Sports 04-19-2018

Townie Sports

DOHERTY DELIVERS FOR MONARCHS

In what is turning into a fantastic best-of-seven ECHL playoffs matchup, Manchester outlasted the Reading Royals in the first two games posting a pair of 3-2 double-overtime victories to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. Monarchs rugged rookie wing Mike Doherty has already made his presence felt notching a nifty backhand goal and blasting 6 shots on net in the first two contests.

PITCH, HIT AND RUN COMPETITION

Charlestown is hosting its first MLB PITCH, HIT and RUN competition and they are looking for participants.  https://www.pitchhitrun.com/about

Major League Baseball Pitch Hit & Run (PHR) is a FREE, one-day event for boys and girls ages 7-14 and is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball. Participants compete in either the Baseball Division or Softball Division and have the opportunity to advance through four levels of competition including Locals, Sectionals, Team Championships and the National Finals during MLB All-Star Week. Past winners include many MLB players.

LEVELS OF COMPETITION:  All-Around, Pitching, Hitting and Running Champions advance from EACH division age group. Competitors compete in four age groups: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14. Age is determined as of July 17, 2018.

Where: Ryan Field, 47 Alford St.

When: May 6, 10 a.m.

To volunteer to help, or have any questions contact Andrew Peterson at

(617) 908-3538.

 

FITZY A MINUTEMAN

Wakefield senior and two-sport (football and lacrosse) All Star Ryan Fitzpatrick achieved a personal goal by committing to play lacrosse for the UMass Minutemen this Fall. A National Honor Society student, Ryan has been accepted into Eisenberg School of Management. Presently, however, he looks to lead the Warriors to a deep MIAA lacrosse tourney run to finish his exemplary high school athletic career.

 

SULLY SAILS VIKINGS TO VICTORY

Salem St. sophomore lacrosse standout Rose Sullivan was a one-woman wrecking crew in leading the Lady Vikings (2-9) to a 19-5 thrashing of MCLA. She tallied 3 goals, 4 assists and rifled 4 shots on net while adding 3 ground balls and a caused turnover. Despite a somewhat frustrating campaign, Rose has been a shining star posting season totals of 16 points (10 goals, 6 assists) and 28 shots on net. She is also third on the team with 21 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers.

Training Field to conduct fundraiser for statue lighting

By Seth Daniel

The Millmore Statue in the Training Field needs some light shed upon it, and the Friends of the Training Field are engaging in a traditional fundraising campaign to try to get that done.

President Billy Kelly said they have initiated a $10,000 drawing to help raise money for the lighting of the famous statue, which commemorates the more than 3,000 men from Charlestown that fought in the Civil War.

Kelly plans to sell 200 tickets at $100 each. The drawing will take place in the Training Field on June 9.

“If I can sell all the tickets, that will give someone a prize of $10,000 and it will give the Friends $10,000 towards the lighting project,” he said. “We’ll still have to raise a lot more money, but that would be a great start.”

The Millmore Statue was done by Martin Millmore, and Irish immigrant who became one of the more famous statue makers in Boston. However, the statue on the Training Field is one of his finest works, completed in 1871. While the City did work on the statue, Kelly said they didn’t think of lighting it up.

That has been a major goal of his since he took the reins as president.

Another goal, he said, is very simple in getting more use out of the Training Field.

He said he plans to bring the Navy Band back again this summer, and he is planning on having the Charlestown High School band perform this summer as well.

On May 12, there will be a major presentation there as part of a blockbuster day in the Town to celebrate Preservation and the efforts at Memorial Hall. As part of that, Kelly will be giving a presentation on the history of the Training Field at the site. There will also be activities there as well.

“We’re trying to bring more things in and really get more use out of the park,” he said. “I’ve been using the park all of my life.”

To buy a ticket in the $10K drawing, call Kelly at (617) 241-8130, or Barbara Kelly at (617) 633-5640.

Pope John’s Boucher named Boston Globe Coach of the Year

By Cary Shuman

Charlestown’s Leo Boucher was named the Boston Globe Coach for the Year in Division 4, having led Pope John High’s boys’ basketball team to a state title.

Boucher led the Tigers to the state championship this season with a 24-1 record. Pope John also won its own hoop invitational tournament and the Catholic Central League and North sectional titles.

Boucher was humbled by the award, the second time he was so recognized by the Globe.

“It was actually a nice surprise,” said Boucher. “It’s funny, I always say, ‘Kids win games, coaches lose games,’ “but it was a very nice surprise – it was quite an honor.”

Boucher comes from a large Charlestown family, and previously served as the head coach at St. Clement, a school he led to the state championship in 2014. When St. Clement closed its doors last June, Boucher became the head coach at Pope John.

Pope John Athletic Director Ryan Murphy said that Boucher’s recognition was well deserved.

“Leo Boucher exemplifies everything an athletic director would want in a head coach,” said Murphy. “Leo is great for the school and great for the kids. We could not be more proud of all his accomplishments.”

Boucher has been one of the state’s most successful coaches in boys’ basketball. During the last five years, his teams at St. Clement and Pope John have won two state titles and more than 100 games. This season presented an interesting challenge as the former St. Clement players entered the Pope John program. Boucher built them in to a state championship team, clearing some major hurdles along the way.

“At midseason we started to come together,” said Boucher. “I thought in the game that we struggled in at Austin Prep, the team really came together and different players started to step up and do things.”

Boucher said as the Tigers defeated some very good opponents in the second half of the season, the momentum began to build “and they started to realize they could do what every player wants to do: win their last game on the last day of the season.”

“I’m really proud of what they accomplished,” said Boucher.

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