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Boston Herald boys wrestling All-Scholastics and league All-Stars

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Boston Herald boys wrestling All-Scholastics and league All-Stars


Alexander Bajoras (St. John’s Prep)

Nate Blanchette (Central Catholic)

Michael Boulanger (Milford)

Thomas Brown (Chelmsford)

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Luke Connolly (Bishop Fenwick/Northeast)

Jayden D’Ambrosio (St. John’s Prep)

Vinny DeMaio (Methuen)

Nick Desisto (Tewksbury)

Dominic Gangi (Methuen)

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Cole Glynn (Central Catholic)

Cyrus Jones (Sharon)

Emmett Logan (Lowell)

Charlie Lussier (Whitman-Hanson)

Brent Von Magnus (Bridgewater-Raynham)

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Yandel Morales (Andover)

Brent Nicolosi (Haverhill)

Jonah Paulino (Monty Tech)

Mason Pellegri (Milton)

Peter Rincan (Billerica)

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James Tildsley (Shawsheen)

Sidney Tildsley (Shawsheen)

Michael Toppan (Gloucester)

 

ALEXANDER BAJORAS

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ST. JOHN’S PREP

The junior heavyweight was the Div. 1 North sectional, then took second at the Div. 1 State, All-State and New England tournaments. A two-time Div. 1 State finalist, Bajoras was seventh in the All-States as a sophomore. The NHSCA All-American is an honor roll student who also plays football and competes in spring track. In the offseason, Bajoras trains at Smitty’s Wrestling Barn.

NATE BLANCHETTE

CENTRAL CATHOLIC

The senior went undefeated on the season, winning all 48 matches, including the Div. 1 North, Div. 1 State, All-State and New England titles. The Merrimack Valley Conference Wrestler of the Year ended his career with an 188-3 record, three New England titles and two All-State titles. Blanchette will continue his wrestling career at Rutgers.

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MICHAEL BOULANGER

MILFORD

The Div. 2 Central and Div. 2 State champion at 138 pounds, the junior went on to post a 36-3 record on the season. An All-State finalist and New England place-winner, the Hockomock League MVP earned his 100th career win on Jan. 10. A member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society, Boulanger has a career record of 130-23.

THOMAS BROWN

CHELMSFORD

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Unstoppable in the heavyweight class, the junior standout went 55-0 with 52 of those victories coming via pin. Brown won the Div. 1 Central/West sectional, Div. 1 State, All-State and New England title. Brown went on to take a third at the Nationals, earning All-American honors in the process once again. A three-time sectional, state and All-State champion, Brown has a career mark of 161-3 with 138 pins.

LUKE CONNOLLY

BISHOP FENWICK/NORTHEAST

Wrestling between 157 and 165 pounds during the season, Connolly was 20-0 in dual meets and posted an overall record of 41-2, giving him a career mark of 131-12. A two-time State Vocational and North Sectional champion, Connolly is a member of the National Honor Society. A three-sport captain, Connolly will play football at RPI.

JAYDEN D’AMBROSIO

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ST. JOHN’S PREP

The 157-pound senior went 61-0, winning the Div. 1 North, Div. 1 State, All-State and New England titles. In three years at the varsity level, D’Ambrosio amassed an overall record of 160-10. The honor roll student will continue his wrestling career at Edinboro University.

VINNY DEMAIO

METHUEN

An all-Merrimack Valley Conference performer, the sophomore was 48-4 and advanced to the 157-pound finals at the Div. 1 North, Div. 1 State, All-State and New Englands. A three-time state-place finisher, DeMaio has a career mark of 130-16. A four-time honor roll student with a 4.0 GPA, DeMaio was second team all-MVC in football. In the offseason, DeMaio trains at Doughboy Wrestling Club.

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NICK DESISTO

TEWKSBURY

The sophomore was rock-solid at 113 pounds, winning the Div. 3 Sectional and Div. 3 State titles. He placed second at both the All-State and New Englands, ending the season with a 46-5 record. The three-time sectional champion has a career record of 106-17. A member of the football team, Desisto is an honor roll student.

DOMINIC GANGI

METHUEN

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The 113-pound senior was the Div. 1 North Sectional, Div. 1 State and All-State champion while placing in the New Englands. A first-team all-Merrimack Valley Conference performer, Gangi surpassed the 100-win mark this past season. A 2023 NHSCA Junior All-American, Gangi trains in the offseason at Doughboy Wrestling Club.

COLE GLYNN

CENTRAL CATHOLIC

The 106-pound junior was the Div. 1 State and All-State champion on his way to a 49-win season. A high honors student, Glynn is a two-time State and All-State place-winner. A member of the varsity soccer team, Glynn works out at Smitty’s Wrestling Barn in the offseason.

CYRUS JONES

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SHARON

Jones had a terrific sophomore season for the Eagles, posting a 43-3 record at 150 pounds with 32 of the victories coming via pin. The Div. 2 Central Sectional champion was the runner-up at the Div. 2 State and All-State tournaments. The Marshfield Holiday Tournament champion and an honor roll student, Jones was the MVP in the Davenport Division of the Hockomock League.

EMMETT LOGAN

LOWELL

The 126-pound sophomore was a model of consistency, reaching the finals of the Div. 1 North, Div. 1 State and All-State tournaments, while placing sixth at the New Englands. Logan also won the Wayland Holiday and Timberlane Tournaments, ending the season with a 51-8 record, including 41 pins. A two-time sectional, state and All-State finalist, Logan has 105 wins in his career. In the offseason, Logan trains at Doughboy Wrestling Club in Lowell.

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CHARLIE LUSSIER

WHITMAN-HANSON

A two-time Patriot League MVP, the 120-pound junior was the Div. 2 State champion and went on to take second in both the All-State and New England tournaments. A 2023 New England place-winner, Lussier is a member of the National Honor Society. In the offseason, Lussier trains at both the Metrowest and CBC wrestling clubs.

BRENT VON MAGNUS

BRIDGEWATER-RAYNHAM

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The 132-pound junior won the Div. 2 South sectional and Div. 2 State titles, placed second in the All-States and sixth at the New Englands. For his career, Von Magnus is a two-time state champion and a three-time All-State place-finisher. An honor roll student, Von Magnus trains at Metrowest United Wrestling.

YANDEL MORALES

ANDOVER

A two-time Boston Herald All-Scholastic, the sophomore captured the 126-pound title at the Div. 1 North, Div. 1 State and All-State title, while taking a second at the New Englands. The Outstanding Wrestler at the Woburn Invitational, Morales ended the season with a 54-5. record. A two-time Sectional, State and All-State champion, Morales has a career record of 151-12.

BRENT NICOLOSI

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HAVERHILL

Nicolosi had a great senior season at 165 pounds, winning the Lowell Holidays, The Div. 1 North Sectionals, Div. 1 State, All-State and New England titles. A two-time state champion and a three-time state place-winner, the NHSCA All-American ended his career with 208 wins. In the offseason, Nicolosi trains at Smitty’s Barn.

JONAH PAULINO

MONTY TECH

The 132-pound senior turned in an impressive 49-1 season. Paulino captured the Lowell Holiday title, the Div. 1 Central/West Sectional, Div. 1 State and All-State title, then took second at the New Englands. A four-time state champion and three-time New England place-finisher, Paulino ended his career with a 144-4 record. In the offseason, Paulino trains at Doughboy Wrestling.

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MASON PELLEGRI

MILTON

The senior captain went 52-1 on the season, winning the Wayland Holiday, Bob Gay Invitational and George Bossi Lowell Holiday titles. Pellegri was equally as good in the postseason, capturing the Div. 2 Central Sectional, Div. 2 State and All-State titles, while taking a third at the New Englands. Pellegri ended his career with school records for wins (147) and pins (108). A member of the National Honor Society, Pellegri will wrestle at Harvard and major in both business and engineering.

PETER RINCAN

BILLERICA

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The 120-pound sophomore was the Div. 2 North sectional, Div. 2 State and All-State champion, then took third in the New Englands to finish off a 55-1 season. As a freshman at Bedford High in New Hampshire, Rincan was a perfect 53-0 and won the New England title. Rincan trains in the offseason at Prophecy RTC.

JAMES TILDSLEY

SHAWSHEEN

A three-time Boston Herald All-Scholastic, the sophomore was a perfect 57-0, winning the Div. 1 North, Div. 1 State, All-State and New England titles. A three-time Lowell Holiday Champion, Tildsley was voted the Outstanding Wrestler at the All-State meet. He was an all-Commonwealth Athletic Conference linebacker for a Shawsheen team which went 11-1.

SIDNEY TILDSLEY

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SHAWSHEEN

The junior is well on his way to becoming one of the most decorated wrestlers in state history. The 138-pounder captured his third straight Div. 1 North Sectional, Div. 1 State and All-State title to go along with his third George Bossi Lowell Holiday title. A three-time NHSCA All-American, Tildsley has a career record of 181-2. He was also the MVP of the CAC in football, earning All-Scholastic honors in the process.

MICHAEL TOPPAN

GLOUCESTER

The Northeastern Conference Wrestler of the Year, the 190-pound senior was the Div. 3 North, Div. 3 State and All-State champion, while placing sixth in the New Englands on his way to a 54-5 season. A two-time New England place-winner, Toppan ended his career with a stellar 181-29 record. A two-time track captain and honor roll student, Toppan will wrestle and study Construction Management at Roger Williams University .

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LEAGUE ALL-STARS

BAY STATE CONFERENCE

Michael Nigro, Thomas Nguyen (Braintree); Jamie Evarts, Gabriel Thomas (Brookline); Dan Sullivan, Philip Watson, Kizen Semprum, Ben Lincoln, Adriana DeGroat (Framingham); Mason Pellegri, Kenny Hiraldo (Milton); Michael Mortarelli, Matthew Pini, Joseph Linton, Jake Ashman, Mike Whalen (Natick); Alex Rutley (Needham); Jon Jauregui (Newton North); Logan Murphy (Walpole); Jonah Ginsberg, Oliver Knight (Wellesley); Michael Brooks, Kevin Mackin, Jake Thompson, Naheem Ridore (Weymouth)

MVP: Mason Pellegri, Gabriel Thomas

BOSTON CITY LEAGUE

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Samuel Guan, Nomar Kelly, Brian Lau, Anjue Liang (Latin Academy/O’Bryant)

CAPE ANN LEAGUE

Nathan Barstow, Jakob Hulett, James Fodera, Jason Kouyoumdjian, David Glynn, Gavin Iby (Lynnfield/North Reading); Miles Darling (Essex Tech/Masconomet); Trevor Kamuda, James Cordro, Aidan Burrier (Pentucket/Newburyport); Amir Alami, Nolan Merrill, Douglas Aylward, Lucas Bistany (Triton)

WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Miles Darling, Douglas Aylward

CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

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Braedon Goes, Jimmy Lally, Will LaValley, Ryan DeSouza, Jayden D’Ambrosio, Vincent Bilotti, Rani Haddad, Marc Pineiro, Alex Bajoras (St. John’s Prep); Issac Sydnor, Jack Gill, Rik Orup, Kazuki Goode, Jackson Carlo (Catholic Memorial); Elijah Cincotti, Jake Scanzillo, Matt Thorley, Peter Foley (BC High); Theodore Cardarelli, Jonathan McMahon, Landan Gray, Noah Miles (St. John’s Shrewsbury); Nate Sayers, George McAteer (Xaverian); Marcus Rojas (Malden Catholic)

MVP: Jayden D’Ambrosio

COMMONWEALTH ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Antoine Jackman, Garrett Ayotte, Gabriel Stickney (Greater Lowell); Dante Graziano, Dante Giusti, Brayton Carbone, Aiden Pimentel, Caleb Caceres, Sidney Tildsley, James Tildsley, Jake Metcalf, Ryan Murphy, Dominic Chaffee (Shawsheen); Anthony Midolo, Aiden Fogarty, Matheus Binda, Logan Hauck (Whittier); Jackson Cody, Ray Kochanski, Luke Connolly, Anthony Nichols (Northeast Metro Tech/Bishop Fenwick); Joshua Matos, Justin Toglia, Kaelib Reynolds, Michael Pena (Greater Lawrence)

MVP: Sidney Tildsley, Luke Connolly

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DUAL COUNTY LEAGUE

THORPE: Penn Boger, Eddie Myles, Miles Mattaliano, Kian Amouzgar (Concord-Carlisle); James Snape, Eric Power, Quinn Bowles, Ronan Miller, Alex Greene-Barrios, Graeme Dierks, Henry Seo (Boston Latin); Elijah Colon, Nate Garozzo (Lincoln-Sudbury); Nathan Tobe, Nathan Hartunian (Wayland)

FOLEY: Drew Unger, Oliver Weiss, Dylan Kadish, Alex Rhein, Vincent Flemming, Nick Genin (Newton South); Anthony Ohanian, Josh Shin (Weston); Theodore Santos, James Agostino, Joey Agostino (Waltham); Nathaniel McCullagh (Cambridge); Eric Kantorovich, Andrew Livshin (Bedford/Acton-Boxboro)

MVP: Kian Amouzgar, Julia Vuckovic, Dylan Kadish, Suvi Talvitie

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE

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Cyrus Jones, Nick Varvak, Meghan Wiebe, Ashmith Yeruva (Sharon); Michael Boulanger, Aidan Baum, Tony Dew, Derek Marcolini, Robby Lyons, Owen Matthews (Milford); Adam Addeche (Foxboro); William Buffington, Kingston DeCosta, Ethan Harris, Elijah Prophete, John Mandeville, Michael Leskoski, Gabriel Leskoski (Taunton); Riley Carlucci, Jack Sauer (Franklin); Colby Cloutier (King Philip); Max Kupferman, Ruairi Ritson (Canton); Jaden Mendes (North Attleboro); Willer Rossow (Oliver Ames)

MVP: Cyrus Jones, Michael Boulanger

MAYFLOWER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Griffin Machie, Luis Garcia, Brennan Chisholm, Ryan Moitoso, Josh Hoskins, Brady Benfeito, Johnathan Borges, Malakai Risotti (Bristol Aggie/Dighton-Rehoboth); Matthew Keefe, Drew Daley, Daniel Keefe, Jacob Bettencourt, Colby Grenon, Nathan Hicks, Jack Ramondetta (Bristol-Plymouth); Giovanni Viola, Charles Graham, Jason Comeau (South Shore); Mason Green, Brandon Allen, Anthony Gagne, Jack Disharoon, Jace Silva (Tri-County); Jason Dorce (Southeastern)
MVP: Jacob Bettencourt, Luis Garcia

MERRIMACK VALLEY CONFERENCE

ALL-CONFERENCE: Brent Nicolosi, Cale Wood, Michael Morris, Shea Morris, Matthew Harrold (Haverhill); Jose Bethel, Thomas Brown (Chelmsford); Nate Blanchette, Cole Glynn, Caden Smith (Central Catholic); Jack Lightfoot, Nicholas Desisto, Manny Mengata (Tewksbury); Vincent Demaio, Joseph Bolduc, Dominic Gangi (Methuen); Peter Rincan (Billerica); Yandel Morales, Nicholas Archambault (Andover); Emmett Logan, Hussein Alobaidi, Chris Dubey (Lowell)

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WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Thomas Brown, Nate Blanchette, Brent Nicolosi

MIDDLESEX LEAGUE

ALL-CONFERENCE: Aryav Pimrale (Lexington); Jack Shea, Mikey Thomas, Jonny Moraes (Melrose); Aydin Lamb, Sean Callanan, Joe Lamonica, Jaden Fullerton, Zach Arria (Wakefield); Andre Sweet (Belmont); William Merkle (Reading); Dan Carreira, Brady Bekkenhuis (Arlington); Tommy Dicker (Watertown); Mohamed Said (Wilmington)
MVP: Aydin Lamb, Brady Bekkenhuis

PATRIOT LEAGUE

ALL-STARS

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Noah Price, Jack Mahoney, Freddie Mahoney, Phoenix Soares, Cole Bonner, Matt Walsh, Jack Johnson, Will Marani, Jonny Radzevich, Noah Edwards (Duxbury); Conlan Geary, Matt Costello, Anthony Mann, Emma Leonido (Hanover); Aidan Chan, Jakub Wozny, Tucker Burke, Mia Dineen (Hingham); Liam Dillon (Marshfield), Nate Rosas, Decklan McDevitt, Logan Schipper (Pembroke); Max Sturtevant (Plymouth North); Brendan Nunley (Plymouth South); Edwin Vino, Nathan Doyle, Matthew Nellany (Quincy/North Quincy); Connor McLaughlin, David Murphy, Paul Cheverie (Scituate); Jacob Opachinski, Robert Lewis, Justin Vincenti, Talan Rondeau (Silver Lake); Charlie Lussier, PJ Katz (Whitman-Hanson)
MVP: Charlie Lussier, Anthony Mann

SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE
Olivia Polansky, Kennedie Davis, Lucas Santos, Brent Von Magnus, Jack Alves, Brenton Allain, Luke Driscoll, Fletcher Rinke, Jackson Rinke (Bridgewater-Raynham); Toril Patel, Walter Rodrigues, Aman Khalil, Jailen Jackson (Brockton); Seth Chuon, Kayden Chaney, Thomas Louisme, Josh Yentz (Durfee); Anthony Bojorquez, Anderson Dinis, Tayel Guzman, Prince Wright (New Bedford)
MVP: Brent Von Magnus, Aman Khalil

SOUTH SHORE LEAGUE

Josh Gonsalves, Iain Lindvall, Matt Patterson, Leo Pike, Ken Mentee, Tristian Sybertz (Middleboro); Mike Shannon, Dean Livermore, Ollie Buckley, Cooper Richards, Matt Badia (Cohasset); Luke Steele, Liam Hallet, William Fitzgerald-Klemp (Sandwich); Coleson Tully, Aaron Reed, Elena Thomas, Jack Reed, Michael Brennan (Carver); Keegan Butler (Rockland)

MVP: Matt Patterson

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TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE

Logan Costello, Kevin Ozulumba, Adrian Guzman, Anton Puhach, Cam Antoniuk, Cauan Amaral, Matt Terry (Ashland); Landry Fitzgerald, Tyler Campbell (Bellingham); Manuel Garcia, Ryan Talon-Kelly, Matthew Garcia (Dedham); Baly Mikhail, Zak Robinson, Henry McElligott, Quinn Polny (Holliston); Aaron Butkus (Hopkinton); Dillan Mueller (Norton); TJ Wyman, Jared Tinlin, Nate Hsu (Norwood)

MVP: Anton Puhach



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Boston, MA

From across Boston they flock to play for Latin Academy boys’ tennis, a co-op of 29 schools – The Boston Globe

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From across Boston they flock to play for Latin Academy boys’ tennis, a co-op of 29 schools – The Boston Globe


“I’ve done a lot of different things in my life, but there’s no question in my mind that the youth development aspect of what I’ve done with kids and tennis in Boston is the most important work I’ve ever done,” said Crane, who has dedicated the last 30 years of his life to youth tennis.

Once upon a time, Crane served as a sports journalist for the New York Post, the defender general of Vermont, and the executive director of the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission.

He has been the head boys’ tennis coach at Latin Academy since 2009, and last season led the Dragons to their first Division 3 semifinal appearance in program history.

Latin Academy coach Peter Crane congratulates his number one doubles pairing of Gio Waterman and Mayfre Moreta.Barry Chin/Globe Staff

This season, the Dragons are trying to repeat that success, and are doing so with players from five Boston high schools (Latin Academy, O’Bryant, Josiah Quincy Upper, East Boston, and New Mission).

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Sophomore Mayfre Moreta, a New Mission student, has never crossed paths in the school hallways with his doubles partner, Gio Waterman, who attends Latin Academy, but the pair still managed to rally from a set down to clinch the deciding No. 2 doubles point in last year’s D3 quarterfinals.

“I think [that win] speaks to our identity as a program,” said Waterman. “It’s so nice to play with all these new guys from other city schools. We share that bond of representing the city of Boston.”

Along with the unique co-op structure, Crane runs a no-cut program that carries roughly 35 kids ranging from seventh to 12th grade every year who vary from beginners to experienced tournament players.

“We don’t cut because we want to teach kids from all over the city how to play the game,” said Crane. “We want to give them a sport that they’ll play for the rest of their lives.”

Mateus Washington, a Latin Academy senior, is in his sixth, and final, year with the program. Although Washington has dueled the state’s top players at No. 1 singles this season, he is just as proud that he gets to lead his teammates every day.

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Mateus Washington, now a senior, joined the Latin Academy team as a seventh-grader.
Matthew J Lee/Globe staff

“It’s really cool to see how the seventh-graders of this generation look so much like I did in seventh grade,” said Washington, who has posted a 3-3 record this year. “It’s super eye-opening and enriching to be a part of their development.”

Crane recognizes that the team’s makeup is unique and oftentimes difficult to manage.

“Logistically, it’s difficult. The kids are coming from all over the city, and they can’t all show up at the same time because their schools get out at different times,” said Crane.

But above all, Crane is thankful he can give his kids — many of whom come from low-income situations — the chance to play tennis, as well as offer them summer jobs at Sportsmen’s, Franklin Park Tennis Association, and other tennis facilities around the city.

“What motivates me the most is getting to know these kids, building relationships with them, and figuring out how I can be of help to them. I want to help them grow, help them succeed on and off the court, and help them get ready for the rest of their lives.”

Jackson Stotts played No. 2 singles for Latin Academy against Boston Latin on Thursday. Barry Chin/Globe Staff

Emily Cilley has yet to lose a match as the head coach of the Swampscott girls.

In Cilley’s first year with the program, the Big Blue (4-0) have put last season’s second-round loss to Dover-Sherborn in the rearview mirror.

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Key to their success have been sophomore stars Nikki Carr and Ginger Gregoire. Carr has been dominant at first singles, posting a 4-0 record without dropping a set, and Gregoire has been a great option at second singles, logging a 3-1 record and securing the deciding 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory in the season opener against Bishop Fenwick.

“They are both very disciplined players who understand the balance between being cautious and being patient,” said Cilley. “Their technical skills are on point, and they aren’t intimidated by the person across from them.”

The Big Blue’s strong start has catapulted them to the top of the Northeastern Conference. They’ll look to continue their unbeaten streak against St. Mary’s next Saturday.

▪ The girls of Central Catholic are off to their best start in program history.

The Raiders boast a 6-0 record after taking down Lowell 5-0 on Saturday morning. The win was their fifth sweep of the season, with the only non-sweep coming in a 4-1 victory over Notre Dame (Tyngsborough).

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Morgan Bateman has looked unstoppable at second singles, as she is yet to drop a set, and Ella Asmar has been just as impressive at third singles, posting an undefeated record.

Although Haley Wolters was responsible for the only loss by a Raiders player this season, she has logged impressive victories at first singles, such as a 6-2, 6-3 win against Chelmsford and a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Lowell.

The Raiders have a chance to extend their winning streak to nine with matches against North Andover, Lowell, and Haverhill on the horizon, before they clash with undefeated Andover on April 30.


Webb Constable can be reached at webb.constable@globe.com. Follow him on X @webbconstable.





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Practice Report: Bruins Have Last Skate in Boston Before Leaving for Buffalo | Boston Bruins

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Practice Report: Bruins Have Last Skate in Boston Before Leaving for Buffalo  | Boston Bruins


“It is a division team, we’ve played them enough to know kind of what they’re about. They’ve had a great season. They’re a high rush team, a lot of speed and a lot of skill. It is going to be a fun matchup,” Lindholm said. “It is a fun challenge for us, coming in a little bit as an underdog and prove people wrong.”

Lindholm has also been quarterbacking the second power-play unit, which is primed to feature James Hagens. The 19-year-old forward signed his entry-level contract on April 8 and played in the final two games of the regular season. The B’s, however, did not get on the man advantage in either game, so Sturm has yet to see Hagens on the power play outside of practice. The coach thinks it is one of Hagens’ best assets, though.

“He doesn’t have to play or make special plays. He has some really good players on that unit. As long as he’s going to play fast and keep it simple – I think that is something that might be different from college and NHL,” Sturm said. “I think it will be fine because Buffalo, they will come, they pressure hard. So you don’t want to be surprised. You want to be quick, you want to be fast. That’s something that has to be in his mind.”​

Hagens has been skating on the third line with Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov, and that stayed the same in Saturday’s practice. The three youngsters will all be playing in their first NHL postseason.

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​“Every night you have to give it your all. You have to give everything you possibly have. This is playoff hockey – you want to win every single game like always. Nothing changes, but there are a lot higher stakes,” Hagens said. “This is something you dream of. Something you grow up watching and praying that you could be in the moment one day and be playing in. Now that it’s reality, it’s something that is really surreal.”

After having a whirlwind start to his pro career, it has been helpful for Hagens to get full practices in with the group.

“It’s been great to be able to be out there, practice with these guys. Not only to learn the systems but to be able to talk to teammates, get feedback from coaches,” Hagens said. “Just the repetition, being able to do reps, try to learn day by day.”

The energy is palpable for Boston, but the team knows the work has just begun.

“Everyone is equal in this room. We’re a tight-knit group here, we’re all good buddies…Just go out there and play with that joy that we have in the locker room,” Lindholm said. “It is a really serious time of year, but I think within this room here, just go out there and enjoy, too. Play for each other – I think that’s how you win this time of year.”

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Tigers lose ‘very rare’ 1-0 game vs. Red Sox at Fenway Park

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Tigers lose ‘very rare’ 1-0 game vs. Red Sox at Fenway Park


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Boston — Can’t lose at home. Can’t win on the road.

The Tigers are establishing a very unhealthy pattern early this season. Coming off six straight wins at Comerica Park, they rode an eight-game road losing streak into Fenway Park Friday night.

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Make it nine straight road losses.

Scoreless through regulation, the Boston Red Sox scratched across a run in the bottom of the 10th inning to take the opener of a four-game series, 1-0.

“We don’t look at it like that,” said catcher Dillon Dingler of the home-road contrast. “We played a tough game tonight. Just not a ton of hitting. I left three guys out there myself.”

Dingler nearly ended the game-winning threat before it started. With speedy Jarren Duran at second as the free runner, reliever Will Vest threw a pitch in the dirt. Duran got a good break off second but Dingler pounced on the ball and threw a seed to third base.

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It would have been a bang-bang play, but third baseman Hao-Yu Lee, in his big-league debut, was unable to catch the throw.

“I don’t know how that play would’ve gone,” manager AJ Hinch said.

Vest struck out Ceddanne Rafaela, then with one out, Hinch brought Javier Báez in from center field, using a five-infielder, two-outfielder alignment against Red Sox lefty-swinging pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida.

“Our backs were against the wall,” he said. “We were hoping he hits it at somebody. He ended up chopping it over the infield.”

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Yoshida’s high-bouncer went over the infielders’ heads and ended the game, leaving the Tigers to rue their two missed chances late in the game.

BOX SCORE: Red Sox 1, Tigers 0 (10)

The Tigers put runners at second and third against Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the top of the ninth. Jahmai Jones ripped a double into the left-field corner, sending rookie Kevin McGonigle (safe on a fielder’s choice) to third.

But Champman punched out Dingler with back-to-back heaters — 100 mph and 101 mph.

They stranded the free runner in the top of the 10th against right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock, too. With Dingler at third and one out, Wenceel Perez struck out and Spencer Torkelson grounded out to short.

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Hinch had left-handed hitters Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith available on the bench.

“Obviously we were looking for contact (from Perez),” he said. “Generally, Whitlock is going to keep the ball down. (Perez) just chased at the end.”

But, as Hinch said, there was a lot more going on than just the 10th inning.

“I mean, a zero-zero game at Fenway in the 10th inning?” Hinch said. “That’s a game that’s very rare around here.”

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Credit starting pitchers Casey Mize and Red Sox lefty Ranger Suarez for that. They put on a show, impressively trading outs in their own unique style.

The Tigers got two singles off Suarez in the first inning and then nothing over the next seven.

Mize, with a four-seam fastball that was hitting 96 mph that greatly enhanced the effectiveness of his splitter and slider, allowed three hits through 6.2 innings.

“Casey was incredible,” Hinch said. “I told him afterward, that was the best combination of stuff, execution and the way his body was moving. He was excellent. Unfortunately, so was their guy.”

Said Dingler: “Robin (Lund, assistant pitching coach) said Casey’s slider strike percentage was 93 percent. He was dominating that outer rail with all three of his pitches. It was fun to catch. He made my job easier.”

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The third hit, a two-out infield single in the seventh, ended Mize’s night. But he was brilliant. He struck out seven with one walk. He got 14 whiffs on 42 swings and 16 called strikes.  

“We had a good game plan,” said Mize, who dominated a lot of the same Red Sox hitters last September at Fenway. “I was able to execute at a pretty high clip tonight. I felt like I was moving well and the ball was coming out well. When you execute, more times than not you are going to have nights like this.”

Suarez, meanwhile, was mixing changeups, curveballs and cutters off his 91-mph sinker and getting the Tigers’ hitters to beat the ball in the ground. Nine ground ball outs and nothing but weak contact.  

“There’s a reason he signed a deal with these guys,” said Mize of Suarez’s five-year, $130 million deal with the Red Sox. “He’s a really good pitcher and it made it tough on our team and on myself, knowing I was going to have to match him zero for zero.”

McGonigle singled with one out in the first and Jones followed, belting a line drive off the Green Monster in right field. McGonigle breezed into third but center fielder Rafaela played the carom expertly and threw out Jones at second base.

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“Once he settled in, he was in and around the zone just enough,” Hinch said. “The ball never moved the same way twice. He’s tough.”

The Tigers’ only runner after the first against Suarez was Dingler, who drew a two-out walk in the fourth.

Suarez set down 13 straight hitters after that through the eighth.

Dingler, besides calling a smart pitch-mix for Mize, helped out with two defensive plays befitting a Gold Glove catcher. He ended the second inning by pouncing on a topper in front of the plate to retire Rafaela. Dingler ran through Rafaela to get the ball, knocking him out of the base path.

He took Rafaela off the bases again in the fifth. This time, he threw him out at second trying to steal second base. The throw was perfect, an 87-mph dart that popped into the glove of shortstop McGonigle in 1.85 seconds.

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“Ding is such an influence behind the plate,” Hinch said. “It starts with the game-calling. And he threw it well tonight. We know they’re going to be aggressive. They have a ton of athleticism and speed. And Ding is a big weapon for us to stop it.”

Friday was the big-league debut for Tigers’ infielder Hao-Yu Lee. He went hitless in three at-bats against Suarez, though he did drive a ball to track in right-center field the Rafaela ran down in the fifth.

Playing third base, he ended seventh inning fielding a ground ball behind the bag at third and throwing across the diamond to retire Rafaela and stranding a runner at second. First baseman Spencer Torkelson made an outstanding scoop on Lee’s low throw.

Lee’s throwing error in the bottom of the ninth extended the inning but caused no damage.

“It’s a big stage,” Hinch said. “I think he handled himself well.”

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For Mize, it was his third start this season where he allowed one run or less. The Tigers are 1-2 in those three starts.

“Yeah, you know, I feel good,” he said. “I feel fine. But we’ve got to translate them into wins. That’s what I care about the most.”

Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com

@cmccosky



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