DiPlatzi and Andino post double victories vs. Classical

Double victories by Paul DiPlatzi and Kristian Andino and sweeps in the long distance running events propelled the Revere High boys track team to a 70-57 win over Lynn Classical. The victory improves the record of coach Jack Mosco’s team to 3-4 on the season.

DiPlatzi garnered first place efforts in the shot put with a heave of 44-0 and in the discus with a spin of 129-2. Both throws were personal records (PR) for Paul. In addition, his shot put toss qualified him for the State Meet.

Andino triumphed in the 400 meter hurdles and the in 400 meter run. In the former event, Andino won with a PR of 66.3, which also sets the school record in this event, which is a new distance this year. (The former distance was 300 meters). In the 400 meter run, he crossed the tape in 59.1.

Mosco’s Patriots took all nine points in the mile and two mile events with 1-2-3 finishes. Alen Smajic led the way in the two mile in 11:30, followed by Anthony Cantone-Heinze in a PR of 11:56.4 and Brian Collins in 13:52.

John Driscoll crossed the tape first in the mile in 5:21, followed by teammates Nick DeMarco in 5:26 and Ernesto Bonilla also in 5:26, a PR for him.

Also adding five points to the Revere score sheet with first place finishes were Victor Galli in the 100 hurdles in 16.9; Brian Coniglio in the 800 in 2:12; and sophomore Vin DiChiara with a high jump leap of 5-6.

The 4×400 relay quartet of Coniglio, Smajic, Jon Tran, and Chris Panzini also scored five points with a win over their Classical rivals in that event.

Panzini added three points for the Revere cause with a second place effort in the 800 in 2:25, as did Galli in the 100 dash in 11.9. Third place points were contributed by Robert Mendes in the 100 hurdles in 19.1 and in the shot put with a heave of 31-.5; Rob Camley in the 400 run in 61.3; Bobby Crowe with a discus throw of 104-0; and Galli with a triple jump of 36-1.

“The team has been working hard and everybody is improving,” said Mosco. “The boys are setting a lot of personal records, which is what you want to see at this time of the year.”

Mosco and his crew were to conclude their dual meet season yesterday (Tuesday) against Peabody and then will compete in the NEC Meet Saturday.

Softball team tops Lynn English, 7-4

The Revere High softball team combined a fine pitching effort from Brianna Lauletta and timely hitting to earn a well-played 7-4 victory over Lynn English last week.

Lauletta went all the way on the mound for coach Joe Nichinello’s squad, allowing just seven hits and four runs (three earned) over the seven inning route. Brianna fanned two and didn’t walk a batter against a Lady Bulldog team that is fighting for a state tourney spot.

“Brianna’s had some tough luck on the mound this season,” said Nichinello, “but we gave her the support she needed both in the field and at the plate.”

The Lady Patriots erupted for four runs in the third inning, capped by a two-run homer by Ashley DiFraia. Senior captain Kelleigh Prince started the rally by reaching on an error and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lauletta.

The strategy worked to perfection as Jenna Carrabino came through with a base hit to plate Prince. After the speedy Jenna stole second, Kristina Gravallese came through with another hit to send Carrabino scooting home.

Ashley Di., who was three for four on the day, then swatted her roundtripper for a 4-0 Revere lead.

The Lady Patriots added a marker in the fifth, when Paige Licata singled, moved to third on a hit by DiFraia, and came home on a wild pitch with what ultimately would prove to be the winning run.

However, Revere tacked on two more in the seventh to provide some extra insurance for Lauletta. Licata singled, went to second on a passed ball, and scored on a base hit by DiFraia. After a base hit by captain Kristen DeCandia and a sacrifice bunt, a safety by Kat Prince delivered DiFraia to make it 7-4.

The Lady Patriots also played well in their two other contests of the week, but came out on the short end of 5-2 and 5-4 decisions to Beverly and Salem, who are the two top teams in the Large School Division of the Northeastern Conference.

In the Beverly contest last week, Licata had two hits and DeCandia stroked a pair of triples. “Kristen [DeCandia] has been an unsung hero for us all season,” said Nichinello. “She stepped up to play catcher when Nicole [Perullo] tore her ACL and has done a great job. She’s a great kid who has provided us with strong leadership, both on and off the field.”

In Monday’s tight loss to Salem, Nichinello started all of his seniors in the final home game of their RHS careers. Senior Kerri Roach enjoyed a banner day with three hits in four trips to the plate, including an RBI in the three run Revere fifth.

That rally began with a pair of bunt singles by Jess Simpson and Gravallese, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly by Kat Prince that plated Simpson.

A base hit by Licata scored Gravallese, and after a passed ball moved Paige up to second, Roach came through with her RBI hit.

Kerri also was involved in the first Revere tally in the fourth. Licata and she opened the inning with singles, and DeCandia brought in Paige with a sac fly.

Lauletta turned in another fine effort on the mound and deserved a better fate. She yielded seven hits, whiffed six, and walked only two, but only two of the five Salem runs were earned.

Nichinello and his crew are set to finish their 2009 campaign today (Wednesday) at Peabody.

Boys tennis team wins three matches

The Revere High boys tennis team enjoyed a highly successful week, winning all three of its matches to vault back into the running to qualify for a state tournament berth. Coach Mike Flynn’s charges, who now stand at 7-8 on the season, need victories in two of their final three matches this week in order to finish with the necessary .500 record that will punch their ticket for a Journey to the Tourney.

Two of the triumphs, over Lynn Classical and Beverly, were hardfought contests in which the Patriots edged their rivals by 3-2 scores. The third win, against Lynn English, was a 5-0 shutout in which Flynn was able to use some of his personnel at different places in the lineup.

In the win over Beverly, Kristi Kasuli was a victor in the No. 2 singles slot in a tough three set match, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Richie Leng at No. 3 singles also battled fiercely in a 6-4, 7-5 triumph. Leng’s match was the last to conclude on the day and thus proved to be the match winning contest for Revere.

The second doubles duo of Carlos Monroy and Francesco Tartaglia continued their consistent play this season to rack up another triumph against an Northeastern Conference opponent. Steaven Nguyen fought gamely at No. 1 singles, but fell by a close 4-6, 5-7 margin. The first doubles tandem of John Nguyen and Michael Truong came up on the short of a three set match.

In the 3-2 win over Classical, Kasuli at second singles, Leng at third singles, and Monroy/Tartaglia at second doubles all were victorious.

The 5-0 whitewashing of English saw Kasuli step up to the first singles spot from his usual second slot and John Nguyen move from first doubles to second singles.

Leng and Truong handled the chores at first doubles and the usual team of Monroy and Tartaglia did their thing at second doubles.

“We’ve really come a long way and I’m very proud of this team,” said Flynn, who noted that this year’s squad has improved over last year’s mark of 5-13. “For us to be in a position to qualify for the state tournament is quite an achievement.”

Flynn also mentioned that his tennis players not only excel on the court, but in the classroom. Three of his Patriots, Leng, Truong, and Monroy, are ranked in the top 10 in the Class of 2009. Truong is headed to Harvard and Leng to Brown University.

“This is just a great group of boys, and I’m very pleased that they can excel both in sports and in academics,” added the coach.

Flynn and his racketmen were set to be in action Monday at Salem and then will travel to Peabody today (Wednesday) and to Malden on Friday to conclude the 2009 season.

Girls tennis team shuts out English

The Revere High girls tennis team shut out Lynn English last week to keep their hopes alive for qualifying for a state tourney berth. Coach Carla Maniscalco’s Lady Patriots improved to 6-7 on the season and will need three victories in their final five matches, all of which will be played this week, in order to finish the year with the tourney qualifying .500 record.

Zerina Dervisevic led the way at the top of the ladder at first singles, topping her English counterpart in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Sabrina Sot at second singles and Elma Meskovic at No. 3 also were straight set winners by scores of 6-0, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-2 respectively.

The first doubles duo of Cleopatra Duque and Victoria Mauro dropped their first set, 5-7, but then roared back to overwhelm their English foes 6-0, 6-0 in the next two sets to win their match. The second doubles tandem of Donna Le and Carolina Zaneta won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.

“I’m very happy with the way the team has been working hard and getting better,” said Maniscalco. “We have a tough road ahead this week, but if we play our best, we have a good shot at making the tourney.”

The Lady Patriots began their quest for a Journey to the Tourney against Salem on Monday and Saugus yesterday (Tuesday). The Saugus match was a continuation of an earlier contest that was postponed on account of darkness with Revere leading in all of the matches.

Maniscalco and crew then will face Peabody today, Malden on Friday, and Beverly on Saturday in another make up of a rain cancellation.