Frontier girls track team goes for 99th straight win
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Bob Smith isn't counting, but his Frontier Regional girls track and field team is approaching a big milestone.
The Red Hawks will host Monson on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. with a chance to win its 99th consecutive meet.
"I really didn't know the number," Smith said after his team defeated South Hadley 92-53 in South Deerfield on Tuesday. "I knew we were in the 90s because it was in the paper at the beginning of the year.
"We just take them one at a time and work really hard. I'm happy for the girls this year. I'm happy that they are having success. We very much want to win our league."
That's the real exciting part to Smith as his Red Hawks (5-0) go into their final dual meet of the season. The boys team has already clinched the Intercounty championship and the girls can win the Suburban with a victory over Monson.
"It would be the first time both the boys and girls have been league champs in the same season," said Smith, who is in his 33rd year coaching Frontier. "The teams are very close. The boys and girls get along really well. (Boys coach) Walt Flynn and I are really good buddies. Track practice is a lot of fun. It would be special to accomplish this together."
A win would also mark the team's 14th straight undefeated season.
The team will then turn its attention to the postseason.
The Division 2 championship is set for May 19 at 4 p.m. at Mohawk Trail. The western Massachusetts seeding meeting is May 25 at Holyoke Community College at 7 p.m. The sectional championship is May 28 at Westfield State University, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The all-state meet will take place June 4 at Bridgewater State University.
The Red Hawks feature two defending WMass champions in senior Tilly Taylor (javelin) and sophomore Amanda Mozea (shot put).
TENNIS SEEDS - Maya Hart and Tom Suchodolski of Amherst Regional were named the top singles seeds in the girls and boys individual tennis tournaments, respectively.
Hart is seeking her third straight individual title. Teammate Nicole McCann is the second seed followed by Yolanda Green of Longmeadow. Julianna Gensheimer of Amherst is No. 11 with Katie Andrew of Northampton 16th.
Sarah Krasnik and Caroline Mabee of Amherst are the third-seeded doubles team. Abbey Foster and Hannah Pancione of South Hadley are the sixth seed.
The girls tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday at Minnechaug.
Frontier Regional's Alli Carnall, who committed to play at Providence College next season, would have been among the top singles seeds but the senior decided not to play.
In boys singles play, Jonah Kudler-Flam of Northampton is the third seed behind Tanner DeVarennes of Lee. Sam Stephens of Belchertown is the 10th seed.
Ian McNamara and Dan Hammond of Amherst are the third seed in doubles.
Boys singles will be held Saturday at Longmeadow. Doubles will be Sunday at Longmeadow.
Both tournaments will conclude May 21-22.
ORIOLES ON THE VERGE - The Belchertown softball team has five games in five days this week along with a chance to clinch a postseason berth.
The fourth game of the week comes today, when the Orioles square off at Southwick at 4 p.m. Belchertown, which plays a mostly Division 1 schedule, can qualify for the D-2 tournament with a win via the 70 percent rule.
GAME OF THE WEEK - Frontier Regional at Hampshire Regional softball, Wednesday, 4 p.m.
The Red Hawks and Red Raiders square off in a game with major Franklin League and Division 2 tournament ramifications. Hampshire's Bri Moussette hit two home runs, including a grand slam, in a 6-4 victory in South Deerfield in the first contest.
ULTIMATE DISCUSSION - Staff writer Michael Wilkinson talks to Amherst Regional ultimate coaches Tiina Booth and Josh Nugent about the 20th year of the Amherst Invitational in this week's Amherst Bulletin.
Jim Pignatiello can be reached at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com.
