Sports 04-06-2016

RhS sports Roundup

Weather permitting,  RHS softball, baseball teams ready for openers

Just when we thought that Mother Nature’s mild spring this year was a make-up call for last years’s horrible winter that wiped out most of the first two weeks of the 2015 spring sports season, she tossed a wicked curve ball this week with a snowstorm that has wreaked havoc with the start of the 2016 spring sports season.

The anticipated start of the year for Coach Joe Ciccarello and his Lady Patriot softball team was set for tomorrow (Thursday) at Malden, but with an icy, snow-covered field and a forecast for a 100 percent chance of rain tomorrow, the chances that the Lady Patriots will play ball are about zero.

Ciccarello and his crew next are slated to play Saturday morning at 11:00 at Everett. Next week they are scheduled to trek to Beverly on Monday and to Danvers on Wednesday.

“Our scrimmage Saturday was cancelled, and after such a mild winter, it’s starting to get frustrating not being able to get into a routine,” said Ciccarello.

Whenever the season does get underway, Ciccarello is looking forward to an exciting 2016 campaign that will feature a number of returning veterans in his lineup.

Senior Juliana Cecere will anchor the defense behind the plate. The veteran duo of Ally Hinojosa at shortstop and Gab Cammarata at second will provide solid experience up the middle of the infield.

Alina Giuliano at first base and Victoria Correia at third will hold down the corners. The outfield will feature senior Cheyenne Fullen in left, Vanessa Puopolo in center, and Tia Fichera in right.

Soph Gia Santeniello will be the team’s top pitcher and Olivia McManus will be the number two hurler. Elizabeth Lake, Sam Woodman, and Andrea Lauria will fill key roles as utility players.

As for the Revere High baseball team, which initially had been the last-to-start of the spring season, coach Shawn Brinkley and his crew now appear to have been prescient with a season-opening date set for Monday when the Patriots host Beverly.

Brinkley has 14 returnees from last year’s squad and has high hopes that his team’s overall experience will pay major dividends in the season ahead.

“The team has looked great so far in all respects,” enthused Brinkley, whose

team played well in a pre-season scrimmage against Woburn last week. The Patriots will be led by a trio of senior captains, Maxx Anderson, John DeSimone, and Dan Murphy. Hector Zevala returns at the all-important catcher position after an off-season of hard work and has shown that the is ready to take charge behind the plate.

The duo of James Furlong at second base, Oscar Zevala at short, and returning NEC all-star DeSimone in centerfield will anchor the Patriot defense up the middle.  Murphy, a three-year starter, will hold down the right field spot.

Other members of the varsity squad who will fit into the Patriot picture for 2016 are juniors Chris Anderson and Anthony Cecca, Christian Ordonez, Brian Muniz, and Nick Castellarin.

Brinkley will draw from a large number of players who will be counted upon to handle the chores on the pitching mound. Anderson, who also will play first base,  returns after a strong 2015 campaign, as does Oscar Zevala, who likewise will share the duties at first when not pitching.

Juniors Oscar Rudecindo, Vin DeGregorio, senior Andre Amato, and Jake Noftle also will be expected to log important innings when the team hits its busy stretches during the season.

Freshman Matt Cravotta, who has hit the ball well in the pre-season, has been impressive as an all-around baseball talent and will see action both on the mound and at third base.

“This team has outstanding leadership and an excellent attitude,” said Brinkley. “Experience is our strength and we’re looking forward to the start of the season.”

After Monday’s season-opener with Beverly at Tony Conigliaro Field, the Patriots trek to Danvers Wednesday.

RHS girls lacrosse team opens season

The Revere High girls lacrosse team inaugurated the 2016 spring sports season with a contest against North Reading this past Thursday.

Although the Lady Patriots came out on the short end of a 16-4 decision, coach Karen Atkinson saw some positive signs from her squad.

“There were quite a few great plays by our defense in the game,” said Atkinson, “but we just could not hold onto North Reading and they capitalized on our breakdowns.”

On the offensive end, freshman Lily DelloIacono, senior captain Amina Mansouri, and freshman Kiana Napolitano scored goals in the first half. Napolitano reached the back of the No. Reading net to notch her second goal of the contest at the end of the second half.

“We did not settle and run our offense, which ended up being detrimental to us in the game,” noted Atkinson. “We are a young, inexperienced team and we’re hoping to gain momentum this week when we play Winthrop and Saugus.”

The contest with the archrival Winthrop Lady Vikings was scheduled for yesterday (Tuesday) and the Saugus match is set for Friday. Both are home games on the turf at Harry Della Russo Stadium with the opening draw set for 4:00. Atkinson and her crew will host Swampscott Monday and Wakefield next Thursday.

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