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COUGARS I FROM PAGE 14
“We’ll fi ght. But our schedule is
tough.”
The Cougars fought from behind
to defeat the Indians, coming
up with three runs in the seventh
inning to decide the contest.
Jankins, Sokol and Jimmy
Zalatores each had two hits to
spark the Cougars to the win.
“We’ve hit the ball better recently,”
said the coach. “We’ve
had trouble putting the bat on the
ball and have still struck out too
many times. It’s put pressure on
our pitching. But we’ve improved.
Our game against Bartlett was
the best this team has played in
fi ve years.”
Against the Indians, Jankins
pitched a complete game shutout.
The Cougars routed Bartlett,
their most impressive run-scoring
performance since 2008. “We’ve
had terrifi c athletes on this team
and now the work they’ve put in
the last few years has paid off,”
added the coach. “The game is
coming easier to them now. When
you’re stringing hits together,
you’re looser, physically and more
confi dent. Thomas, Greg, Jimmy
Zalatores and Matt Sullivan have
all been hitting well.”
Zalatores had two hits and
sparked the team in two separate
rallies against the Indians.
“We’ve come a long way recently,”
said the coach of the
team. “The spirit is excellent on
this team. They’ve hung in there.
I’m proud of them. These are decent
young guys who are going on
to do something after they graduate
something positive. You don’t
see that on some other teams. We
just try to do more than just play
baseball.”
And by the way, they’ve been
playing much better baseball recently.
“I go back to the problem of
getting our bat on the ball,” said
the coach. “We just have to keep
working. But other than (striking
out too frequently as a team),
College NOTES
Kemp helps Ravens to
big victory
RINDGE, N.H. - Franklin
Pierce baseball junior shortstop
and Sturbridge resident Dan
Kemp went 3-for-5, scored three
times, drove in a run and threw
out the tying run at the plate in
the ninth inning in the fi rst game
of a doubleheader on Saturday
afternoon, May 5 as the No.
15/18 nationally ranked squad
squeaked out a 9-8 win over Saint
Michael’s in Northeast-10 Conference
Northeast Division play
at Doc Jacobs Field.
Lamothe named
Brown MVP
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Emma
Lamothe, a Tantasqua graduate in
2010, was just awarded the MVP
award for Brown University’s
women’s swimming and diving
team for the 2011-2012 season.
Lamothe had a strong season
culminating with the Ivy League
championships in which she was
high scorer for her team with
three top eight fi nishes in the 50yard
freestyle, 100-yard freestyle,
and 100-yard butterfl y, and participation
in two relays, one of
which broke the school record.
Lamothe swam the butterfl y
TURLEY PUBLICATIONS PHOTO BY PAT LYONS
Quaboag pitcher Jimmy Zalatores winds up
as he gets ready to make a delivery to home
plarte
we’ve played well. Our fi elding
has been solid and our pitching
very good.”
Sokol has been a surprise.
“I knew he could play,” said
Guimond. “Like a lot of other
guys, he’s a good athlete. His
pitching has been real good. But
in some ways, his hitting has been
even better.”
Heading into play later this
week, the Cougars trailed by a
half-game Leicester for second
lace in the SWCL West. If they
are able to win their head to head
matchup later this month, the
Cougars could reach the tournament
again.
“We just have to play well,”
said the coach. “Our goal is to
make it. These guys defi nitely
deserve a shot.”
Bob Schron is a sports correspondent
for Turley Publications. He can
be reached at bschron@turley.com.
leg of the 200-yard medley relay
with a time of 23.01 seconds, the
fastest at the meet.
McGrail named to
MASCAC Women’s
Softball First Team
BUZZARDS BAY - Fitchburg
State junior outfi elder and
North Brookfi eld resident Alycia
McGrail was recently named to
the MASCAC Women’s Softball
First Team.
Lamoureux helps out Owls
WORCESTER - Worcester
State women’s softball junior
and East Brookfi eld resident
Aimee Lamoureux drew a bases
loaded walk with two outs in the
bottom of the fi fth of a 7-1 loss to
third-seeded Salem State in the
MASCAC Tournament semifi -
nals on Saturday, May 5.
Farland scores for Bears
in NEWLA championship
BRIDGEWATER - Bridgewater
State women’s lacrosse
junior defender and Sturbridge
resident Shelby Farland scored
in the fi rst of the Bears 6-5 overtime
victory over Westfi eld State
in the NEWLA championship
game on Saturday, May 5.
A Turley Publication • www.turley.com I Thursday, May 10, 2012 PAGE 15
– sports –
Lancers too tough for Warriors
- STURBRIDGE -
By Bob Schron
Turley Publications
Sports Correspondent
In a clash between two of
the best girls tennis teams
in Western and Central
Mass, undefeated Longmeadow
defeated Tantasqua, 3-2,
last week.
In a fi rst singles match between
two of the best players in
the state, Longmeadow’s Lisa
Calcasola defeated standout
Nicole Cormier, 6-0, 6-0
Calcasola went to the fi nals
of the singles tournament in
Western Mass last season.
Cormier won the inaugural
Southern Worcester County
League singles tournament
three weeks ago, defeating
Quaboag’s Shelby Jankins in
the fi nals.
But Emily King and Ashley
Sports Calendar
Tri-County Baseball tryouts
PALMER - Do you have what it takes to be
a champion? Championship traits consist of
hard work, sacrifi ce, dedication, commitment,
picking up teammates and putting team goals
ahead of personal accomplishments.
If you do, then the St. Joseph’s Saints of the
Tri-County Baseball League (18 years old and
older) will be holding tryouts from 4 to 6 p.m.
at St. Joe’s Field in Thorndike on the following
dates: May 12, May 13, May 19 and May 20.
Interested players should contact Karl
ROUNDUP I FROM PAGE 14
Skyler Shugrue had four
hits and the Lady Guardians
defeated Tantasqua, 15-6 in
softball Wednesday.
Leading 7-6 in the sixth,
the Guardians broke the game
open with fi ve runs in the top
half of that inning.
Olivia Brooks was 3-for-4
with an RBI; Jordan Kingman
and Lauren DiCarlo were each
2-for-4 with two RBIs. Jeszy
McGuire was 2-for-3.
The Warriors were then
upended by the Rockets on
Monday, 9-7.
Trailing 6-1, the Warriors,
who pounded out a seasonhigh
17 hits, scored fi ve runs
in the fourth to tie it. But then
Auburn’s Jackie Mathews
homered to put the Rockets
back in the lead.
Its batting prowess against
Auburn is not a surprise, the
Warriors paced by Kayla
DiBiase who had fi ve hits in
that game.
Tantasqua placed fi ve batters
in the top 25 of the SWCL
in hitting; these included Lauren
DiCarlo .468, Brooks .409,
DiBiasie .340, Amanda Martin
.333 and McGuire .321.
Though struggling in recent
games against the Guardians
and Rockets, Kingman
remained among the league
leaders in pitching with seven
victories and an era of slightly
over fi ve.
Powerful Auburn blanked
the Warriors, 14-0 in baseball,
defeating ace Eric Proulx.
Proulx hurled into the third
before being relieved by Kyle
Mason won in second and third
singles for the Warriors. King
defeated Samantha Krevalin
and Mason edged Brooke Wistreich
in three sets.
The Lancers took the match,
winning both doubles. In fi rst
doubles, Allie Crews and Rachel
Moore defeated Connor
Parker and Samantha Robinson,
6-4, 6-0.
And Melanie Feen and
Anne Hayes outlasted Narissa
Tremblay and Aubree Hanks-
Wistasek, 6-1, 6-2.
The Warriors (6-2) had defeated
Grafton 4-1 Wednesday,
seeping the singles with wins
by Cormier (7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-
1), King (6-1, 6-0) and Mason,
7-5, 6-4.
The doubles team of Robinson
and Parker also won in
straight sets.
In boys tennis, the Warriors
defeated Grafton 3-2 and
Bartlett, 4-1.
Lavallee.
Jake Gallant at .386, Proulx
at .370 and Charlie DeCataldo
.302 were among the league
Against Bartlett, Tantasqua’s
Connor Munnis (6-1, 6-1) and
Tom Cloutier (6-3, 6-0) won in
singles.
Both fi rst and second doubles
teams also prevailed: Erik
Messier and Zack Tongeon
won 6-0, 6-2 and the second
doubles team of Austin Avanesian
and James Murray also
won, 6-4, 6-0.
The Warriors captured second
and third singles against
Grafton, Cloutier winning 6-0,
6-0 and Max Proulx also taking
his match, 6-3, 6-4.
The Warriors pulled the
match out with their win in fi rst
doubles, Messier and Mongeon
taking it in three sets, the second
in a tiebreaker: 4-6, 7-6 (2)
and 7-5.
Bob Schron is a sports correspondent
for Turley Publications.
He can be reached at bschron@
turley.com.
Oliveira at 413-283-5223. Serious inquires
only.
Runners wanted for Quaboag
Plantation Triathlon
WEST BROOKFIELD - The Quaboag
Plantation Triathlon, which is in its third year
will be held on Saturday, July 7 at 8 a.m. Registrations
are now being accepted through www.
active.com – mailed in registrations will also be
See SPORTS I PAGE 16
TURLEY PUBLICATIONS PHOTOS BY PATRICK LYONS
Tantasqua teammates await Eric Proulx’s arrival at home plate after hitting a home
run.
Tantasqua
starting
pitcher
Eric
Desmarais
(10)
makes a
delivery
to home
plate.
leaders in hitting in the SWCL.
Proulx (3-3, 2.50) was
ranked ninth in the league in
pitching.