logo
Seven high school sports takeaways from a Wednesday stocked with walk-off wins on the diamond

Seven high school sports takeaways from a Wednesday stocked with walk-off wins on the diamond

Boston Globe24-04-2025
1. Walk-off winners
Where to start? There was
Ben Dowdall's
two-run double to give West Bridgewater a 2-1 win over Case, and
Liv Moeckel's
two-run double that pushed Central Catholic to a 3-2 win over Chelmsford, Marblehead's
Tessa Francis
joined the party, doubling in the ninth for a 2-0 win over Danvers.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Tommy O'Donnell
rapped a walk-off hit for No. 4 BC High, which
Alex Rufo
delivered a walk-off single to beat St. John's Prep, 7-6, and
Chase Lepore
slapped the winner in Masconomet's 8-7 victory against Lawrence.
Advertisement
Baseball
Final (extra innings)
Needham 7
St Johns Prep 6
Walk off win for the Rockets !
— Needham HS Athletics (@NHSRockets)
On the lacrosse field, Masconomet's
Tony Giachinno
had both the tying goal late in regulation and the overtime winner, finishing with five goals as the Chieftains sent Marblehead packing with an 11-10 win.
2. Milestones
Apponequet senior
Abby Bradley
notched her 200th career goal during a five-goal, four-assist performance in a 19-0 win over Greater New Bedford.
Advertisement
King Philips senior
Makenzie McDevitt
did the same, scoring four times, including her 200th career goal, in a 17-10 win over Grafton. McDevitt is committed to Boston University.
Bridgewater-Raynham's
Emily Keefe
joined the 300-point club with a 5-point (4 goals, assist) day for the Trojans, who defeated Oliver Ames, 16-9, in the Trojan Classic.
Bridgewater-Raynham Girls Varsity Lacrosse:
Bridgewater-Raynham 16 Oliver Ames 9
April 23, 2025. The Bridgewater-Raynham Girls Varsity Lacrosse team won the Trojan Classic Championship as Bridgewater-Raynham's Emily Keefe had a monumental day in the win by getting her 300th…
— West Bridgewater News (@WBNewsFacts)
3. Three stars
Breanna Fontes
, Joseph Case — The senior carried a hot bat into a 25-0 win over West Bridgewater, homering and driving in seven runs.
Olivia Ormond
, Belmont — The sophomore delivered 14 strikeouts in a 2-0 no-hitter of Lexington, while her older sister, Amelia, provided two hits and scored a run in support.
Akiira'Ley Vazquez
, Greater New Bedford — The sophomore struck out 13 while recording her first varsity no-hitter, beating Fairhaven, 7-2.
4. Going, going, gone
Not content with one homer, Woburn's
Avery Simpson
and Nobles's
Laney Mead
both launched a pair of blasts on Wednesday, while Mead joined by teammate
Alexa Georgantas
, who also left the yard.
Related
:
Dighton-Rehoboth's
Emma Horrocks
and
Kylie Smith
went back-to-back in the fifth inning and Westport's
Lauryn Souza
and
Jayda Pequita
both hammered blasts. The rest of the day's round-trippers belonged to Braintree's
Luke Joyce
, BC High's
Jack Darcy
, Milton Academy's
Sadie Patel
, Haverhill's
Ava Moscaritolo
, and Pentucket's
Kam Bonneau
.
5. Daily lacrosse leaderboard
Goals
Sierra King
, King Philip, 8
Mikey Ferraro
, Bishop Feehan, 6
Jake Staples
, Haverhill, 6
Avery Valicenti
, Archbishop Williams, 6
Kenny Wisniewski
, Apponequet, 6
Abby Bradley
, Apponequet, 5
Tony Giachinno
, Masconomet, 5
Dexter Izzo
, Bishop Feehan, 5
Cooper Masso
, Bishop Feehan, 5
Ashley McLaren
, Bridgewater-Raynham, 5
Caitlyn Naughton
, Walpole, 5
Points
Wisniewski, Apponequet, 12
Will Levrault
, Apponequet, 11
Bradley, Apponequet, 9
Advertisement
Ferraro, Bishop Feehan, 9
Blake Masso
, Bishop Feehan, 9
King, King Philip, 8
Cece Levrault
, Apponequet, 8
Mason Thompson
, King Philip, 8
Masso, Bishop Feehan, 7
McLaren, Bridgewater-Raynham, 7
Will Carey
, Masconomet, 6
Emily Fleming
, Archbishop Williams, 6
Izzo, Bishop Feehan, 6
6. Daily strikeout leaderboard
Gabe Zuber
, Apponequet, 16
Maddie Grant
, Georgetown, 15
Olivia Ormond
, Belmont, 14
Tessa Francis
, Marblehead, 13
Akiira'Ley Vazquez
, Greater New Bedford, 13
Max Deroche
, Braintree, 12
Edy LaTour
, Dighton-Rehoboth, 11
Ellie Beigel
, Rivers, 10
Jordan O'Malley
, Salem, 10
Jag Garces
, West Bridgewater, 9
Billy Gavin
, Malden, 9
Sophia Hahn
, Nobles, 9
Anthony Herbert
, Bishop Fenwick, 9
Brayden Mercier
, St. John's (S), 9
Ava Moscaritolo
, Haverhill, 9
Max Silvia
, Peabody, 9
Zahgros Tanner
, Newton North, 9
Reese Taylor
, Apponequet, 9
Will Trach
, Shawsheen, 9
McCoy Walsh
, King Philip, 9
Here and there
Malden Catholic graduate
KC Ugwuakazi
, who played three years at Stoughton, announced he will be transferring close to home, shifting from East Texas A&M to Merrimack. The 6-foot-9-inch sophomore, who also played one season at Cheshire Academy, averaged 5.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 15 minutes per game in his second season with the Lions.
Letssss Worrkk MACK!!!
— KC Ugwuakazi (@KUgwuakazi)
Several teams took advantage of the April vacation week to travel together. Mansfield baseball stopped by the White House on Wednesday, while several of the 2024-25 state champions got to step on the field at Fenway Park.
The first stop of the day. The White House! Mansfield gets a quick picture of the front steps.
— Mansfield HS Hornets Baseball (@MHSHornetBASEBL)
Thank you
What an amazing experience!
— Medfield Athletics (@MedfieldAD)
State Champs recognized at Fenway tonight
— Brookline XC / T&F (@CoachMGlennon)
Brendan Kurie can be reached at
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Massachusetts school district nearly doubles athletic fees to $600 per sport
Massachusetts school district nearly doubles athletic fees to $600 per sport

CBS News

time6 days ago

  • CBS News

Massachusetts school district nearly doubles athletic fees to $600 per sport

Parents everywhere know it costs an arm and a leg to feed teenagers, and for Bridgewater-Raynham families, if their teens play a sport, they're about to spend almost double. "Both towns went out for an override and unfortunately failed in both communities. These are some of the unfortunate consequences now of a failed override we're having to face as a reality," explained Superintendent Ryan Powers. It's now going to cost $600 per student per sport - up from $360 before. The family cap has been eliminated, meaning it'll cost families thousands if siblings play multiple sports. "She's played volleyball, she's played soccer, she's played all different sports. It's going to discouraging if we don't get to see her play this year. I guess they're just going to have to cut back and decide which is their most important sport to play," one mother said. Students who play sports aren't the only ones impacted; these changes to the athletic fees are in addition to big cuts inside the classroom. "We're down about 20 positions at the high school. We're down about 40 electives from the past year. We essentially wiped out our entire business department, really preparing them not just for college and career but basic life skills about personal finance," Powers added. Powers said recent enrollment has increased by about 100 every year, filling middle and high school classrooms with up to 35 students. Parents worry these changes could mean less attention from teachers, and less time being physically active. "A lot of this is an outlet for kids, which is huge. Whether it be socially, mentally. That hurts a lot of kids hoping to get scholarships for college," a father said. Powers explained middle and high school sports and extracurriculars cost the district almost a million dollars. That breaks down to about $900 per student per sport, but the agreed upon $600 is to try to keep kids on teams without taking more resources from classrooms.

‘Deeper than football': Northwestern rallies behind suspended coach, Teddy Bridgewater
‘Deeper than football': Northwestern rallies behind suspended coach, Teddy Bridgewater

Miami Herald

time24-07-2025

  • Miami Herald

‘Deeper than football': Northwestern rallies behind suspended coach, Teddy Bridgewater

The scene outside of Miami Northwestern Senior High School on Thursday evening resembled a high school reunion — alumni dating back to the Class of 1970 donned blue and yellow t-shirts, passing out water bottles to one another to cool down from the heat. But instead of reminiscing about prom king and queen, these alumni were protesting, demanding that the school reinstate their football coach. And Miami Northwestern Senior High School has no ordinary football coach. 'Teddy [Bridgewater] means so much to this community, and it's deeper than football,' one of the protest organizers, Northwestern alum Nay Akins told the Miami Herald. 'It's about our future and our kids, everyone loves and appreciates [Teddy]. He brings hope and inspiration.' After retiring from the NFL in 2023, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater returned to his alma mater as head coach and transformed the program, helping bring the team the 2024 state championship. But in July 2025, the school suspended him for providing what the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) deemed 'impermissible benefits' to players. According to Bridgewater's own social media posts, he spent well over $100,000 during the 2024 season on Uber rides, pregame meals, and athletic recovery services, in addition to covering training camp costs and other essentials. Those benefits were not routed through the school's established programs, per FHSAA rules. Bridgewater self-reported his expenditures. According to the alumni, even after Bridgewater rejoined the NFL, coming out of retirement to sign with the Detroit Lions in December 2024, he also made sure to prioritize his hometown community. 'He's one of us,' Derrick Madry, a 1984 Northwestern alum. 'He could've gone anywhere in the world, but he chose to come back here,' Miami Northwestern Class of 1990 alum Felicia Pickard said. Pickard has three children, one of whom went to Miami Northwestern and graduated in 2021. 'The kids love him— they did phenomenal [when Teddy returned.]' The outpouring of love from the Miami Northwestern alumni was palpable on 71st Street in Liberty City, Miami. Many donned 'Coach Teddy, We Ready' t-shirts in the school's colors, drivers passing by rolled down their windows, honking and blaring music. Towards the end of the demonstration, a mobile billboard truck flashing 'Bring Teddy Back' and 'Reinstate Bridgewater' rolled by. But, according to Akins, Teddy's legacy at the school goes beyond football. Once he returned, more students worked towards college scholarships, the attendance rate for classes went up, and Miami Northwestern's graduation rate skyrocketed. He organized back-to-school and Christmas giveaways for students in need. 'A lot of people say [Teddy] left and came back, but truth be told, he never left,' Akins said. 'His heart and soul is here in the inner city.' In the early 2000s, Miami Northwestern was defined a 'dropout factory' from John Hopkins University in a study on student retention from freshman to senior year. From 2004-2006, the study found that only 41% of the entering freshman class graduated from Miami Northwestern. Now, that number is over 90 percent, according to US News and World Report. 'We need more male figures like him,' Akins said. 'If Teddy continued to be with these kids, we'd have 100 more Teddy's. After that, generations of Teddy's. It would bring this community to where it needs to be.'

Miami Northwestern football players ask school board to reinstate Teddy Bridgewater
Miami Northwestern football players ask school board to reinstate Teddy Bridgewater

Miami Herald

time23-07-2025

  • Miami Herald

Miami Northwestern football players ask school board to reinstate Teddy Bridgewater

During the public forum of Wednesday's Miami-Dade school board meeting, several football players from Miami Northwestern High asked the school board to reinstate the school's head football coach, Teddy Bridgewater. They told the board members about how much Bridgewater inspired and believed in them and how he turned the football team into a family. The former Miami Dolphins quarterback was suspended by his alma mater after he posted on social media that he paid for players' Uber rides, which is considered 'impermissible benefits' by the Florida High School Athletic Association's rules. Read more: Miami Northwestern suspends football coach Teddy Bridgewater for upcoming season 'He didn't just coach football. He taught us about manhood, discipline and character,' said Miami Northwestern football player Anthony Bell during the public comment portion of Wednesday's school board meeting. 'He gave us rides when we didn't have no way to get to practice and the way going back home. He made sure we had meals. He connected us with colleges we never thought we'd have access to. He's gone above and beyond. Not because he had to but because he wanted to. He used his platform as a former NFL player to shine a spotlight on our team and because of that we are finally being seen.' 'Please don't take away one of the few people that cares about our future.' Stephen Rivera, a barber who has been volunteering to offer haircuts to student athletes at Miami Northwestern, was in tears as he stood at the podium and spoke into the microphone about Bridgewater. 'Teddy is a true leader. He elevates and gives back the way he can. We should not be suspending him, but celebrating his efforts to give kids hope,' said Rivera. Bridgewater led Miami Northwestern back to prominence last season, guiding them to their first state title since 2019 and their ninth overall. Northwestern had gone 4-6 the previous season and missed the playoffs. Student athlete Amir Day said his team would not have won the championship without Bridgewater. 'Why suspend a coach for giving back to his team?' 'He is building up young men and teaching us our value,' added Day. School board member Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall thanked the speakers and said she was advised by the general counsel for the school district, Walter Harvey, not to comment further as an investigation is underway by the Florida High School Athletic Association. Bridgewater confirmed the suspension via a post on his Facebook page earlier this month. The post did not specify the length of the suspension, but according to a source connected to the South Florida football scene, Bridgewater will not be allowed to coach the Bulls this coming season. During the meeting several parents also took to the podium to ask that the school board investigate Miami Northwestern's booster organization. They accused the organization of misspending money donated to support the football team. 'How much money have they raised? Who has access to it? Where are receipts and invoices?' said Latoyah David, a parent. The Florida Board of Education has already reached out over the past week to Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Jose L. Dotres demanding Bridgewater's reinstatement. A petition was also started recently by Katherine Higgs-Palmer, a 1978 graduate of Miami Northwestern, on which has drawn over 2,300 signatures as of Wednesday night. 'According to multiple reports and firsthand accounts from students and parents, Coach Bridgewater's impact extends beyond the football field,' Higgs-Palmer wrote on the petition's website. 'His dedication to improving students' lives through education and personal mentoring is unparalleled. It's imperative to recognize that his presence is crucial in guiding our young athletes towards success, both in their sports and academic endeavors. 'By reinstating Teddy Bridgewater, we reaffirm our commitment to the values that have always made Miami Northwestern great: excellence, leadership, and community. In these trying times, his leadership is needed more than ever to steer our young athletes in the right direction and continue building a legacy of achievement and integrity.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store