And the Spartan Invitational baseball tournament goes to St. Mary’s – in shutout fashion.
It was a roller-coaster week for St. Mary’s, which dropped back-to-back games after beginning the spring 11-0. But just like the group that went to last season’s Division 3 Final 4, the Spartans bounced back.
With Game 1 against Pope Francis on Saturday, the hosts got back on track at Fraser Field with a 4-0 win to advance to Sunday’s title game. Jacob Peterson (2-for-2, run, RBI) led the offensive charge, while Josh Doney wheeled-and-dealed his way to a complete game (3 hits, 6 K).
Sunday, frankly, picked up where Saturday left off. The Spartans (13-2; No. 2 in D3) snatched their second complete-game shutout in as many days as Jack Zimmerman (3 hits, 8 K) and company took care of Masconomet, 4-0.
Jaiden Driscoll (2-for-3, RBI), Isaiah Weston (2-for-3, 2 runs) and Kyle Doney (2-for-2, RBI) led the bats, and the Spartan Invitational was theirs.
BASEBALL
Swampscott 2
Winthrop 1
Swampscott coach Joe Caponigro has seen a lot of games, and called Quinn Fitzpatrick’s performance on the bump “a gem” on Saturday. He tossed a complete game (4 hits, 1 BB, 2 K) in the Big Blue’s 2-1 escape of Winthrop at Frank DeFelice Diamond.
“He was pounding the strike zone, hitting his spots and throwing the complete game in 78 pitches,” Caponigro added.
Frankie Pappalardo secured a go-ahead RBI single in the fourth inning, plating Zach Alex. Nick Berube scored Swampscott’s first run right out of the gate in the first inning. He stole third before touching home on a Vikings’ error.
Michael Collins, Will Roddy, and Zach Alex also went home with hits for Swampscott (8-6), which hosts Stoneham Monday at 6:30 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Swampscott 10
Triton 3
Goals aren’t easy to come by, but, at times, Swampscott makes it appear so. The Big Blue reached double digits Saturday, giving host Triton a 10-3 loss.
“Defense played lockdown, limiting Triton to just seven shots on the cage,” said Swampscott coach Geoff Beckett. “Sam Brodsky led the team with eight ground balls, while Max Field caused five turnovers.”
Leading the offense were Jason Rothwell (2 goals), John Von Barta (goal), Chase Russo (goal, 2 assists), Jack Hazell (2 goals), Liam Keaney (goal, 2 assists), Carson Palmer (2 goals, assist), Max Field (assist), and Jay Domelowicz (goal), while Timmy Sheehan made five saves.
Peabody 6
Medford 4
It was a happy Saturday for the Peabody boys lacrosse team, which escaped Medford’s grasp with a narrow, two-goal win on enemy turf. Antonio Anzalone led the way with two goals, Derek Collins dished out two assists, and netminder Aidan Haight made 19 big saves.
Danvers 10
Bishop Fenwick 6
Fenwick’s laxmen failed to defend home turf on Saturday, falling to Danvers by four goals. Aidan Byrne (2 goals), Nathaniel Ricciutti (2), C.J. Masone (goal), and Jace Mansi (goal) found the back of the net in defeat. Connor Harvey and Jake Ryan each netted hat tricks for Danvers.
GIRLS TENNIS
Newburyport 4
Marblehead 1
Marblehead received its lone point from the first doubles team of Lucia Levin and Lani Gilmore. Sami Dosch, in third singles, nearly pulled off an upset, but lost in games of 2-6, 7-6, 5-7.
“Newburyport is, clearly, a very talented team,” said Marblehead coach Tracy Ackerman. “First Doubles stayed consistent and also aggressive to stay on their winning track, and for the second time this week, Sami lost a super close match that could have gone either way. We are looking to finish the season strong and keep our ranking at a decent level.”
TRACK AND FIELD
In a “Very high level of competition from across The Commonwealth,” as said by St. Mary’s coach Tristan Smith, his track and field Spartans showed off during the weekend’s MSTCA State Coaches Invitational.
On the boys’ side, it featured medalist performances from Kyle Kwiatek (6th, mile), Scott Amin (2nd, high jump), and Thomas Hooks (5th, high jump), as well as a sixth-place nod from the 4×400 team of Chance Bonfanti, Nick Miller, Jimmy Jennings, and Kwiatek.
As for the girls, some highlights came from Kelsey Kwiatek (6th, freshman mile) and Tina Amin (14th, long jump, personal best).
And during Saturday’s annual Andover Boosters Invitational, Peabody’s Alex Jackson set a new meet record and personal best in the shot put. He threw 61-01, finishing first. He also finished first in the discus with a throw of 158-11.
Evan Bedard finished first in the triple jump (44-00) and second in the long jump (21-10). Other top-10 finishes were turned in by Aneudy Medrano (4th, javelin, PR 154-05); Owen Brennan, (4th, 800, PR 1:59.74); Areno Saint-Victor (5th, discus, 130-03; 7th, shot put, PR 46-01); Peyton Smith (8th, 110 hurdles, 15.4), and Declan Smith, (9th, mile, PR 4:27.74). Brennan, Brian Stevens, Dorlyn Morel and Mohamed Lhassouani finished fourth in the 4×400 relay in 3:33.89.
On the girls side, Alessandra Forgione finished runner-up in the javelin (109-11). She also finished eighth in the shot put (31-09). Makayla Kokonezis finished sixth in the triple jump (PR 35-00.50) and eighth in the high jump (4-08.00). The 4×800 relay team of Avery Marcus, Kyra Buckley, Leah Buckley and Jane Haight finished sixth (10:35). Madison Holleran finished 10th in the shot put (30-06), while the 4×400 relay team of Yosmery Batista, Ava Champigny, Stella D’Ambrosio and Marcus finished 10th (4:25.82).
For St. John’s Prep, Lincoln Massaro posted the Eagles’ top finish, finishing runner-up in the 400 hurdles with a PR 56.35. Aithan Bezanson finished third (PR 56.53) and Noah Kael finished fifth (PR 57.96). Kye McCoy finished third in the javelin (158-04). Andrew Bertucci (6-0), Tyson Stroope (PR 6-0) and Gio Moretti (5-10) finished third, fourth, and sixth, respectively, in the high jump.
In the long jump, Tireni Asengua (PR 21-09.05), Merrick Barlow (PR 21-04.75) and Andrew Vigneaux (school record 21-02.25) finished third, fourth, and sixth, respectively. Ahmir Hykel placed fourth in the 200 (22.84) with Sam Charrette coming in seventh (23.11) and Kevin Vaughn placing eighth (PR 23.12). Andrew McManmon finished fourth in the triple jump (PR 41-08) and Pierson Scala finished eighth (PR 40-07.5). Vaughn (PR 11.23), Brendan Burke (11.27) and Barlow finished fifth, seventh, and 10th, respectively, in the 100 dash. The 4×100 relay team of Jayden Toppin, Scala, Aaron Radke and Kai Danoff finished ninth (44.90).
