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WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 AUGUST 19, 2021
FILE PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK
Bishop Fenwick girls basketball coach Adam DeBaggis has
been directing the Heart & Hustle Clinic for the past seven
years.
Bishop Fenwick wraps
up seventh annual
Heart & Hustle Clinic
By Mike Alongi
PEABODY — For the past
seven years, young basketball
players have gathered at Bishop
Fenwick High School in late
summer for the annual Heart &
Hustle Basketball Clinic. This
year was no different, as 44
campers came out to learn from
high school coaches, players and
even college players at Adam
DeBaggis’ annual camp —
which wrapped up Thursday.
“It was great to get back to a
sort of more normal setup and
really dive in this year,” said
DeBaggis, who coaches the
Fenwick girls basketball team.
“There was a ton of great basketball,
no selfish play at all and a
great vibe from start to finish.”
The clinic was back inside
the Bishop Fenwick gym this
year, having moved outside to a
makeshift setup on the Fenwick
tennis courts in 2020 due to the
pandemic.
There were 44 campers
ranging in age from 9 to 14 years
old, with skill levels ranging
from pure beginner to aspiring
high school player.
And, as is the case every
summer, DeBaggis had several
of his current and former players
helping out at the camp. All of
the varsity players, including
his co-captains for this coming
season, Olivia Found, Nasha
Arnold, Maria Orfanos and
Emma Burke, all came to help
coach. Former Crusaders Sam
Mancinelli, Jennie Meagher,
Veronica Tache, Liz Gonzalez,
Brynn Bertucci and a host of
others also had a hand in helping
out this week.
“It’s always great seeing those
girls come out to help, and a lot
of them are former campers who
come back and have their siblings
or cousins participate in the
clinic,” said DeBaggis. “It’s very
much a family atmosphere, and
we try to keep that feeling every
year.”
While DeBaggis always prides
himself on running a camp where
girls can really sharpen their
skills and get better, he’s learned
over the years that teaching
things like leadership and teamwork
are just as important for
players in this age range.
“I recently went to a basketball
camp on my own to pick
up some things, and I’m really
a guy who likes the concept of
sports teaching life lessons,” said
DeBaggis. “I think one of the
most important things we can do
as youth coaches is to teach leadership
skills and teamwork and
accountability for your actions.
It’s important to do that early on
so kids aren’t coming into the
high school game with the wrong
mentality.”
COURTESY PHOTO | DARREN DAMIANI
The Lynnfield U15 baseball team took home the championship trophy at the Lou Tompkins All-
Star Summer League Sunday, defeating Reading by a score of 12-7.
The Lynnfield U15 baseball team is made up of, back row from left, Darren Damiani, Chris
Papagikos, Matt Papagikos, David Tracy, Dylan Damiani, Steve Migliero, Jarrett Scoppettuolo,
Craig MacEachern, Steve Migliero and, front row from left, Owen Mullin, Jack Neenan,
Nick Grousis, Ryan MacEachern, Tyler Adamo and Sean Drzewiczewski. Not pictured are Cole
Hawes, Evan Rocha and Brendan Manoogian.
Lynnfield U15 baseball wins Lou
Tompkins All-Star Summer League title
By Mike Alongi
LYNNFIELD — As the
summer winds down, the town
is celebrating a baseball title
after the Lynnfield U15 baseball
team took down Reading, 12-7,
in the championship game of the
Lou Tompkins All-Star Summer
League Sunday evening at East
Boston Memorial Park.
The Pioneers got the bats
going early, jumping out to a
2-0 lead when Matt Papagikos
smacked a two-run double in the
opening innings.
Things continued to go well
from there, as David Tracy
smashed an inside-the-park
home run, Jack Neenan and Sean
Drzewiczewski each hit a triple
and Lynnfield exploded for an
8-1 lead.
Reading was able to fight back
as the game went on, cutting
the deficit to just one run in the
later innings. But Lynnfield held
strong from there, getting strong
defense from the likes of Owen
Mullin, Jarrett Scoppettuolo,
Dylan Damiani and Ryan
MacEachern to remain in the
lead before stretching things out
and taking home a 12-7 victory.
Steve Migliero was awarded
the tournament MVP for solid
pitching performances, including
two complete-game victories for
Lynnfield during tournament
play.
Steeves steps down as Fenwick
baseball coach after four years
By Mike Alongi
PEABODY — Following a
solid 2021 season that ended
with a second consecutive
Division 3 North title, Bishop
Fenwick baseball coach Russell
Steeves has decided to step
down from his position.
The school confirmed Steeves’
decision on Monday.
Steeves, a 1985 graduate of
Fenwick, coached two separate
stints with the Crusaders baseball
team, taking on the job for
four years each time. He coached
the team from 2008-11 and led
the Crusaders to three straight
Div. 3 North titles before deciding
to step away in order to
spend more time with his young
family. He made his return to
Fenwick in 2017, taking over
for Kevin Canty and leading the
Crusaders to Div. 3 North titles in
2019 and 2021.
He won his 100th career game
during the 2021 season; his career
winning percentage is .634.
With a record of 102-58 Steeves
leaves with the highest winning
percentage in school history and
is second only to McCarthy (409)
in wins.
Steeves has always made
known his affinity for his alma
mater, saying on a number of
occasions that it was a privilege
to coach at his former school.
Steeves played on Fenwick’s 1985
state championship baseball team
and was inducted into the school’s
Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.
“Bishop Fenwick would like
to thank Coach Steeves for his
dedication and commitment to
the Fenwick baseball program,
which went well beyond winning
games,” Fenwick Athletic
Director Dave Woods said in a
statement. “Coach Steeves has a
deep-rooted love for all aspects
of the Fenwick community. He
COURTESY PHOTO | BISHOP
FENWICK ATHLETICS
Bishop Fenwick announced on
Monday that baseball coach
Russell Steeves has stepped
down from the position.
worked tirelessly to build the
program into one of the most
respected programs, not only on
the North Shore, but throughout
the entire state. Coach Steeves
was dedicated to seeing his
players succeed well beyond the
baseball field. He will be sorely
missed, but will always be a
member of the Fenwick family.”