CHARLESTOWN LITTLE LEAGUE SIGN-UPS
Charlestown Little League has winter clinics on Mondays (except President’s Day) at the Community Center on Medford St. through the end of March: 6-7 p.m. for 4-7 year-olds and 7-8 p.m. for 8-12 year-olds.
They have batting practice at Extra Innings in Middleton on Sundays 2-4 p.m. through the end of March. Players must be registered for the 2019 season to participate, and then sign up on the SignUpGenius link below. Any questions? Email [email protected]
Little League Registration link:
tshq.bluesombrero.com/charlestownllma
Extra Innings link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a4fadad2aa6f58-extra
MIAA “MARCH MADNESS” HOCKEY PREVIEW
•Boys Hockey
THEY’RE IN: Defending Super 8 champ BC High (11-2-2) is already favored to take home the bacon again, deservedly so. Rugged senior wing Matt Lakus (7 goals, 7 assists) is a handful in front of the net and has showcased a nifty passing eye to go along with his “sniper” skills. Look for the Eagles to make their way to the “Gahdin” ice…Boston Latin (11-3-2) returns for another run at the Division II title falling one goal short last year. Contributing on defense for the tourney-tested Wolfpack are senior Matt Coviello (3 assists) and sophomores Noel Gallagher and ColmVraibel…Reading (9-6-2) suffered a pair of heartbreaking losses which most likely put them out of Super 8 consideration, but the Rockets opponents may want to avoid them in the Division I tourney. A tough non-league schedule will have sophomore Landyn Greatorex (3 goals, assist) and company battle ready…Archbishop Williams (8-5-2) started strong out of the Division I gate but have faltered recently. Junior wing Brody Tuite (3 assists) has been a pleasant surprise doing the “dirty” work in the corners…By capturing the City of Boston League title, Latin Academy (6-7-3) has qualified but by no means are the Dragons to be overlooked. As in the past, BLA and “upset special” usually go hand-in-hand in the Division III bracket. Look for sophomore wing Jack Adduci (4 goals, 5 assists) to contribute and for 7th grade backliner Cullen Lacey to gain valuable experience.
ON THE BUBBLE: Barring an end-of-schedule regular season upset, Northeast (6-6-4) will get into the Division III field. The Golden Knights continue to “stay the course” and senior forward Ryan McGonagle (4 goals, 4 assists) and sophomore wing Braden Fitzpatrick (2 goals, 2 assists) have made an impact…Arlington Catholic (6-7-1) junior defenseman Jason Smith (5 goals, 3 assists) has almost single-handedly brought the Cougars back into playoff contention. The guess here is Jason’s efforts will not be in vain and AC will be an “oh no, not them” draw in the Division I preliminaries…
GETTEM NEXT YEAR: With a bevy of talented underclassmen, Wakefield (4-9-2) is in great position to join the Division II elite next season. Freshman wings Michael Locke (4 goals, 4 assists) and Joe O’Brien (goal, assist) and freshman defenseman Owen Locke (assist) have made huge strides…A tip of the hat to O’Bryant (2-13-0) who despite their record have “come to play” every game. The leadership of Tiger senior co-captains (and cousins) Jeremy Shea and Aiden Shea, as well as the spirited play of 7th grade wing Luciano Cincotti has been impressive…Malden Catholic (1-16-0) must go back to the drawing board to “kickstart” the Lancer legacy. In what has been a rebuilding campaign, junior forward Colin Delvalle looks to emerge as an impact player next season…East Boston (0-16-0) head coach Ken Guittarr and assistants Ryan McGoff and Pat McGoff continue to keep the Jets hockey program afloat under great adversity. To their credit, seniors Jacob Leavitt and Gilson Dosouto, junior Jared Burhoe and freshman Andy Qiu have stayed the course.
•Girls Hockey
THEY’RE IN: Reading (8-2-5) head coach Alexa Hingston and assistant coaches Catherine Taglilatela and Kendall Junta have already established the Lady Rockets as an elite Division I program in only their second year behind the bench. Senior wing Abbie Collins (7 goals, 6 assists) has been a sensational two-way player and Reading has set the bar high for this year’s tourney…Matignon (9-5-2) loaded up on a powerful non-league schedule which will serve them very well in the Division II tourney. Senior backliner Caitlyn Killoran (goal, 3 assists) has been a force on defense.
Townie Trio Sails Lady Vikings into Playoffs
For the first time in the women’s hockey program five-year history, Salem St. (4-16-4) has qualified for the New England Hockey Conference playoffs. Playing a big role in the Lady Vikings surge have been the Charlestown trio of senior wings Danielle Kelley and Jacqueline Sindoris and junior center Rose Sullivan.
Danielle (career stats of 19 goals, 21 assists, 145 shots) is a force in front of the net and a fearsome digger in the corners. Jacqueline (career stats of 15 goals, 13 assists, 156 shots) possesses “sniper” slot skills and a deft ice vision to employ her sensational passing talent. Rose (career stats of 9 goals, 8 assists, 95 shots, 65% faceoff percentage) is a sparkplug whirling dervish with a nose for the puck. The Townie ladies have persevered through the adversity of establishing a winning program and as the #8 seed Salem State will hit the road to square off against top-seeded Norwich (18-5-2) on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. Congrats on the milestone and GO LADY VIKINGS.
Townies on the Ice
•HIGH SCHOOL: BC High (11-2-2) senior wing Matt Lakus scored a goal and added an assist to help the defending Super 8 champion Eagles clinch the Catholic Conference title with a 4-1 victory over Catholic Memorial…Arlington Catholic (7-7-1) junior backliner Jason Smith tallied a pair of goals as the Cougars stunned Archbishop Williams by a score of 5-2. Jason added a goal and an assist in a 4-1 triumph over Bishop Fenwick…Belmont Hill (8-15-1) sophomore defenseman Will Killoran notched an assist in a 7-2 loss to Lawrence Academy. Will added a goal in a 6-3 loss to Phillips Academy…Boston Latin (12-3-2) senior backliner Matt Coviello tallied an assist in the Wolfpack 4-1 conquest of Methuen.
•COLLEGE: UMass-Dartmouth (11-9-1) junior defenseman Patrick Wrenn blasted two shots on net in the Corsairs 1-0 triumph over Fitchburg State…Amherst (11-6-4) freshman wing Sean Wrenn scored a goal in the Mammoths 2-2 tie with Colby…Northeastern (21-3-4) freshwoman wing Micaela Sindoris scored her first career goal for the #3-ranked Lady Huskies in a 6-3 pasting of Merrimack…In a 3-3 tie with Plymouth St., Salem St. (6-14-4) senior wing Danielle Kelley tallied 2 assists and junior center Rose Sullivan fired 3 shots on net…Worcester St. (12-10-1) freshman wing Will Ahearn rifled 2 shots on net in a 1-0 OT victory over Assumption.
•ECHL: Wheeling defenseman Aaron Titcomb tallied an assist in the Nailers 3-2 OT loss to Indianapolis.
•NHL: Boston backliner Matt Grzelcyk rifled 3 shots on net in the Bruins 4-3 OT setback to Winnipeg. Matt added 4 shots on net and an assist in a 4-3 OT loss to the Rangers.
Townies on the Court
•HIGH SCHOOL: Pope John XXIII (11-6) senior center Conor Kelly scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the Tigers 70-53 trouncing of Cristo Rey. Conor added 7 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks in a 73-47 dismantling of Maimonides. The victory clinched PJ Coach Leo Boucher’s 17th consecutive MIAA tourney appearance (including 2 state titles) and was his 286th career coaching win…Charlestown (9-10) senior forward Steve Williams snared 7 rebounds and tossed in 6 points in the Townies 62-57 conquest of East Boston.
•COLLEGE: Congratulations to Bunker Hill Community College coach Nkrumah Jones, who is in his 8th season at the helm for the Bulldogs, on reaching the 20-win plateau for the fourth straight year. BHCC (20-2) is currently ranked 7th in the NJCAA.
Swimming
HIGH SCHOOL: Latin Academy (8-0) sophomore McKenna Kyle and freshwoman Adriana Cepeda (5th in the 500-freestyle with a time of 7:08.72) helped the Dragons coast to an incredible 12th consecutive Boston City League championship.
Townie Roots on the Ice
•HIGH SCHOOL: Wakefield (4-10-2) freshman wing Michael Locke, who leads the Warriors in goals, dished out an assist in a 4-2 loss to Woburn and added a goal in a 4-2 setback to Belmont…Groton (16-5-2) sophomore forward Ronan Doherty tallied 2 assists in a 7-0 pounding of Worcester Academy. Ronan added another goal in a 5-3 victory over BB&N.
•COLLEGE: Army (9-16-4) senior wing Trevor Fidler rifled 2 shots on net in the Cadets 2-2 tie with Holy Cross…Curry (15-6-3) sophomore forward Michael Snow contributed 2 assists in a 9-5 beatdown of Wentworth. In a 5-1 conquest of Western New England, Michael blasted 6 shots on net…UMass-Lowell (17-8-2) sophomore forward Connor Sodergren blasted 3 shots on net in a 3-1 victory over Northeastern. Connor also tallied an assist in a 3-0 whitewash of BC.
•ECHL: Manchester wing Michael Doherty scored a goal in the Monarchs 3-2 triumph over Maine.
•NHL: New York wing Kevin Hayes blasted 6 shots on net in the Rangers 1-0 setback to the Flyers. Kevin added a goal and 5 shots on net in a 4-3 OT victory over the Bruins…NY Rangers wing Jimmy Vesey tallied an assist in a 4-3 OT win over Boston.
Townie Roots on the Court
•HIGH SCHOOL: Braintree (14-3) senior standout guard Adriana Timberlake scored her 1,000th point in the Lady Wamps 46-35 setback to Wellesley. Adriana joins her brother Nicolas, who reached the milestone for Braintree in 2017, as she continues her (and the team’s) quest to defend their Division I state title…Austin Prep (7-11) senior Colin Jaena scored 8 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in a 73-53 loss to Lowell Catholic.
Charlestown Youth Basketball
•Thursday, Feb. 14 – Trailblazers vs. Sonics, 6:15 p.m. at Harvard Kent; Pacers vs. Bucks, 6:30 p.m. at Community Center 1; Phoenix Mercury vs. Connecticut Suns, 7:15 p.m. at Edwards Middle; Celtics vs. Raptors, 7:15 p.m. at Harvard Kent; Rockets vs. Spurs, 7:30 p.m. at Community Center 1; Thunder vs. Hornets, 7:30 p.m. at Community Center 2; and Mavericks vs. Clippers, 8:15 p.m., at Harvard Kent.
•Break for School Vacation Week (Feb. 15-24)
•Monday, February 25 – Wizards vs. Warriors, 7:15 p.m. at Edwards Middle.
•Tuesday, Feb. 26 – Bucks vs. Wizards, 6:30 p.m., Community Center 2; and Mavericks vs. Celtics, 7:45 p.m., Community Center.