Norwood May 2016

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Page 18 Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com May 2016 Norwood Sports Sean Mellen by Christopher Tremblay Norwood tri-sport athlete Sean Mellen enjoys participating in hockey, baseball and football, but he admits, it’s the spring sport that brings this high school senior the most pleasure. The Mustang pitcher will continue his favored sport in college next year where he has been awarded a full scholarship to pitch for the Huskies of Northeastern. “I love all three sports because they are all so different and each offers something unique,” the Norwood athlete said. “Baseball, I would have to say, is number one. I love the game and realized it the very first time that I picked up a baseball. It was a sport that you could go out with just a handful of friends and have fun.” Mellen, like most youngsters, quickly gravitated toward Little League baseball around the age of four. When he first encountered the game the now high school senior loved to pitch, but like everyone else played every position on the field. As a freshman, he played the outfield and pitched, but during his sophomore campaign, he settled on strictly pitching. Norwood Stingrays Award The Norwood Aquatics Club is granting a $500 award to a graduating Norwood senior. The student must have been a member of the Norwood Stingrays. Application are due Monday, May 2. Mail to: Norwood Stingrays Award, c/o 31 Peabody Rd., Norwood, MA 02062. “Being one of three sophomores that made the varsity team I figured the only way to crack the lineup would be to pitch, especially on a team with junior and senior leadership,” Mellen said. “I took my turn on the mound although it wasn’t all that often (maybe 25-30 innings) as we had two great senior pitchers and another junior as well. I didn’t mind it; I just wanted to get on the field.” Although he didn’t find himself on the field all that much as a sophomore, he was grateful for the experience as Norwood defeated New Bedford 4-3 to win the Division 1 South Championship, then took out Andover to advance to the state title game. Unfortunately, Norwood eventually fell to Leominster. Last year the Mustangs repeated as Division I South Champions with a 9-3 win over Mansfield and then went on to win the Division 1 State Championships with wins BRING THIS AD IN AND GET 10% OFF YOUR PURCHASE* over Chelmsford and St Peter Marian. During the state title run, Mellen got his share of time on the mound with three starts, including the championship contest, and two trips out of the bullpen. “It was an honor to start the championship game, especially with so many great pitchers on this team,” Mellen said. “I just wanted to go out there and have fun. The offense made it that much easier scoring 8 runs. It will be something that I always remember.” The 6’3”, 200 lb. pitcher can throw between 86 and 92 mph and with four pitches keeps the opposition’s batters off balance. “Being a three sport athlete, he can run,” Norwood Baseball Coach Kevin Igoe said. “When he takes to the mound, I don’t have a worry in the world, I know that he’s going to go out there and get the win. As an All State player as a junior, I expect nothing less from him this year.” Mellen punched out 117 batters last season in 64 innings; an astounding 1.8 strikeouts per inning, but the senior hurler doesn’t consider himself a strikeout pitcher. “I don’t go out there trying to strike batters out, I’m just trying to throw strikes so that I can get ahead in the count,” the lefthanded pitcher said. “If I can get ahead in the count then I can give myself the advantage. If they strikeout, they strikeout, but I’m not looking for it.” Mellen’s goal this coming spring would get the team back into the tournament, while winning every time that he takes to the mound. “Last year we backed into the playoffs (Norwood was 10-10 entering the Division 1 South Tournament), I want to take this team to be one of the top 8 in the state, not just get into the tournament,” Mellen said. “As the number one pitcher I have to face the best teams out there; my goal is to win every start that I can. My job is to shut down the best teams while giving our team a chance to win.” Mellen would not only like to go out in style, but also prove to Northeastern that they made the right decision in choosing him to pitch for the Huskies. “Northeastern was the first Division 1 School that showed interest in me before my season even started,” Mellen said. “They told me that I was a big lefty with composure on the mound and they liked that. I like the fact that the school is local and feel that I will be a good fit for them.” * 898-C Washington Street, Norwood, MA 02062 • 781.349.8231 Run for a Vet 5 Miler This is a challenging 5 mile course, that begins at Norwood High School, at 10 a.m. Cash awards for top finishers. Medal awards to top 3 male and female in each age group. Free short sleeve tee shirt to first 200 registered runners. For more information, contact Race Director Jim Henry, at 617-610-0084, or wingedfootrunning@comcast.net.
May 2016 Local Town Pages www.norwoodtownnews.com Page 19 Norwood Sports Norwood Softball by Christopher Tremblay For the past two seasons, the Norwood girls softball team has been eliminated in the Division 1 South Quarter Final round of the Tournament. Two years ago after going 15-5, the Mustangs fell to Bridgewater Raynham; last spring, Norwood went an impressive 19-1 and once again fell in the Quarter Finals, this time to King Philip 3-2. Although Norwood has owned the Bay State Conference over the past few years, the Mustangs know that this spring it’s not going to be easy. “Despite having won six of the last seven Bay State Conference (BSC) Championships, this year is going to be tougher than the past,” Norwood Coach Carol Savino said. “We’re going to have to go up against Walpole, Natick and Dedham twice.” Having lost pitcher Katie O’Donnell and catcher Erin Garczynski to graduation, Savino knows things are not going to be easy this campaign. “When you lose your battery it’s going to be a tough season; possibly somewhat of a rebuilding year,” the Norwood Coach said. Looking to help the Mustangs to yet another BSC Championship will be tri-captains Taylor Reed, who will play first base; Alyssa Chamberlain, the team’s shortstop and Emily Bonaccorso, the centerfielder. Bonaccorso patrolled left field last season, but Savino has moved her to center due to her quickness and her ability to cover a large amount of ground, not to mention the two new corner outfielders in junior Caitlan Shaughnessy (left field) and Katie Mulligan (right field). While Reed will be at first and Chamberlain at short, Norwood will also employ junior Soibhan Reen at second, a position she’s held since her freshman year, and Janelle Kelleher at third, giving the Mustangs a very sturdy infield according to the Coach. Taking over the pitching duties this season will be junior Cassie Pinciaro, and while O'Donnell is a tough act to follow, she will be effective with her teammates behind her. “Katie was a dead on pitcher who had pinpoint accuracy and averaged 12-14 strikeouts a game,” Savino said. "Cassie’s not going to get that type of production. She’s going to have to rely on her defense to play good ball behind her.” In addition to Pinciaro seeing action on the mound, Norwood cannot go into the season without a back-up hurler so Savino will have two freshmen in Katie Welch and Amanda Olbrys in the wings. According to the skipper, the duo is not quite ready but will eventually be the future of Mustang softball. Behind the plate will also be another newcomer in freshman Bryn Garczynski. She can play the position well and will be able Pictures left to right: captains Emily Bonaccorso and Alyssa Chamberlain to put the ball in play when at the plate offensively. The Mustangs will be employing a lot of inexperienced athletes on the varsity level, but the coach is hoping for the best. “My goal is that we will hopefully go .500 giving these young girls some tournament experience,” Savino said. “These girls are our future and will need to come together. Our pitching is not going to be what we had last year and they will give up some runs, but they are young and will grow,” Norwood Basketball Camp by Christopher Tremblay The Norwood High School basketball program under the guidance of Mustang Coaches Rich Cormier and Amy Lepley have announced that it will be hosting the 2016 Norwood Mustangs Basketball Camp. The camp will run July 11–15, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., for any athletes (boy or girl) entering grades 1-9. The Camp will be held at the Norwood High School, and will cost $200 ($175 if paid prior to June 1). All campers will receive a shirt and individual player evaluation. All participating athletes will be divided into appropriate groups based on age and ability. The Camp staff will be onsite a 7:45 a.m., on July 11 to begin registration and will arrive at 8:15 a.m., the remainder of the week to allow parents to drop off children early if needed. This extended time will allow campers the opportunity to enjoy open gym time before the start of each day’s activities. Families are invited to attend any part of the camp week. Each day’s activities will build upon the previous day in hopes of maximizing individual improvement. Each team will have an individual coach for the week and a designated coach for stations and drills. During the week, the coaches will give emphasis to shooting, rebounding, ball handling, defensive play and fundamental skills. The camp will also include a minimum of two games per day as well as a daily 3-on-3 contest in addition to other competitive and fun games. The staff will include Cormier, the Norwood boys coach for the past ten years as well as girls second-year coach Lepley. Additionally, Boys JV Coach Joseph Oliver and Boys Freshmen Coach Paul Nimblett will be assisting. The Norwood Mustang Basketball Camp is committed to providing the finest teaching and learning environment possible for the young athletes of Norwood while learning the game of basketball in addition to having fun. The camp will make every effort to improve the individual skill level of each participant with high quality instruction. According to the directors, the camp strives to create a positive atmosphere that teaches the value of learning, competition and personal growth. free game buy one game, get one game free Norwood Sport Center Norwood • 781-769-0606 Not valid on league play. One coupon per visit per person. Offer expires 5/31/16. For further information, contact Cormier at www.norwoodmustangsbaskedtball@hotmail. com or 339–788–1001. The Norwood Mustangs Basketball summer camp meets the minimum free game buy one game, get one game free Norwood Sport Center Norwood • 781-769-0606 Not valid on league play. One coupon per visit per person. Offer expires 5/31/16. MIXED SUMMER LEAGUE STARTS MAY 17TH 7PM standards for camps under the State Sanitary Code- Chapter IV and is licensed by the Norwood Board of Health. 65 Cottage St. (East) | Norwood | 781-769-0606 Mon-Thurs 9am-10pm • Fri & Sat 9am-11pm • Sun 1pm-10pm
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Norwood May 2016

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