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Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Sisterly solution: Nicole and Ashleigh Lent power Lincoln-Sudbury softball to first Division 1 semifinals
It was an afternoon the Lent family will never forget. Thanks to their massive contributions, sixth-seeded Lincoln-Sudbury downed No. 3 King Philip, 4-1, in the Division 1 quarterfinals to clinch the program's first semifinal appearance. 'That sister connection is really something special, especially with those two,' said Lincoln-Sudbury coach Devan Morrison. 'They are each other's best friends and biggest fans.' Lincoln-Sudbury players celebrate with the program's first state semifinalist trophy. Barry Chin/Globe Staff In a softball-obsessed family where they live and breathe the game, dinner conversations revolve around happenings on the diamond after attending each other's hitting lessons. Advertisement 'There's always been this competitive fire,' said Nicole. 'We push each other to be the very best player that we can be. I am not the player that I am today without her.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up During the playoffs, each game could be their last together before Ashleigh leaves to play at Trinity College. They're are making the most of their opportunity. McCoy Walsh struck out 14 for King Philip, including the 600th whiff of her career. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Nicole reached base in all four appearances, walking twice. Ashleigh's double in the fifth inning plated senior Claire Gaeta for a much-needed insurance run, as junior McCoy Walsh (14 strikeouts) hummed in the circle for the Warriors (20-4). Walsh eclipsed 600 career strikeouts in the loss. Kelsey Blanchette, a senior committed to UMass, scattering five hits and a walk, fanning five. Her only blemish was a solo shot off the bat of Providence-bound Liv Petrillo. Advertisement 'She has worked so hard for so long — she's not willing to lose at this point,' said Ashleigh Lent. 'That drive is so hard to come by, and she has it. This team is nowhere near where we are without Kelsey in the circle.' Kelsey Blanchette was dominant for L-S, allowing just a solo home run while striking out five. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Morrison stood by home plate after the game, hands on her head in disbelief. The senior class stuck together, building up after missing the playoffs their freshman campaign. 'I could cry,' said Morrison. 'It's so surreal.' 'Just to have the grit and the heart of this senior class, top down, is the most surreal thing,' she continued. 'This is so cool. I can't put words to it.' L-S coach Devan Morrison congratulates her team, which is in the state semifinals just three years removed from missing the playoffs entirely. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Division 4 State Joseph Case 5, East Bridgewater 1 — A complete-game masterclass from Lila Alvarez (13 strikeouts, 5 hits, 1 run), as well as two hits and two runs scored by Madilyn Botelho, sent the No. 4 Cardinals (17-6) past No. 5 East Bridgewater (18-5) and back to the semifinals as their hunt for a three-peat rolls on. Cam Kerry can be reached at
Boston Globe
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Lincoln-Sudbury's 6-foot-6-inch starter Simon Fletcher finds his groove in one-hit shutout of Peabody
The 6-foot-6-inch junior, who was named a Dual County League All-Star, struck out six and walked one for the Warriors (14-9), 16 days after his first shutout against Westford. L-S coach Matt Wentworth praised how Fletcher limited the Tanners (14-7) to weak contact and trusted his defense. Related : 'He just pounds the zone,' Wentworth said. 'The guys really backed him up today [in the field]. When he's cruising, and he has multiple pitches he can throw for strikes, he just keeps guys so off-balance.' Advertisement Classmate Mason Tarantino provided a major spark offensively, going 3-for-3 with a double, four RBIs, a run, and a walk. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'He was just hitting lasers today,' Wentworth said. 'He just lit it up. His double probably didn't even get 10 feet off the ground and it one-hopped the wall.' Related : Sophomore Ben Clarkin added three hits and two runs for the Warriors and came up with tough catches in center field. The Warriors will face No. 2 St. John's (Shrewsbury) (15-5) on Monday at 4 p.m. Medford 8, Brookline 6 — Two hits each from Travers Moodie, John Wright (3 RBIs), Michael Piccolo (RBI), and Justin Marino (RBI) paced the No. 36 Mustangs (14-7) to a preliminary round win. Winchester 6, Beverly 4 — Brett Daniels (2 hits) belted a two-run homer and Brendan Bock also drove in two for the No. 32 Red & Black (13-8) in the preliminary round win. Advertisement Division 2 State Marblehead 4, Marshfield 2 — Carter Sahagian twirled a two-hitter with six strikeouts for his third complete game in a row, and Stef Shepard tallied two RBIs early in the game to advance the No. 37 Magicians (11-10) into the first round. Oliver Ames 13, Doherty 4 — The very top and very bottom of Oliver Ames' batting order bolstered the No. 26 Tigers (7-14) in the preliminary round win, with the first two hitters, Harrison Fitzpatrick and Evan Szumylo, combining for four hits and an RBI, and the seventh and eighth batters, AJ Baroncelli and Tom Regan, combining for five hits and six RBIs. Division 3 State Martha's Vineyard 4, Ashland 3 — Eli Bryant's sacrifice fly in the top of the 12th provided enough separation for the No. 33 Vineyarders (11-9) to earn the preliminary-round win. Medfield 4, Greater Lowell 1 — Luke Gobin tossed a three-hitter and drove in a run and CJ Herrick added two RBIs for the No. 24 Warriors (12-8) in the preliminary-round win. Medway 11, Nashoba Valley Tech 1 — Matthew Olynciw struck out four and didn't surrender a run or walk in his four-inning start for the No. 22 Mustangs (13-8) in the preliminary round win. Jack Heavner, Trevor Smith and Jackson Duguay all collected two hits. Newburyport 7, Hudson 2 — Ryan Sanchez drove in four with a pair of hits, including a double, to lead the No. 36 Clippers (14-7) to the preliminary round win. Tantasqua 3, Lowell Catholic 2 — Tied 2-2 after six innings, senior Brandon Phillips lifted a two-out RBI infield single, giving the No. 25 Warriors (14-7) a preliminary-round win in walkoff fashion. Advertisement Division 5 State Sutton 13, Boston Collegiate 2 — Ryder Magnuson went 2 for 2 with two doubles and registered three RBIs, Jason Walsh went 3 for 3 and tallied three RBIs, Jack Patraitis added another two hits and two RBIs and Andrew Cloutier manufactured two RBIs as the No. 24 Sammies (10-9) advanced to the first round. Mike Puzzanghera can be reached at
Boston Globe
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Sudbury's Matt Dooley was in the crowd for the last NCAA men's lacrosse final at Gillette. This year, he'll be on the field for Cornell.
'He's the glue guy,' Cornell coach Connor Buczek said. 'He does things that people don't necessarily recognize to the naked eye, but we see it every single day. He brings energy, he brings juice.' Advertisement Dooley has attempted just four shots this season, doesn't have an assist, and has 12 caused turnovers. As his former Lincoln-Sudbury coach Brian Vona endearingly puts it, his 'feet aren't great' and he 'doesn't have great quickness or speed.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up But Dooley has a contagious competitive spirit and consistently 'wills himself' into the right spot every time. He has 25 groundballs and has a knack for making timely, gritty plays. 'He's a fiery competitor,' Vona said. 'One of the things I told the coaches when they were recruiting him is that he doesn't like to lose in checkers. It's just the way he is.' Dooley started lacrosse in second grade and ended up quitting after his first year. He decided to give it another shot in fifth grade and hasn't stopped since, carving out a niche as a physical and cerebral defender. Advertisement Matt Dooley and Cornell could win the program's first national title since 1977. Lexi Woodcock/Cornell Athletics He helped the Warriors capture a state title in 2019 and emerged as a captain and US Lacrosse All-American his senior year in 2021. 'I'm L-S through and through,' Dooley said. 'They prepared me for Cornell and in the future, so I'm just very fortunate.' When the Cornell coach recruiting Dooley spoke with Vona, he told Vona that Dooley would likely be the fourth defenseman in the class. 'I said, 'That's great, but make sure you do me one favor,'' Vona said. 'He said, 'What's that?' I said, 'Tell him you said that.' I said, 'I know he's going to start for you.'' Sure enough, after a postgraduate year at Salisbury School in Connecticut, Dooley ended up starting an NCAA Tournament game against Michigan his freshman year. A heartbreaking overtime loss to the Wolverines didn't sit right and fueled Dooley and his teammates. His sophomore season yielded some gems, including a winning goal off a feed from former Lincoln-Sudbury teammate Kyle Smith with 1.6 seconds left against Princeton. An Ivy League semifinal loss to Penn, however, sullied a promising campaign and left the Big Red craving more. This season has been different from the jump, and Dooley's reliability is a major reason why. Goalie Wyatt Knust said Dooley is the loudest person on the defense and is always talking. 'His communication is unmatched,' Knust said. 'That doesn't show up on the stat sheet, but it makes a huge impact on the field.' Much of that mentality stems from how he's wired, but having three younger brothers also plays a significant role. All four Dooleys play lacrosse, and the eldest Dooley is a natural nurturer who embraces inspiring the next wave of talent. Advertisement At a celebration of life for longtime Lincoln-Sudbury trainer Yoshitaka Ando every year after Thanksgiving, Dooley mentors young kids one minute, then flips the switch and gives maximum effort in the alumni games moments later. 'In that setting, you see both sides of Matt,' Vona said. 'You see his competition level, but you also see his compassion.' Dooley considers himself incredibly fortunate to play in front of dozens of family members and friends this weekend. His mother is one of five, and his father one of seven, so there's no shortage of support in the stands. Vona described Dooley as someone who 'doesn't forget where he came from.' As he takes the field at Gillette one more time, alongside fellow Sudbury products Smith and Zack Goorno of Maryland, he'll continue to lean on his roots as a source of motivation. With the Big Red one win away from history 48 years in the making, he can't help but feel an immense sense of gratitude. 'It would be a dream come true,' Dooley said. 'Especially in Massachusetts at the home turf, Gillette Stadium.' Trevor Hass can be reached at
Boston Globe
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
High school softball notebook: These two-way stars aim to pitch in at the plate, and in the circle
'I've always focused on trying to be the best player I can be in all aspects of my game,' Lincoln-Sudbury senior Kelsey Blanchette said. 'I've never really thought about only doing one. I want to be able to do everything I can to help my team.' L-S coach Devan Rabidou started coaching Blanchette in travel ball, at age 10. Even then, she could see the talent of a player who is now committed to the University of Massachusetts. Advertisement 'When I got the L-S job, I knew she was a kid that would be coming through the pipeline,' said Rabidou, at the helm since 2019. 'Not only was I excited to start coaching L-S, but knowing [Blanchette] would be coming up was something that I was definitely excited about.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up As a junior, Blanchette hit .429 with 28 RBIs while compiling a 2.30 earned run average with 103 strikeouts. One of the biggest advantages to playing both sides of the ball is having a better understanding of both a hitter's and pitcher's tendencies, and taking advantage of that. In a battle of two teams in the Globe Top 10 Monday afternoon, Blanchette and Bedford senior Alyx Rossi went toe-to-toe in both the circle and the box. Advertisement 'Having that sort of competition in-league is great,' Rabidou said. 'It definitely helps [as a two-way player] to think about pitch sequence and how you want to attack the plate when you know the strategy from the other side of it. It can be a fun challenge.' Blanchette roped a stand-up triple and eventually came across with the winning run for No. 10 Bedford in a 2-1 Dual County League victory. Having the Boston College-bound Rossi lead the way has eased the burden on Bedford coach Dennis Walsh . 'I joke that I just sit on the bucket half the time, and just watch what they do. And that's not that far from the truth,' Walsh said. The lefthanded Rossi has pitched her way to a 0.67 ERA with 63 strikeouts, along with a .688 batting average. 'Pitching-wise, I like being able to see where I like to see the ball pitched, and how umpires either favor a hitter or don't. If I was facing myself, could I see myself striking out?' Rossi said. '[And batting-wise], I'm constantly trying to see if I could hit myself. Just trying to envision myself on both sides of the field.' ' 'I'm constantly trying to see if I could hit myself. Just trying to envision myself on both sides of the field.' Bedford pitcher Alyx Rossi It's not a stretch to say that Bedford senior Alyx Rossi is an impact player in the circle and at the plate. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff However, struggles on one side have the potential to bleed into the other. 'If you're not perfect, I think they can be hard on themselves,' Walsh added. 'They're so good, usually. For the most part, they compartmentalize it well. But sometimes, when they know they're up against a lineup that's just as challenging, it's hard to keep the energy up the whole time.' Emma Penniman , the reigning Cape Ann Kinney co-MVP at Triton Regional, only committed to pitching and hitting her freshman year. The senior carried a 1.21 ERA and also hit .443 last season. Advertisement 'Being a pitcher, I can tell what's coming at me when I'm in the box,' Penniman said. '[When I'm pitching to another two-way player], I just pretend they're the same as everyone else. I have the skill, they have the skill, we're both equal and I can do it too.' Related : Having one player involved in all facets of the game provides off-field benefit, as well. 'The advantage of having a two-way player is generally they're the team leader,' said Triton coach Alan Noyes . 'They're the heart and soul. Those types of players are special.' Noyes is lucky enough to have Penniman anchoring his lineup chart. 'It makes life very easy,' Noyes added. 'You throw her in the circle, you bat her in the heart of your order, and just watch her go.' I want to be able to do everything I can to help my team. Lincoln-Sudbury's Kelsey Blanchette trotted home with the first run in an eventual 2-1 victory over Bedford on Monday. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Extra bases ▪ Armed with six seniors, Monomoy has marched out to a 6-0 mark. The Sharks have shown bite, scoring 107 runs. In the heart of the lineup, batting fifth, is eighth-grade first baseman Liv Sanford . 'She's just roping the ball,' said Monomoy coach Stacy Yarnall . 'She's been making contact.' Freshman Kinsey Lister has stepped up to command the ball, keeping the opposition at bay, with help of the excellent defense from junior shortstop Kiley Mawn . The latest victory, a 10-8 barnburner over Wareham, showed a lot of resiliency. 'Those are the games that I love,' said Yarnall. 'We fought. We were down, 6-2.' Related : ▪ The focus of Tuesday's MIAA Softball Committee meeting, held virtually, was talk of a potential Super 8 tournament. The discussion about implementing a Division 1A tournament was met with pros and cons, with further debate to come in the future. Advertisement Venues for the state semifinals and championships have not been locked in. UMass Lowell and UMass Dartmouth, as with years past, could host semifinal action. Sortino Field at UMass Amherst, which has hosted all five divisions of state finals recently, does not have lights, which poses a problem. 'Having a venue that has lights is something that we want to add to not run into the daylight issue,' said MIAA associate director Sherry Bryant . Games to watch Friday, No. 9 Walpole at No. 3 Dighton-Rehoboth, 4 p.m. — The defending Division 2 and 3 champions, respectively, go head-to-head. Monday, No. 8 Bishop Feehan at No. 2 King Philip, 12 p.m. — With no shortage of star power, Mylie Ramer and Maddie Coupal lead the Shamrocks against McCoy Walsh, Ali Gill, and King Philip. Monday, No. 1 Taunton at Westfield, 1 p.m. — The four-time defending Division 1 champs venture west up I-495 and on the Mass Pike to battle senior ace Shea Hurley and Westfield, a perennial powerhouse. Monday, No. 17 Triton at Pentucket, 4 p.m. — Two of the best teams in Cape Ann League test their mettle in an early season matchup that could impact the league title race. Tuesday, No. 5 Silver Lake at No. 7 Central Catholic, 12 p.m. — Programs with tremendous recent success lock horns, as Fairfield commits lock horns when Silver Lake's Delaney Moquin battles Olivia Moeckel and Central Catholic. Correspondent Cam Kerry contributed. Cam Kerry can be reached at
Boston Globe
28-01-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Girls' basketball notebook: In memory of loved ones, Lincoln-Sudbury teams up in Hoops 4 Hope
The Warriors (10-2), ranked 18th in this week's Globe Top 20, earned a 46-40 win over Bridgewater-Raynham and raised $1,800 in the process. They'll distribute the money evenly to the National Brain Tumor Society and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. They also created a 'Hope Wall' outside the gym, where people could sign and leave notes and names of family members and friends who have battled all types of cancer. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Enter Email Sign Up While it was certainly an emotional evening, it wasn't necessarily a somber one. The senior Schwartz and the two juniors know their relatives would have wanted them to continue to play with joy, even in their absence. Advertisement 'It wasn't about despair and sadness,' Lincoln-Sudbury coach Howie Landau said. 'It was about happiness, and the emotion of bringing the community together.' When Poland, Wallerstein, and members of the L-S volleyball team conducted an event for breast cancer awareness last fall, they decided they should try to do something similar for basketball. With their shared experiences as a driving force, they worked diligently to launch the plan. 'It's definitely affected us as a team and a program, so I thought this would be a really special moment,' Poland said. Landau was completely for the idea, and together they started to spread the word. He's grateful to the Lincoln-Sudbury community and administration, plus coach Cheryl Seavey and the Bridgewater-Raynham program, for helping to turn it into a reality. L-S athletic director Dan Lee said he's always impressed at the initiative and social awareness of the school's student-athletes. He said the planning of this night was student-driven and is a wonderful example of how student-athletes can use the platform of sport to bring initiatives to the broader community. Advertisement 'What makes the Lincoln-Sudbury community special is its unwavering spirit of unity and compassion, exemplified through events like Hoops 4 Hope,' Lee said. 'These initiatives reflect the heart of our community — where people come together not just to raise awareness, but to actively support and honor causes that make a lasting impact.' Schwartz, who has raised money through the cancer research organization 'A Shot For Life' with her brother, Ben , is grateful to have multiple communities that provide hope. She continues to think of her father every step of the way as she gives back. 'Playing basketball kind of became a way for us to keep his memory alive,' Schwartz said. Schwartz, averaging 12.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, said her father used to love Eminem's song 'Lose Yourself.' He played it before he got chemo and had surgery as a way to get himself in the right frame of mind, and she still thinks of it often before she competes. Lincoln-Sudbury's Evie Schwartz, (32), pictured dishing a pass against Bridgewater-Raynham, lost her father, Ken, to brain cancer in 2021. 'Playing basketball kind of became a way for us to keep his memory alive,' she said. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Wallerstein, contributing 9.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks a night, wears No. 21 in honor of her sister. She designed the T-shirts for the event and made sure to set the tone Friday. 'When my sister was going through everything, she was never sad,' Wallerstein said. 'She was always upbeat. I want to make sure everyone on the team is smiling and having a fun time, even though it was an emotional night.' Landau said Wallerstein's mother, Elin , told him that Alice's 3-year-old sister, Iris , got really excited in the crowd when she heard Lea's name. Poland, averaging 12.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, has seen the way her grandfather's death affected her mother. She views basketball as an outlet to 'let everything out' and used the event as a way to honor his legacy. Advertisement All three mothers and all three players have bonded through shared grief. When Schwartz, Poland, and Wallerstein each made the team, their separate but overlapping experiences were critical in bringing them together. As devastating as each loss has been, the heartbreak they've endured has helped them grasp the fragility of life and the value of family. 'We're all close even without it, but it's brought us closer,' Wallerstein said. Lincoln-Sudbury's Sarah Poland, (22), drawing a host of Bridgewater-Raynham defenders on a drive, views basketball as an outlet to 'let everything out,' and used the Hoops 4 Hope event as a way to honor her grandfather's legacy. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Alice Wallerstein (21), driving through a B-R double team, said her late sister, Lea, was never sad. She "was always upbeat. I want to make sure everyone on the team is smiling and having a fun time, even though it was an emotional night.' Barry Chin/Globe Staff Courtside chatter ▪ An impact player on varsity since she first stepped on the court at Notre Dame (Hingham) as a seventh grader, Ava Orlando joined the notable 2,000-point club with her 31-point, 10-assist, 6-steal performance in Friday's 79-44 nonleague win over Longmeadow. Only 81 other players in state have reached the lofty total. 'It was great to see my teammates so happy for me,' said Orlando, who surpassed the milestone with a second-quarter 3-pointer in transition. 'Hopefully we can continue to make memories with our tournament run.' Orlando can think on a dime mid-dribble, which is how she generates scoring. 'I let the opponent guess what I'm doing next,' Orlando said. 'Just with my overall IQ, knowing when to go and not to go, and moving the ball around me plays into it.' On Tuesday, NDA will honor Orlando before the Cougars take on Fontbonne at 6:30 p.m. ▪ With five key players sidelined, Blue Hills is making up for its losses with a 'next-person up' approach. Freshman center Sarah Michel , for one, is playing like a veteran. The 5-foot-10-inch underclassman is leading the Warriors (12-0) with 16.9 points and 11 rebounds per game. Advertisement 'She kind of does it all for us right now,' coach Nicole Flynn said. In a Mayflower Athletic Conference win over Bristol-Plymouth last Tuesday, Michel netted a career-high 27 points. In the following two games, she combined for another 32. 'She definitely scores really well down low, but there are other times where she'll rebound and go on a fastbreak,' said Flynn. 'She has the ability to go coast to coast, and she definitely is someone who the bigger the game is, the better she performs.' ▪ With four returning starters, plus the first reserve off the bench, Bourne (12-1) sits atop the South Coast Conference. Coach Steve Wenzel has a number of options, with senior captains Paige Meda (16.5 points per game) and McKinley Wenzel (12.5 ppg), his daughter, spearheading the operation. 'We play a multitude of offenses depending on what we're seeing,' Wenzel said. 'We can spread, high-screen roll, or we can run sets, the old-school two in the posts and three guards dump it in. I have some high-level IQ forwards, so our inside-out game is pretty solid.' Junior bigs Raeghan Blake and Nola Timo average 8 rebounds per game, and junior guard Aubrey France averages 6 steals, leading the league. 'From tryouts to launching the season, we've really been ahead of schedule,' Wenzel said. 'That's really been the key.' Games to watch Tuesday, No. 3 Woburn at Reading, 7 p.m. — A matchup of the top two teams in the Middlesex League's Liberty Division. Friday, No. 11 Braintree at Walpole, 6 p.m. — The Timberwolves have had their moments, but the hosts will need to be at their best in this Bay State-Herget showdown. Advertisement Friday, No. 15 Pembroke at No. 16 North Quincy — In a stacked Patriot-Fisher division, two of the top three teams go head-to-head in this top-20 matchup. Friday, Framingham at No. 14 Natick, 6:30 p.m. — The Flyers have stood out with wins against Lincoln-Sudbury and Natick early in the season, making this an intriguing matchup. Saturday, No. 8 Dartmouth at No. 4 St. Mary's, 7 p.m. — This nonleague contest features two of the state's most prolific squads. Correspondent Graham Dietz contributed to this story. Trevor Hass can be reached at
