Confident in its game plan, Winthrop boys' hockey smothers top-seeded Stoneham to reach Division 4 title game
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'We were very confident,' said Winthrop coach Dale Dunbar, whose team improved to 15-6-2. 'We know that if we play our game, we can play with anybody. The things we were concentrating on were structure and discipline. We knew they were chippy, we stayed out of it . . . We got to them early, which was our goal. We have a tendency to let teams hang around, and tonight we didn't.'
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The Winthrop student section waved goodbye to Stoneham at the end of a 5-1 Division 4 semifinal victory.
Brooke Abbott/Stoneham High School
First-period goals by Michael Holgerson and Joseph Pumphret made an early statement, and two second-period tallies from Boncore extended the lead. By the time Luke Githinji added Winthrop's fifth goal, there was a full-on party in the student section.
'Our town is incredible. It's a mile square, for God's sake. All of our sports teams — everybody rallies around them," Dunbar said. 'Our eyes are on that prize right now. If we play our game, we can do it. This is what it's all about, and I'm so happy for these kids.'
The Vikings will face fifth-seeded Dedham (15-8-0) in the championship game at TD Garden on March 16.
Stoneham junior captain Michael Taranto (7) consoles senior goalie Noah Dinan after the Spartans finished their season 17-7-0.
Brooke Abbott/Stoneham High School
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Boston Globe
03-07-2025
- Boston Globe
Best of 2024-25 high school sports photojournalism
The best of those from the year are on display below. Of special note, members of the Globe's Photo and Sports departments chose 16 images as the Best of the Best for 2024-25. Those pictures were taken by the following high school student photographers (listed alphabetically): Mia Chavez (senior, Beverly), Katie Fonden (junior, Westford Academy), Sam Hesketh (senior, Nashoba Valley Tech), Quentin Higgins (senior, Buckingham, Browne & Nichols), Shlok Kudrimoti (senior, Lynnfield), Sasha Libenzon (senior, Wayland), Valentino Flores Milian (sophomore, Everett), Daniel Murphy (senior, Melrose), Emily Olcott (senior, St. Bernard's), Teddy Overtree (sophomore, Hampshire Regional), and Laura White (junior, Algonquin Regional). Advertisement Below that, contributions from another 40-plus students are showcased, selected from the weekly photo galleries published as a complement to the Globe's online high school sports coverage in 2024-25. Thank you for your readership and support of this program. We look forward to highlighting more great student work in September. BEST OF THE BEST OF 2024-25 A Holliston player takes a moment while the Melrose boys' hockey team celebrates its 3-2 overtime win in the first round of the MIAA Division 3 state tournament on Feb. 26, 2025, at Kasabuski Arena in Saugus. Daniel Murphy/Melrose High School Hampshire's Kalin Dubay keeps an eye on the ball during a 10-1 win over visiting Frontier in the MIAA Division 4 softball quarterfinals on June 8, 2025. Teddy Overtree/Hampshire Regional High School BB&N sophomore Jonathan White goes above the Austin Prep defense during a 72-41 home victory on Jan. 11, 2025. Quentin Higgins/Buckingham Browne & Nichols Beverly senior Tristan Gold gets tossed during a dual meet with visiting Salem High on Dec. 18, 2024. Mia Chavez/Beverly High School Senior captain Dylan Harrington suffered a broken bat on this swing, but it didn't stop him from getting on base during Melrose's 10-0 victory over visiting Burlington on April 15, 2025. Daniel Murphy/Melrose High Bowen Morrison (left) and Owen Finnegan (right) go after Lincoln-Sudbury's Dominic Docanto during Wayland's 28-7 road victory on Oct. 10, 2024. Sasha Libenzon/Wayland High School Runners take flight during the 110-meter hurdles during the Spartan Invitational at Hampshire Regional on May 2, 2025. Teddy Overtree/Hampshire Regional High School Everett's Emilia Maria-Babcock drives during the fourth quarter of a 59-32 win over visiting Chelsea on Jan. 2, 2025. Valentino Flores Milian/Everett High School Wayland's Jillian Mele prepares to shoot during a 16-9 win over visiting Nipmuc Regional on May 16, 2025. Sasha Libenzon/Wayland High School Brockton's Lucas Andrade at the finish line of the boys' 55-meet hurdles at the 2025 New England Track Championships held March 1, 2025, at the Reggie Lewis Track. Andrade won in 7.22 seconds bettering his own week-old state record and breaking the 34-year-old meet record. Daniel Murphy/Melrose High School Ryan Kyle of Westford Academy soars in the long jump during Day 1 of the MSTCA decathlon at Regis College on June 9, 2025. Sam Hesketh/Nashoba Valley Technical St. John's (Shrewsbury) senior Seta Tah attempts to control the ball during a 2-1 loss at Leominster on Sept. 7, 2024. Emily Olcott/Saint Bernard's High School Melrose's Sabine Wenzel soars for a kill over Burlington defenders during a 3-0 home victory on Sept. 16, 2024. Daniel Murphy/Melrose High School Algonquin senior Benoit Skilton misses his attempt at 14 feet in the pole vault at the Division 2 Track and Field Championships on May 29, 2025, at Merrimack College. Laura White/Algonquin High School Junior Nick Degennaro shows his form in the boys' 100-yard butterfly, winning the race in 58.76 seconds. Degennaro helped Lynnfield/Wakefield defeat North Reading/Wilmington, 95-67, on Dec. 29, 2024, at the Torigian Family YMCA in Peabody. Shlok Kudrimoti/Lynnfield High School HONORABLE MENTION: BEST OF 2024-25 Members of the Natick Youth Soccer League cheer for Natick senior Joel Duarte after he scored the decisive go-ahead goal late in a 2-1 victory over visiting Dover-Sherborn on Oct. 4, 2024. Faisal Betti/Natick High School Dennis-Yarmouth junior Bryson Garcia is head-over-heels excited for his team to play visiting Dover-Sherborn on Sept. 27, 2024. Maeve Dolan/Dennis-Yarmouth High School Algonquin Regional assistant coach Molly Callaghan gets pushed into the pool after a double win at Boroughs YMCA in Westborough on Jan. 5, 2025. The Algonquin girls' beat Westborough, 92-76, while the boys' team won, 92-77. Laura White/Algonquin High School St. Sebastian's sophomore Solis Blue soars for a dunk during a 80-71 loss to visiting Taft on Dec. 19, 2024. Andrew MacDougall/St. Sebastian's Nantucket juniors Noah Stringer (left) and Arann Hanlon are walking on air after a goal during an 8-5 victory over visiting Ipswich in the MIAA Division 4 boys' lacrosse quarterfinals on June 8, 2025. Andrew Lavin/Nantucket High School Wayland's Cordia Wang flies toward the finish during a home cross-country meet with Bedford and Waltham on Sept. 25, 2024. Sasha Libenzon/Wayland High School Fairhaven's Justin Marques, who holds the state record for touchdowns, takes a moment during the national anthem before the Blue Devils defeated Swampscott, 42-13, in the MIAA Division 6 state semifinal at Milford High on Nov. 23, 2024. Sullivan Blanchette/Fairhaven High School Wilmington senior captain Matt O'Brien gets ready for a faceoff during a 4-1 win over South Shore Tech in a MIAA Division 4 boys' hockey tournament game on Feb. 27, 2025, at Breakaway Ice Center in Tewksbury. Dennis Reppucci/Wilmington High School Quabbin Regional senior Jordan Blanchard consults with the first base coach after getting a hit during a 12-1 loss to visiting Gardner on May 26, 2025. Maddy Hardy/Quabbin High School Nantucket senior Donte Brimm plays defense during an 80-77 loss to visiting Dennis-Yarmouth on Jan. 16, 2025. Jacob Heneke/Nantucket High School Rayford Adam (11) waits to press on defense during Pioneer Charter's season opener, a 64-47 loss to Boston United on Dec. 12, 2024. Joseph Ha/Pioneer Charter School of Science II Boston Latin's Vanessa Vu returns a drop shot to her foe from visiting Westford Academy during their match April 30, 2025. Alex Le/Boston Latin School Easthampton sophomore Jae'vian Lopez prepares for a faceoff during a 7-7 draw against Taconic on Jan. 4, 2025, at Lossone Rink. Teddy Overtree/Hampshire Regional High School Junior Vivien Savoie is all smiles after scoring her second goal in what would end in a 7-1 victory for the Stoneham-Wilmington girls' hockey team over Wakefield on Feb. 8, 2025. Brooke Abbott/Stoneham High School Westborough's Bree Sawicki celebrates stealing third during the Mid-Wach All-Star softball game on June 12, 2025, at Coolidge Park in Fitchburg. Ryan Guiel/Maynard High School Neither the rain nor the score could dampen the spirits of Genevieve Chan (left) and Brandon Hiduchick from the Beverly High School marching band during the football team's 40-14 loss to visiting North Andover on Sept. 21, 2024. 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Martin Ward/Pembroke High School Freshman Shane Monaghan celebrates with his teammates close behind after netting his second goal of the game in Bishop Feehan's 5-0 victory over Dartmouth at New England Sports Village in Attleboro on Jan. 25, 2025. Paige Berry/Bishop Feehan High School Catholic Memorial players mob sophomore Jack McCourt after his third-period goal in a 1-0 win over Pope Francis in a MIAA Division 1 boys' hockey state semifinal on March 9, 2025, at Tsongas Center in Lowell. Aidan Moroney/Concord-Carlisle High School The Catholic Memorial hockey team celebrates with its fan section after scoring a goal during its 4-3 win over St. John's (Shrewsbury) at TD Garden for the MIAA Division 1 state title on March 16, 2025. Emily Olcott/St. Bernard's High School The referee and the crowd at Somerset Berkley Regional anticipate a 3-point shot from Colton Pacheco during an MIAA Division 2 boys' basketball tournament game on Feb. 28, 2025. The host Raiders defeated Minnechaug Regional, 84-58, to advance. Calder Troutman/Somerset Berkley High School Bishop Feehan senior Charlotte Adams-Lopez rises for a layup during a 64-38 victory over visiting King Philip in an MIAA Division 1 girls' basketball quarterfinal on March 7, 2025. Paige Berry/Bishop Feehan High School Dennis-Yarmouth's Kourtney David goes airborne for her shot during an 18-4 win against visiting Sturgis Charter East on May 14, 2025. Hanna Thornton/Dennis-Yarmouth High School Concord-Carlisle sophomore Joe Grasso catches a pitch during the home opener, an 8-4 loss to Cambridge Rindge and Latin on April 9, 2025. Aidan Moroney/Concord-Carlisle High School Senior Kate Sullivan (right) fights off a Holliston defender for a loose ball in the fourth quarter of host Westwood's 6-0 win on Sept. 5, 2024. Zac Ventola/Westwood High School Algonquin junior Preston Biamou is pulled down during a 64-5 loss at Hanover in the MIAA Division 2 boys' rugby state semifinals on June 6, 2025. Laura White/Algonquin High School Destanee Soba of Nashoba Valley Tech avoids defenders during a game against Greater Lowell Tech on May 15, 2025, in Tyngsboro. Sam Hesketh/Nashoba Valley Technical Medfield's Sophie Baker heads for home during a 12-6 win over visiting Ashland on April 16, 2025. Lauren Smolko/Medfield High School Woburn senior Anthony Ciasullo clears a hurdle during a home track meet on April 16, 2025. Billy LaTores/Woburn High School Groton-Dunstable senior captain Jackson Fraser races to the finish line during the MIAA alpine ski championships at Berkshire East in Charlemont, Mass., on Feb. 25, 2025, Alisa Plotkin/Groton-Dunstable High School Quabbin Regional junior Mia Ducos dribbles down the court during a game against visiting Hudson on Feb. 7, 2025. Maddy Hardy/Quabbin High School Senior Immy Roberts readies herself for a serve during the first point of Westwood's 3-0 home-opening win over Holliston on Sept. 5, 2024. Zac Ventola/Westwood High School Westwood sophomore Will Stuehler stands behind the Medfield goal, silhouetted by the sunset, during an 18-11 home loss on April 17, 2025. Owen Ziegler/Westwood High School Grace Marchand and the Newton North girls' soccer team grabbed a 3-2 victory over visiting Weymouth on Oct. 23, 2024. Sam Danis/Newton North High School Maeve Fitzgerald of Amherst Regional goes for a 3-pointer during a 39-27 loss to visiting Holyoke on Feb. 5, 2025. Sophie Ziomek/Amherst-Pelham Regional Emmanuella Edozien, a junior from Natick, prepares for a semifinal heat of the girls' 60-meter hurdles at the New Balance Nationals held at the Track at New Balance in Brighton on March 15, 2025. Sam Hesketh/Nashoba Valley Technical Tewksbury's Emily Picher waits for the ball to cross midline during a 10-7 win over visiting Shawsheen on April 30, 2025. Khai Hieu/Tewksbury High School Senior captain Ana Sheedy stands before a tunnel of youth soccer players as she prepares to run out to meet her parents for Medway's senior night ceremony Oct. 22, 2024, prior to a 4-0 win over visiting Bellingham. Audrey Durgin/Medway High School Randolph's captains come out to midfield for the opening coin toss prior to a 28-12 victory over Nashoba Valley Tech in the MIAA Division 8 state semifinals on Nov. 23, 2024, at Wayland High School. Vanessa Taxiarchis/Wayland High School Natasha O'Brien receives flowers during Bishop Fenwick's Senior Day ceremony on May 17, 2025, before its game with visiting Peabody. Celia Lewis/Bishop Fenwick High School Players on the Medway bench cheer on their teammates during a 44-33 win over visiting Norton on Jan. 7, 2025. Katie Miller/Medway High School Griffin Weaver sneaks a peek over his shoulder during Beverly's 14-7 loss to visiting Peabody on Nov. 2, 2024, at Frank Forti Field. Mia Chavez/Beverly High School The Falmouth boys' lacrosse team took the field for a game against visiting Sandwich on May 21, 2025, just four days after classmate Ava Lodico was killed in a single-car accident following the school's prom. Kody Pokraka/Falmouth High School St. Sebastian's sophomore goalie Tommy Saulnier stands ready during what would be a 4-0 loss to visiting Northwood on Dec. 21, 2024. Andrew MacDougall/St. Sebastian's The Somerset Berkley basketball team poses with the Division 2 state championship trophy following its 65-44 victory over Malden Catholic on March 16, 2025, at Tsongas Center in Lowell. It was Somerset Berkley's first state title in 71 years. Bryson Cain/Somerset Berkley High School John Vitti can be reached at
Boston Globe
15-06-2025
- Boston Globe
In Division 4, airtight defense and a freshman hurler lead Millbury to first baseball title in 41 years
In fact, that is what it took. After surrendering two runs in the first inning, Millbury freshman righthander Ryan Nikiforow hurled a complete game with five strikeouts for to earn the No. 5 Woolies a 3-2 victory in the Division 4 championship. After some first-inning nerves, Nikiforow settled down and only allowed five hits the rest of the afternoon at Polar Park. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up FINAL: No. 5 Millbury 3, No. 2 Lynnfield 2 Complete game for freshman RHP Ryan Nikiforow with five strikeouts. Alex Havalotti (1 for 2, 2 RBIs, walk) and Nolan Orzechowski the leaders on offense for Story to come — Graham Dietz (@graham_dietz) Advertisement 'Early in the season, we struggled a little bit,' Nikifrow said. 'We started 3-4 and then went on to win 18 of our last 19. Our bats really came around the best they have all season. But our pitching, as it has all season, just shut it down.' The key moment occurred in the bottom of the sixth with No. 2 Lynnfield (20-5) desperately searching for how to manufacture a hit off Nikiforow. With two outs, Matthew Tracy belted a Nikiforow fastball to left field. Related : Backpedaling and turning on a dime to track the ball, senior outfielder Chris Havalotti jumped and the ball landed directly in the tip of his mitt to end the inning. Advertisement 'I just love Ryan on the mound,' Havalotti said. 'No doubt in my mind, every time he's out there, we all always know that we're going to have a guy who doesn't pitch into holes. He's going to have a bright future ahead of him.' Every run of the game was scored in the first inning, as Nolan Orzechowski (1 for 3, RBI) roped a single to left field to score Millbury's first run and Alex Havalotti (1 for 2, 2 RBIs, walk) lifted a two-run single to give the Woolies (20-4) an early 3-0 advantage. Mid-1 | 3-0 Millbury Nolan Orzechowski lifted an opposite-field RBI single to put the Woolies on the board first, and a two-RBI single for Alex Havalotti increased their lead. Video of Orzechowski's single below. — Graham Dietz (@graham_dietz) Madux Iovinelli and Luke DiSilvio — who also pitched the entire game and recorded nine strikeouts — each registered an RBI in the bottom of the frame. 'I told these kids, you know, they'll put signs up in town saying 'State Champions 2025,' ' Silvestri said. 'In 15 to 20 years, when they're driving through, you can tell your kids 'I was on that team.'' Millbury hoists the MIAA baseball trophy for the first time in 41 years. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe It was all high-fives and hugs after Millbury captured the Division 4 baseball championship. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Millbury scored all three of its runs in the first inning, then held on to claim the trophy. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Millbury's Ryan Nikiforow pitched a complete game, striking out five and finishing with six scoreless innings. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Millbury players take the MIAA trophy over to the stands to share with family and friends. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe An emotional day at Polar Park ended with Millbury as Division 4 state champions. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe
Boston Globe
14-06-2025
- Boston Globe
With bat and glove, freshman Alyana DeJesus seals a Division 4 three-peat for Joseph Case softball
Then, with two outs and the tying run on second in the top of the seventh, DeJesus secured the final out at shortstop to seal Case's 7-6 win in the Division 4 softball championship game at Worcester State. For a third-straight season, Joseph Case was hoisting a trophy. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe The win gave the Cardinals (19-6) their third consecutive state championship, and marked their second-straight year topping Tyngsborough in the final. 'This definitely was the hardest of the three [to win],' said Case coach Shannon Silva. 'This entire season was a grind. We had some young players fill some important roles this year, and it took a little bit to figure it out . . . today's game, with a freshman coming up with a game-winning home run, it's just a testament to them never giving up.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up D4 FINAL: Joseph Case 7, Tyngsborough 6. After Tyngsborough plated one run in top of the 7th, Syndney Haslam grounds out with the tying run in scoring position to end it. In an absolute thriller, Case has won their third consecutive D4 state championship. — Matty Wasserman (@Matty_Wasserman) Advertisement Fresh off a one-hit gem in Thursday's semifinal win over Hampshire, Case sophomore Lila Alvarez allowed four earned runs and stuck out 12 against the talented Tigers (20-5). Tyngsborough opened the scoring in the second on junior Kaelyn DiMento's two-out, two-RBI single, and went back in front 3-2 in the fourth on sophomore Carly Smith's solo home run. But each time the Tigers punched, the Case offense answered against Hogan, a junior committed to Boston University. Related : Advertisement With two outs in the fourth, Cardinals senior Breanna Fontes gave Case a 4-3 lead with a two-run single to center. Two pitches later, junior Meghan Pereira doubled to bring Fontes home and put the Cardinals ahead, 5-3. 'The thing about our team that is so extremely special, is we are never down,' Fontes said. 'You can never count us out, no matter how bad we are playing or how bad you think we are. We are always about to come back.' Joseph Case center fielder Meghan Pereira was fired up after her second diving catch of the game. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Down by two runs in the seventh, Tyngsborough freshman Adrianna Arsenault narrowed the gap with a two-out RBI to make it 7-6. But with the championship hanging in the balance, Alvarez induced a groundout to DeJesus at shortstop to end it with a runner in scoring position. 'It felt great to come through for my team and pick them up throughout the game,' DeJesus said. 'We just all worked so hard for this.' Sophomore Lila Alvarez struck out 12 for Joseph Case. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Joseph Case center fielder Meghan Pereira (right) celebrates an inning-ending diving catch with teammate Skye Dupre. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Joseph Case's Alyana DeJesus watches her go-ahead home run leave the field at Worcester State. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Kiley Hogan, who is committed to Boston University, took the loss for Tyngsborough. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Matty Wasserman can be reached at
