Baseball, Tennis Complete Solid Tournament Runs

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This week marked the end of the 2015-2016 sports year for Old Rochester. Five teams finished up their seasons this week, with boys’ tennis and baseball both making it to the final rounds of their respective state tournament. It has been another great year for Bulldog sports with a variety of teams finding success. Before the spring, the most notable tournament runs were made by the volleyball and basketball teams, while the girls’ cross country team prevailed over all competitors to win a hard-earned state championship. Below is a recap of the final week of action for the spring.

            Baseball: The Bulldogs faced Dedham High on the road in the second round of the D-3 State Tournament on Monday. Junior Sam Henrie pitched another good game, striking out six hitters in six innings before senior Bryant Salkind came on in the seventh to get the save. This performance allowed the ‘Dogs to remain competitive throughout, and the team wound up winning 6-4 over their higher-ranked opponent to advance to the D-3 South semifinals. Junior Kyle Brezinski led the team with three hits, while fellow juniors John Breault (catcher) and Will Hopkins (centerfielder) added two, as did seniors Salkind (DH-Pitcher) and Hunter Parker (2nd baseman). The boys played Bourne in the semi-finals on Thursday and won 4-3 on a walk-off RBI single by Henrie. He scored Hopkins, who hit a double, and then moved to 3rd on a sacrifice fly by Parker. On the mound, Salkind scattered five hits and four walks over seven innings to get the win. Henrie and Hopkins each had three hits, which led the team. Both junior players have been instrumental in the team’s late-season success, and they were leaned on heavily once again in Sunday’s D-3 South final against East Bridgewater. Henrie pitched well, flashing excellent command by striking out 10 and walking none. However, he allowed four runs on eight hits in a 4-2 loss. Sophomore Jake Asiaf’s RBI triple was the lone extra-base hit. That hit scored freshman Adam Breault, and Asiaf later came around on a knock by Hopkins. Sunday’s loss ended the team’s magnificent run and a very productive season. Although seniors Parker, Salkind, and Jacob Fluegel will be missed, the Bulldogs have plenty of young talent moving forward and should be able to make an impressive state tournament run in 2017.

            Girls’ Lacrosse: The Lady Bulldogs were away at Cohasset in the second round of the State Tournament on Monday afternoon. Unfortunately, they were defeated 19-3 to end their season. The team’s goals came from sophomores Ali Hulsebosch and Maggie Adams and junior Emily Hiller. Despite the loss, the team had an extremely successful season (12-6, and 6-2 in SCC play) and looks to return quite a few top players including the three aforementioned girls as well as sophomore Maddie Cooney and freshman Gates Tenerowicz.

            Boys’ Track: Junior Danny Renwick competed in the 110m hurdles at the New England meet in New Britain, Connecticut on Saturday. Despite poor weather, Renwick finished sixth with a time of 15.43. That allowed him to cap off an incredible season as the top point-scorer on the 8-1 Bulldogs. Next season, the team will look to take aim at Dighton-Rehoboth’s stranglehold on the South Coast Conference. Renwick will be supported by fellow rising seniors such as Eli Spevack, Jacob Cafarella, Ryson Smith, and Andrew Nadeau.

            Boys’ Tennis: The boys were home against Martha’s Vineyard in the second round of the State Tournament on Monday. Sophomore Sam Pasquill and junior Caleb Jagoda won both their singles matches in a 4-1 win over the Islanders. The doubles teams of junior Josh Lerman and sophomore Jahn Pothier, along with junior Maxx Wolski and freshman Geoffrey Noonan, were both victorious as the team’s only loss came at 2nd singles. Next, the team took on Maimonides at home on Thursday afternoon. Pothier and Jagoda repeated as winners while junior Alex Bilodeau won at 2nd singles in a 5-0 victory that wound up being much easier than expected. The doubles pairings, which were held over from last match, continued their success. Finally, the boys ran into undefeated Dover-Sherborn in the finals on Friday. The anticipated match was held in a neutral zone in Scituate. Only the doubles team of Lerman and Pothier emerged successful, sadly, though Bilodeau took his competitor to a third set in a close match. The 4-1 loss ended a fantastic season for Bulldog boys’ tennis. With no seniors on the roster, the team can only improve from here on out. A host of veteran leaders and exciting young players will surely make the 2017 squad a force to be reckoned with.

            Girls’ Tennis: The Lady Bulldogs faced Norwell High at home in the second round of the State Tournament on Monday. Seniors Morgan Middleton and Olivia Bellefeuille both won their singles games at #1 and #2, and both of the team’s doubles pairings came out on top. The pairings were composed of juniors Katelyn Bindas and Alexis Parker and junior Emma Collings with freshman Delaney Pothier. Against Ursuline Academy on Wednesday, the team lost 5-0, ending their season on a rough note. However, there were a great number of positives to take away from the season, one in which the Lady Bulldogs finished with a shining record of 20-4. The team has a strong base of talent to build on in the coming years, though it will miss the talents of Middleton and Bellefeuille, who have helped the team to be extremely competitive at all levels.

            Below are the final overall spring team records, followed by the conference records in wins, losses, and ties as of June 12.

Baseball: (15-8-0)(13-4-0); Softball: (8-13-0)(6-8-0); Boys’ Track: (8-1-0)(7-1-0); Girls’ Track: (9-0-0)(8-0-0); Boys’ Lacrosse: (11-6-0)(9-1-0); Girls’ Lacrosse: (12-6-0)(6-2-0); Boys’ Tennis: (20-3-0)(13-1-0); Girls’ Tennis: (20-4-0)(12-2-0).

By Patrick Briand

 

Academic Achievements

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The University of Rhode Island is pleased to announce that more than 4,986 undergraduates have qualified for the Spring 2016 Dean’s List. The students represent nearly all of Rhode Island’s cities and towns, all six New England states, New York and New Jersey, other states and 25 countries.

The following students from the Tri-Town were named to URI’s Spring 2016 Dean’s List:

– Katherine Jean Delaney of Marion

– Tyler Scott Ayan of Marion

– Janelle M Mercer of Marion

– Madison Kate-Marie Goguen of Mattapoisett

– Ryann Cierra Monteiro of Rochester

– Christina Ann Sebastiao of Mattapoisett

To be included on the Dean’s List, students must have completed 12 or more credits during a semester for letter grades with at least a 3.30 quality point average. Part-time students qualify with the accumulation of 12 credits with a 3.30 quality point average.

Springfield College has named Ashley Pacheco of Rochester to the dean’s list for academic excellence for the spring 2016 term. Pacheco is studying Health Science/Pre-Physician Assistant.

The following Tri-Town residents have been named to the Spring 2016 Dean’s List at Stonehill College in Easton, MA:

– Madison R. Costa of Rochester, a member of the Class of 2016 and an Interdisciplinary Studies major.

– Chloe A. Robertson of Marion, a member of the Class of 2016 and an Interdisciplinary Studies major.

To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must have a semester grade point average of 3.50 or better and must have completed successfully all courses for which they were registered.

Maxwell McDonough Kearns of Marion received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of the Holy Cross at its 170th commencement on May 27.

MCC Community Input Survey

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The Mattapoisett Cultural Council is collecting input to help set its community funding priorities for the next three years.

The survey seeks information about the community’s awareness of the local cultural council’s annual grant-making as well as recommendations for local funding priorities.

The survey is available online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3T8MCDT and paper copies may be found at Town Hall, Mattapoisett Free Public Library, and Council on Aging (COA). Community members are encouraged to complete the survey in the most convenient way that suits them.

Surveys will be collected until July 1, 2016. Information about Mattapoisett Cultural Council can be found at https://www.mass-culture.org/mattapoisett#.

Many Heads and Many Hands

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Mau VanDuren, the author of Many Heads and Many Hands: James Madison’s Search for a More Perfect Union, will speak on Tuesday, June 28 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall. Mr. VanDuren, an independent historian, is from the Netherlands and immigrated to the United States in 1982. In his book, he discusses that the Pilgrims spent 12 years in the Netherlands before leaving on the ship Mayflower and arriving in Plymouth in 1620. Mr. VanDuren will discuss the development of law and democracy in America and the individuals whose ideas guided the drafters of our Constitution.

The lecture will be illustrated with PowerPoint slides followed by a question and answer session. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Keel Awards

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The Wanderer is pleased to announce that we are soliciting nominations for our 21st annual “Wanderer Keel Awards.” The yearly community service honor – which is presented to one Tri-Town resident from each of the three central towns in our circulation area – will be announced in our July 28 edition, and each winner will be the subject of a short feature highlighting their contributions to the local community. But The Wanderer needs your help in selecting these “unsung heroes.”

The requirements are simple. Nominees must be legal residents, for at least five years, of Mattapoisett, Marion or Rochester and must have contributed in some way to the overall benefit of the community – either directly to town residents, or indirectly through efforts in promoting town activities, or working to keep the wheels of local government well oiled. The only restriction is that these persons cannot benefit from their efforts in any other way – either financially or politically (hence, sitting elected officials are not eligible).

In doing this, we hope to applaud those who are rarely recognized for their countless hours of service and focus on the many people behind the scenes who remain otherwise anonymous, but provide crucial support to many town functions. Like the keel of a ship, which keeps the vessel from capsizing, the recipients of the Annual Wanderer Keel Award will be recognized for their stalwart efforts in keeping the community on an “even keel.”

Past recipients of this honor include:

– MATTAPOISETT: Maurice “Mudgie” Tavares (1994); Priscilla Alden Hathaway (1995); Norma Holt (1996); Gale Hudson (1997); Kenneth Stickney (1998); Clara Morgan (1999); Betty and Bert Theriault (2000); John N. “Jack” DeCosta (2001); Jo Pannell (2002); Stan Ellis (2003); Evelyn Pursley (2004); Luice Moncevitch (2005); Seth Mendell (2006); Bradford A. Hathaway (2007); Kim Field (2008), David Spencer Jenny (2009), Stephen L. Kelleher (2010), Bento Martin (2011), Howard C. Tinkham (2012), Ellen Flynn (2013), Jennifer Shepley (2014), Ruth Bates (2015).

– MARION: Claire Russell (1994); Ralph and Phyllis Washburn (1995); Annie Giberti (1996); Jay Crowley (1997); Tyler Blethen (1998); Olive E. Harris (1999, posthumously); Kathleen P. “Kay” Reis (2000); Loretta B. “Lori” Schaefer (2001); Ann and Warren Washburn (2002); Andrew Santos Sr. (2003); Eunice Manduca (2004); Annie Giberti (2005); A. Lee Hayes (2006); Horace “Hod” Kenney (2007); Margie Baldwin (2008), Jack Beck (2009), Dr. John Russell (2010), Jane McCarthy (2011), Nancy Braitmeyer (2012), Rodney Hunt (2013), Hanna Milhench (2014), Robbi Dunn-Tracy (2015).

– ROCHESTER: Joseph McCarthy (1994); Jean Fennell (1995); Katherine Hartley Church (1996); Chris Byron (1997); Albert Alderson (1998); Arthur and Aline Lionberger (1999); Kenneth E. Daggett (2000); Georgia D. Chamberlain (2001); Mary P. Wynne (2002); Evelyn F. Benner (2003); Mike Meunier Sr. (2004); Arthur F. Benner (2005); Pamela J. Robinson (2006); Anna E. White (2007); John E. Lafreniere (2008), Cathy Mendoza (2009), Kate Tarleton (2010), John Cobb (2011), Thomas Goyoski Jr. (2012), Kevin Woodward (2013), Kate Lanagan MacGregor (2014), Gordon Helme (2015).

Please send the name, address and telephone number of recommended nominees, along with a brief description of their key contributions to the community and why you feel they are deserving of this honor to: Keel Award, The Wanderer, P.O. Box 102, Mattapoisett, MA 02739, or e-mail your submissions to news@wanderer.com.

The deadline for nominations is Thursday, July 21 by 3:00 pm. Selected recipients will be announced in the July 28 edition.

ORR Class of 1964 Annual Summer Gathering

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The Old Rochester Class of 1964 will hold their annual summer gathering at noon on July 9 at Ned’s Point Lighthouse rain or shine. Classmates and friends are invited to bring a lawn chair and a bag lunch to catch up on the past year’s activities, reminisce about the good old days or just enjoy an afternoon of good conversation. If you are in the area, stop by as you never know who might show up.

Mattapoisett Lions Club Triathlon

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Sign up today for the Mattapoisett Lions Club Triathlon, a USAT-sanctioned, .25-mile swim in well-sheltered harbor, 10-mile bike ride on scenic county roads, and 5K run to ocean-front park and around Ned’s Point Lighthouse. Held on Sunday, July 10 at 8:00 am at the Mattapoisett Town Beach, Water Street, Mattapoisett, the entry fee is $70 early registration until July 1. After July 1, the fee will increase by $5. Register online at www.lightboxreg.com/mattapoisett-lions-triathlon or email mattlionsclub@gmail.com for registration form. Proceeds benefit Mattapoisett Lions Club charities.

Silvershell Beach Opening Day

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Silvershell Beach will officially open on Monday, June 20 at 9:00 am. Residents of Marion and Rochester can purchase beach access stickers from their respective town halls. Daily passes for non-residents are available at the gate for $10. Guards will staff Silvershell Beach seven days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm until late summer. In conjunction with this opening, Marion Recreation will also host its annual Opening Week Beach Party on Saturday, June 25 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with a free cookout with hot dogs, drinks, and chips for attendees.

Mattapoisett FD Responds to Boating Incidents

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Between Friday, June 10 and Sunday, June 12, the Mattapoisett Fire and Marine Rescue unit responded to several water-related incidents.

Friday found the first responders searching for a person yelling for help in the vicinity of Dyar Road near Mattapoisett Harbor. Chief Andrew Murray said in a follow-up interview, “Within seven minutes the fire rescue team had a visual on…” the 67-year-old man. He said the man was 400 to 500 yards off shore. He was transported back to the town’s wharf where the ambulance was waiting to treat the boater for hypothermia and exposure, Murray said.

Then came Saturday when, for the better part of the day, the department aided in the search of a missing boater. By Sunday morning, as hope faded that it would continue to be a rescue mission, the Mattapoisett FD continued to search.

The U.S. Coast Guard called off the rescue mission around 10:00 am.

Murray said he had not received any official information on the boater other than that the body was recovered near the Cape Cod train bridge spanning the canal, and that they believe the male boater went in the water between Wareham and Marion.

Also on Sunday around 10:45 am, Murray said the rescue boat responded to a call for help with the message the boat was taking on water off Ned’s Point. When the rescue team arrived at the location, they found the boater in the water clinging to his boat.

“It was a Boston Whaler. They don’t sink, but the boat was indeed filled with water,” Murray said. He also said the boater’s phone was in a waterproof case which allowed the person to place the 911 call, but that the 24-year-old male was not wearing a life jacket.

Of his department, Murray said, “We are pretty well prepared … the taxpayers support us.” He said that during an emergency as many as 34 responders may show up and that response times are generally around two minutes.

The department is made up of staff and volunteers who are all certified as first responders. Murray also said that he has three paramedics and nine EMTs on staff.

By Marilou Newell

Mattapoisett Woman’s Club Scholarship

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For over 60 years, the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club has been striving to help young people in their educational pursuits. This year, the Club is happy to award four scholarships to students from Old Rochester Regional High School.

The selected students are:

– Abigail Field, who will attend UMASS Dartmouth and major in History. She is the daughter of Robert and Kimberly Field.

– Serena Jaskolka, who will attend Worcester State to study communication science. She is the daughter of Cheryl McGuire and Christopher Jaskolka.

– Jane Kassabian, who will attend University of Notre Dame with an interest in Math. She is the daughter of Jay and Laurie Kassabian.

– Maggie Wiggin, who will attend College of the Holy Cross to study Political Science and Finance. She is the daughter of Amy and Kenneth Wiggin.

All four students possess excellent academic achievements, have done multiple community service tasks, and have participated in several extracurricular activities.

The Mattapoisett Woman’s Club especially thanks the community for its support of our Garden Tour which this year takes place on June 25 and “Taste of the Town” which takes place during Harbor Days. These fundraising activities make our scholarships possible.        Congratulations to Abby, Serena, Jane and Maggie.