Sports
Girls tennis: Belchertown aces West Springfield in matchup of undefeated Pioneer League teams
By MOLLY CLANCY
BELCHERTOWN — The Belchertown girls tennis team won its sixth consecutive match after defeating West Springfield, 4-1, on Monday.With the win, the Orioles remain undefeated in the Pioneer League.“We did do well,” coach Jackie Kowal said. “They were...
After down seasons, UMass softball is competing for Atlantic 10 title again
By MATT VAUTOUR
AMHERST – For the better part of a quarter century, the UMass softball program was either at or near the top of the Atlantic 10 standings.But for the past four seasons, as the Minutewomen coped, first with legendary coach Elaine Sortino’s cancer and...
Patriots hold on to Garoppolo, take DE Derek Rivers
By JIMMY GOLEN
FOXBOROUGH — The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots held on to coveted backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo through the first three rounds of the NFL draft, choosing instead to make a couple of minor deals on Friday night and pick up...
Bradley scores 23, Celtics eliminate Bulls 105-83
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
CHICAGO — The Boston Celtics kept reminding each other not to let up as they closed in on a lopsided victory and a trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals.No need to worry about that.Avery Bradley scored 23 points, and the hot-shooting Celtics...
Tanaka outduels Sale and Yankees beat Red Sox 3-0
By JIMMY GOLEN
BOSTON — New York Yankees starters failed to record a complete game in all of 2016 — the first time in franchise history that’s happened.Masahiro Tanaka ended that slump this season before April was up.Tanaka pitched a three-hitter to outduel Chris...
Hampshire Regional track sophomore Hannah Labrie is a Goshen junior firefighter
By GAGE NUTTER
WESTHAMPTON — Hannah Labrie finished first in every event she competed in during the Hampshire Regional girls track and field team’s 85-57 win over Monson on Thursday.The sophomore finished first in the long jump (15 feet, ½ inch) and the triple jump...
Girls lacrosse: Agawam deals Northampton first loss, 11-5
By MOLLY CLANCY
NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton girls lacrosse team suffered its first loss of the season Wednesday night.An 11-5 loss to Agawam snapped an eight-game winning streak to open the season and came in its Valley Wheel opener.Abby Baldwin opened the scoring...
Wednesday’s prep schools: Williston boys, girls track stuck in the middle during tri-meet
Staff reports
Williston Northampton’s boys and girls track & field teams both finished second Wednesday during a tri-meet in Easthampton.Northfield Mount Hermon scored 94 points to win the boys meet, while the Wildcats had 62. Wilbraham & Monson was third with...
Wednesday’s high schools: Noah Bleakley, Granby shut down Monson
Staff reports
Senior pitcher Noah Bleakley threw a shutout and struck out 12, as the Granby baseball team beat Monson 9-0 on the road Wednesday.Bleakley punched out the first five batters he faced and walked just one in seven innings.“Pretty dominant performance,”...
Wednesday’s high school track and field: South Hadley beats Sci-Tech on strength of double winners
Staff reports
The South Hadley boys track and field team received a pair of wins from three athletes en route to a 74-61 win over Sci-Tech, Wednesday at home.Evan Petrosky threw the shot put 34 feet, 6¼ inches and the discus 82-9 to win both events.Sean O’Grady won...
Oh, Henrys: Attias, Higgins led Northampton boys lacrosse past South Hadley, 15-5
By GAGE NUTTER
SOUTH HADLEY — Northampton boys lacrosse teammates Henry Higgins and Henry Attias have more in common than just a first name. They both know how to facilitate the offense and how to put the ball in the back of the net. Higgins finished with six goals...
UMass TE Adam Breneman says Minutemen are excited to play football at Fenway Park
By MATT VAUTOUR
BOSTON — Growing up in eastern Pennsylvania, Adam Breneman was naturally a Philadelphia Phillies fan, but his father took him to a couple of Red Sox games at Fenway Park, leading the UMass tight end to adopt Boston as his American League team. He...
Northampton senior swimmer Maggie Miller commits to upstart Franklin Pierce program
By JAMIE CUSHMAN
Northampton High School swimmer Maggie Miller announced her commitment to Franklin Pierce at a signing ceremony held by the school on Tuesday.Miller will join the inaugural women’s swimming & diving team at Franklin Pierce, which announced in 2015...
Monday’s high school softball, lacrosse: Northampton’s Anna Kerwood 1-hits Longmeadow
Staff reports
Anna Kerwood gave up a hit in the first inning, and didn’t give up another for the Northampton softball team in a 17-0 road win over Longmeadow Monday.The game ended after six innings.Kerwood struck out four and didn’t give up walk, letting her...
Monday’s high school tennis, track: Belchertown boys ace Agawam, 3-2
Staff reports
The Belchertown boys tennis team held on to beat host Agawam, 3-2, Monday.The undefeated Orioles (6-0) were led by a sweep at doubles.Dennis Lelic and Nolan Vogel beat Zach Dion and Ryan Graham 6-2, 6-1 at first doubles.Sean McCarthy and Mike Laughner...
Girls track: Northampton’s depth outweighs Amherst Regional
By HENRY BRECHTER
NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton girls track & field team placed first in 12 of 15 events on Monday afternoon, defeating Amherst Regional 89-56 for its third straight win to start the season.“Basically, the girls just stepped up,” Northampton coach Ryan...
Isaiah Thomas, Celtics square series with Bulls
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
CHICAGO — Isaiah Thomas scored 33 points, and the Boston Celtics beat the Chicago Bulls 104-95 on Sunday to tie their first-round playoff series at 2-all.Boston blew a 20-point lead, but Thomas keyed a third-quarter run that put the Celtics back on...
Maryland transfer Jaylen Brantley joining UMass basketball program
By MATT VAUTOUR
UMass got a potential starting guard, and Jaylen Brantley got a homecoming.Brantley, a graduate transfer from Maryland, told both ESPN and CBS that he plans to complete his career at UMass.The 5-foot-11 point guard from Springfield will have his...
UMass women’s lacrosse clinches Atlantic 10 regular season title with comeback
By MATT VAUTOUR
AMHERST — In the 52 previous victories in UMass’ record conference winning streak, there haven’t been many where the Minutewomen fell as far behind as they did Sunday against George Mason.But, in what could be a preview of the Atlantic 10 championship...
SEC Comissioner Greg Sankey refuses to step down in UNC case
By AARON BEARD
RALEIGH, N.C. — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey has denied a request seeking his removal as head of the NCAA infractions panel handling North Carolina’s ongoing academic case because of a conflict of interest.Sankey stated in an April...
