a series of devastating hits. 'It's like clockwork out there,' said Peck, on playing with Hubbard. 'I know that he wants the puck on his stick, so I'm looking for him.' Related : After losing to Weymouth, 5-3, on Jan. 4, the Redhawks emerged victorious in a battle of Bay State Conference division winners. 'They beat us earlier in the season, so to get that game back on them, that's awesome,' said Hubbard. 'It helps us going deeper in the tournament.' Natick's Joe MacDonnell (6) celebrates after putting the Redhawks up 3-1. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Natick's Brauer Malcom (31) makes a save late in the third period. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Natick's defense puts the squeeze on Weymouth's Ryan Ferguson (center). Barry Chin/Globe Staff Weymouth goalie Billy Lennon makes a save as Natick's Alex Peck looks for the rebound. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Cam Kerry can be reached at
