Thursday, March 29, 2007 Older Editions

SPRING VARSITY PREVIEWS: At last, it's springtime for varsity

By Rick Harrison

Today the Townsman begins previews of Andover High varsity sports teams for the 2007 spring season with looks at baseball, softball, boys volleyball, boys tennis and girls lacrosse.

BASEBALL

Opposing Merrimack Valley Conference coaches are practically unanimous in their unqualified praise of the 2007 Andover High varsity baseball team.

"They have more pitching than they probably know what to do with," said 28th-year Dracut High skipper Hank Golec.

"All five Division 1 schools are incredibly strong this year," added Tewksbury High's Ron Drouin in his 14th season as Division 2 Redman head man.

Chelmsford High's 11-year vet Mike O'Keefe - whose Lions handed AHS one of its two regular season losses last spring - added that "if any one of us has a slight edge it would have to be Andover. They seem to do it (excel) almost every year."

It's hard to argue against the Golden Warriors, three-time reigning MVC Division 1 champions who return seven starters and four other lettermen from a team that finished 19-3 overall last spring including 18-2 during the regular season.

AHS head coach Ken Maglio, in his 37th season overall with the program and 15th as head man, and his capable staff (all ex-AHS standouts) have whittled down an original cast of 76 candidates to what is potentially one of the best high school teams in Massachusetts.

"Our biggest strengths are pitching, catching and the outfield," noted Maglio. "But we graduated four outstanding infielders - and the biggest job in the pre-season is trying to replace four-year starter and All-Conference shortstop Paul Malaguti, third baseman Greg Carroll and second baseman Andrew Hennessy."

In addition to that talented trio, other grads and top contributors last spring were pitcher Myke Fortier, first baseman Kyle Morander and pitcher Tom White.

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Heading the list of veterans are senior Capts. Dan Godefroi, Kevin Calabro and Doug Hawkins.

Lefty pitcher/centerfielder/switchhitter Godefroi, recuperating from an ankle injury while playing for the State Division 2 finalist boys hockey team, was 8-0 on the mound last year with a miniscule 0.40 ERA. He has more than 20 career wins and also batted .419 with 31 basehits in 2006.

Pitcher/leftfielder Calabro went 3-0 with a 2.51 ERA and batted .371 with 23 hits.

Catcher Hawkins laced 20 hits and defensively recorded 137 putouts and 18 assists behind the plate.

Other returning starters are junior rightfielder P.J. Farnham, senior outfielder Kyle Lightner, senior pitcher Tim Hoffman and junior outfielder/ first baseman Mike Pierce.

The speedy Farnham batted .338 with 26 hits and a team-high 27 stolen bases, while late-inning specialist Hoffman posted four saves and a 3.18 ERA as the team's closer.

Additional lettermen from a club that closed last season with a four-game win streak before beating Lowell, 1-0, and losing to Peabody, 11-8, in the Division 1 North Tournament are junior third baseman/pitcher Sam Clark, senior catcher Matt Reidy, senior shortstop/pitcher Ken Masse and junior infielder/DH Mike Taylor.

Heading up a list of 13 promising newcomers on a 24-player roster are two seniors, first baseman/DH John Brody and Sean McNiff.

Other juniors are third baseman Zach Burdeau, outfielder Shawn McDermott, catcher Mike Morander, infielders Max Nolin, Ryan Walsh and Kevin Hitchko.

Sophomore prospects are first baseman Steve LaFortune and pitcher/outfielders Shawn Carlson and John Farrell.

Freshmen who might see some varsity time are shortsop/second baseman John Hennessy and outfielder Chris McConnell.

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Andover also won the early-season Wakefield Invitational Tournament last spring, beating Saugus 12-0 in the semifinals and host Wakefield 5-2 in the title game, and the late-May Lawrence Invite with consecutive romps over North Andover, 12-0, and Tewksbury, 8-2.

The only regular season losses in 2006 were to Chelmsford, 4-2, and Methuen, 7-5 in nine innings to snap a 10-game win streak.

Pre-season scrimmage games, field conditions permitting, are scheduled against Malden Catholic and North Andover (twice each), Waterford, Conn. High and Nashua, N.H. North.

The Golden Warriors are not in the Wakefield Tournament but will return to the six-team Lawrence Invitational the weekend of May 26-27.

The regular season opener is Tuesday, April 10 at non-league Cambridge Rindge & Latin (3:45 p.m.).

The MVC lidlifter is the following day at home versus Methuen (3:30).

Home games will again be played at Peter Aumais Park.

Other non-leaguers are against Masconomet Regional of Topsfield twice (home April 17, away May 19), St. Peter-Marian (home, May 16) and a second game with CR&L (home, May 22).

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Maglio kicks off the campaign with an overall career won-lost record of 209-106 for a solid .664 percentage.

Kevin Rourke returns as varsity assistant coach, Dan Grams as junior varsity coach and Rich Robinson as freshman coach.

Volunteer varsity assistants are Dave Blank (pitchers) and Leo Gravell.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Scary.

That's how good the 2007 Andover High girls lacrosse team is.

With more than 80 percent of the players returning from an 18-3 team, including one of the highest scorers in Massachusetts lax history, the Lady Warriors are legitimate threats to challenge for a state title this spring.

"We have a great nucleus," said third-year coach John McVeigh, whose first two AHS teams have combined for a sensational 37-5 won-lost record (19-2 in 2005) and captured a pair of Merrimack Valley Conference championships. "We are blessed with some of the best players they've ever had here.

"Our four senior captains, all of whom will play college lacrosse next year, are exceptionally skilled. Not only are these girls extremely talented - they play well together and are outstanding leaders.

"They've inspired the younger players to new heights - with most of the underclassmen returning in good shape and much more knowledgeable about the game," said McVeigh. "They did a lot of off-season work.

"We have excellent team speed at every position. We've had that the past three years and it's something we've become known for."

Key graduates were defender Jessie Ragnio, now playing at Stonehill College, goalie Leslie Barber (attending UMass Amherst), midfielder Ally Brown, defender Amy Boxell and defender Kate Denison.

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There were 80 candidates for the varsity, JV and freshman teams, led by nine players who started for the varsity at some point last spring.

The list is headed by those four senior captains: midfielder and scoring machine Rachel Fox, fellow midfielders Lindsay Hegarty and Briana Gross and versatile Kelsey Eriksen who is equally at home as an attack, midfielder or defender.

Fox, one of the most prolific scorers in the entire state, holds all AHS single-season and career scoring records for goals, assists and total points.

She will play for two-time reigning national women's lacrosse champion Northwestern University next spring, having accepted a full scholarship to the NCAA powerhouse in Illinois.

Hegarty has signed a Letter of Intent to UMass Amherst, Gross is headed to Bates College in Lewiston, Maine and Eriksen is likely bound for Canada to play for either McGill University in downtown Montreal or Queens College.

Other veteran starters include junior attack Jess Forster who, like Fox, is coming off a strong indoor track season, junior defenders Kelly Driscoll and Jordy Shoemaker, sophomore attack Heather Sullivan and sophomore utility player Catherine Gross.

Junior defender Katelyn Caro played as a freshman and returns after sitting out all last season with a shoulder injury.

Additional letterwinners are junior midfielder/defender Ilana Cohen, expected to grab a starting spot this year, senior attack Lauren Martin, junior attack Jenn Quinlan, junior defender Erica Leber and sophomore attack Emily Blech.

Seven varsity newcomers round out the roster, junior attackers Liz Sherman and Christina Saccone, sophomore defenders Jenn Johnson and Katie Shields, sophomore goalie Abby Cook, freshman attack Jackie Pelletier and frosh goalie Tameka Geaslen.

"One thing we don't have is experience in net," said coach McVeigh. "In lacrosse goalie can be a defining position. We're untested there and have to see where we stand. Both Abby and Tameka are working hard, have shown a lot of improvement in a short time and both have solid potential.

"After just over a week of practice I can say with confidence the group as a whole is a great bunch of kids. They're incredible and it's going to be fun to coach them," said McVeigh.

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The Lady Warriors took part in a Play Day last weekend in Westwood where they faced several perennial girls' lax powers including defending state champ Framingham, Westwood and Hopkinton High.

Yesterday (Wednesday), AHS scrimmaged 2006 New Hampshire Class L finalist and '05 state champ Nashua South.

The regular season kicks off next Monday at home against MVC rival Tewksbury, and continues with two more games on consecutive days at home versus non-league Winchester (Tuesday) and at Tyngsboro (Wednesday).

"We're jumping right in with three games in three days," said McVeigh.

As the Townsman went to press, the times for many games were unknown because they were being shifted from afternoon to night under the lights on the turf at Lovely Field.

"We've gone out of our way to put together by far the strongest non-league schedule our program has ever had," said McVeigh. "I added up last year's cumulative wins for all those (non-league) teams and the number is astronomical."

In addition to Winchester, other non-leaguers are against Needham, Masconomet Regional of Topsfield, Acton-Boxboro, North Andover, Framingham, Norwell (twice) and Ipswich.

Framingham handed Andover its only two losses in 2005, while Needham (15-14) and Norwell (10-7 after Andover led 6-2) defeated the locals last spring.

AHS nipped Acton-Boxboro, 11-8, in its 2006 tourney opener before bowing to Lincoln-Sudbury, 16-14, in the second round.

Masco also played the Lady Warriors tough (13-9).

"We're scheduling these powers because we respect them and we can learn from them," said McVeigh. "And I know people respect us as a program and want to test us.

"As we start the season our focus is on short-term goals, taking each game as it comes. The schedule will prepare us to play everybody and hopefully help us have success in the tournament."

While AHS is a prohibitive favorite to win the MVC again, McVeigh looks at traditional tourney qualifiers Billerica and Chelmsford to also be very competitive.

"The league is getting stronger each year," noted the coach. "Billerica and Chelmsford always have multi-sport athletes. Those are the conference teams that don't back down against us. They aren't intimidated."

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Kathy Crowley is the Lady Warriors' new varsity assistant coach, Beth Arnold returns as JV coach and Sheila Salois is the new freshman skipper.

SOFTBALL

Two huge keys to the success of any softball or baseball team are pitching and defensive strength up the middle.

Andover High appears to have both ingredients this spring, with six starters returning including the No. 1 pitcher from last year, the catcher and the shortstop.

That's the kind of nucleus that has 11th-year head coach Stephanie Ragucci feeling pretty confident the 2007 Lady Warriors can improve on last season's 10-11 record and early exit from the Division 1 North Tournament.

After starting out 3-6 last year, AHS turned its season around by going 7-4 in the second half and posting shutout wins over Methuen (2-0) and Notre Dame Academy of Tyngsboro (20-0) in two of the final three regular-season games to qualify for the MIAA Tournament for the ninth straight season.

The locals then dropped their tourney opener 4-1 to Everett, the same Crimson Tide crew they nipped 3-2 in late April and will open the current campaign against next Thursday afternoon on the road.

"We have a lot of experienced varsity players," said coach Ragucci, "including a pitcher who's been in the program four years, a catcher who's a third-year starter, three of four infield starters and an outfielder.

"We only have to fill three spots and I'm thinking we're going to be OK.

"We have better team speed than usual - with a couple of very quick new kids - and a solid No. 2 pitcher," said Ragucci. "We had quite a few freshmen on the JV team last year and that bodes well for the future."

Ragucci is hoping the offense improves. Last year the locals were shut out five times, scored one run in three other games and managed more than three runs only six times in 21 games.

The major graduates last spring were second baseman and all-around athlete Maria Nasta, now playing collegiate ice hockey, centerfielder Emily Cummings (freshman member of the Merrimack College softball squad), outfielder Kerry Haugh (field hockey at Springfield College) and outfielder Sydny Layne (attending school in Indiana).

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Heading the list of 10 returning letterwinners are the six starters, senior pitcher and Capt. Katie Anderson, senior catcher Becky Cairns, senior shortstop Allie Navarro, junior third baseman/second baseman Trish Martin, sophomore first baseman Kerry McCarthy and senior outfielder Tamar Brady.

Anderson, who succeeded Caitlin Carpentier (Marist College) as the ace of the staff last spring, held 10 opponents to three or fewer runs while handling most of the mound work.

"It's nice to have our battery (catcher Cairns) back - and the infield defense should be solid," said Ragucci.

Bolstering the list of veterans are four other letterwinners, senior outfielder Molly Hanlon, versatile junior utility player Nina Yu who backs Cairns at catcher and can play anywhere, junior shortstop/third baseman Rachel Licciardi and junior pitcher Kathleen Cheney who gave Anderson an occasional day off in 2006.

Completing the 15-player roster are five varsity newcomers, sophomore third baseman Alex Strock, senior second baseman Kaleigh Biles who was elevated from the JV team late last season, senior centerfielder Kerry Gage, sophomore outfielder Megan Pettoruto and sophomore infielder/outfielder Jeanette Doucette.

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The Collins Field House gives Andover a slight advantage over many other schools who lack a similar facility.

While many teams were holding early practices in gyms or parking lots - because of wet, snow-covered fields - AHS was able to use soft leather balls for an indoor scrimmage last weekend against perennial New Hampshire Class L power and multiple-time state champion Salem.

"Considering how strong Salem is every year, our performance was encouraging," said Ragucci. "I think we got a lot out of it."

AHS also scrimmages Peabody tomorrow (Friday) and opens the season with the aforementioned non-league game at Everett next Thursday (4 p.m.).

A non-league game with Merrimack Valley Conference Division 2 power Tewksbury is scheduled Monday, April 9 at Antonelli Memorial Field in Tewksbury, and a third non-leaguer with Cape Ann League member North Reading will serve as the home opener Wednesday, April 11 at 4 p.m.

The first conference game is at Methuen on Friday the 13th of April (3:30).

Other non-league contests are April 16 at home versus Amesbury, and the annual four-team Methuen Invitational Tournament May 25-26. AHS will battle host Methuen in the semifinal round.

"In the league it should be 'same-old, same-old' with Tewksbury again strong on our side and both Chelmsford and Lowell (2005 state champ) the teams to beat in Division 1," said Ragucci.

"Haverhill has an outstanding sophomore pitcher and Lawrence always gives us trouble. This is probably the strongest league top-to-bottom in the state year-in and year-out."

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Ragucci, a graduate of Woburn High and MIT who played softball for the Tanners and Engineers, enters the season with an AHS career won-lost record of 110-101 including 107-84 the past nine seasons.

Betty Iannuccilli returns as JV coach, Meghan Matson is the first-year freshman coach and Steve Tisbert is a varsity assistant.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

The deck would seem to be stacked against the 2007 Andover High varsity boys volleyball team.

The Golden Warrior netmen graduated eight seniors last spring, including every member of the starting lineup, and reports are that an already-strong league is even tougher this spring.

A lesser group, faced with such a daunting task, might be tempted to write off this spring as a learning experience rather than an interesting challenge.

The locals, however, are thinking seriously about another Division 1 North Tournament berth and the possibility of challenging for a league championship.

"I believe this is the first time in 20 years we've graduated all our starters," said veteran head coach George Sullivan. "But, in spite of the odds, I think we'll click.

"While it's definitely classified as a 'building year,' how well we end up doing will depend on how quickly we gel.

"We've had teams in the past that were not expected to do much - but ended up winning league titles and going far in the tournament. Time will tell about this group," said Sullivan.

"The league (Merrimack Valley Conference) is very tough - and a lot of teams now have kids that play volleyball all-year round.

"We have a lot of underclassmen (six juniors, two sophomores, one freshman) - but we still could be stronger at several positions."

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Graduates from last year's team, which finished 11-8 overall including a 3-1 tourney-opening loss to MVC rival Chelmsford, were Luke Bruno, Darren McRoy, Alex Levine, Mike Gianopoulos, Tyler Carroll, Nick Assad, Jerry Mohan and Jake Stamas.

McRoy and Gianopoulos were the top setters, Bruno and Mohan the middle hitters, Assad, Stamas and Levine the outside hitters and Carroll a defensive standout.

The three returning lettermen among an original turnout if 31 candidates are junior middle hitter, year-round player and Capt. Josh Bruno, senior back-row defender and Capt. Pat McGovern and junior outside hitter John-Henry Heckendon.

Varsity newcomers elevated from last year's JV squad are senior defenders Greg James and Jeff Kohr, junior middle hitters Garrett Kent and Gary Hinds, junior setter Kyle Butler and sophomore defender Tom Busta.

First-year players are freshman setter Andrew Osborne, sophomore middle hitter Matt Washburn, junior hitters Taylor Crocker, Chris Long, Devan Mullen and senior hitter Oliver Han.

"Osborne has good hands (quick and soft), which are essential for a setter, and Washburn is another excellent prospect at 6'4" with good athleticism," said Sullivan.

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Sullivan, who enters his third decade as AHS coach, sports a 254-124 overall won-lost record (.672 winning percentage).

His teams have chalked up nine MVC titles, qualified for the Division 1 North Tournament 17 of 19 years, tucked away five North titles (the last in 1995), reached the state semifinals five times and the state championship match once in 1995 where the locals lost to New Bedford.

Sullivan looks to perennial power St. John's Prep of Danvers as the team to beat in MVC 1, while Central Catholic and Lawrence High should also have strong squads.

The Golden Warriors hosted a seven-team, pre-season Play Day last weekend at the Dunn Gym which included St. John's Prep, Lawrence, Chelmsford, Haverhill, Methuen and Central Catholic.

A second Play Day featuring eight schools is set this Saturday at the Dunn with Newton South, Milford, Phillips Academy, Dracut, Haverhill and Lawrence among the participants.

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The opening dual match for Andover, which won four of its final five regular season matches last year (Billerica, Lowell, Dracut, Haverhill), is next Wednesday night, April 4, at home against Methuen (7 p.m.).

The locals will also play at Lowell in another MVC match next Thursday (5 p.m.).

Non-league opponents are Dual County League members Wayland (April 20, home) and Newton South (2:30 p.m., home).

Dave Kuykendall returns as JV coach.

BOYS TENNIS

This spring should once again prove the reservoir of tennis talent in the town of Andover may never run dry.

Even though five of seven regular starters graduated from last year's 17-2 Merrimack Valley Conference champions (14-0 league record), the Golden Warriors are once again prohibitive favorites to dominate the MVC and potentially progress deep into the Division 1 North Tournament.

Last year the locals wasted Beverly (5-0) and Chelmsford (4-1) in the tourney before bowing to Dual County League Acton-Boxboro (4-1) in the North semifinals.

"We graduated our second and third singles players, both first doubles and half of second doubles," said veteran coach Mike Wartman, who begins his 23rd season at the helm. "But we still return a strong lineup and - as deep as we were last season - we have as much depth now as ever."

Once again, a big "ouch!" to all MVC opponents.

Gone from the 2006 squad are Jerry Hogan, now playing tennis as a freshman at Skidmore College, Eric Krupnik (attending UMass), Julian Vastl (Boston College), Seth Johnson (Colby), Seth Davidovits (Columbia) and Jim Conway (BC).

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Heading the list of returners is one of the best players in the state, ultra-talented two-year No. 1 singles Dave Adams.

Adams, only a junior, has lost just one MVC match in two seasons and last year went undefeated in team matches until losing to his Acton-Boxboro counterpart in the MIAA tourney finale.

Another top varsity returner is senior Capt. Steve Ochs, All-Conference at No. 2 doubles last spring and ready to switch to singles in 2007.

Other veterans, all of whom cracked the starting lineup at times and will bounce between doubles and singles, include senior Capt. Rustin Zarkar and fellow seniors Greg Boumil, Jason Sabourin (formerly Dashtpeyma), Rohit Sangal and sophomore Eric Heath.

Heath stepped in at No. 3 singles in several matches last year.

Additional lettermen, who will likely play doubles, are senior Alex Liu and juniors Phil Johnson, Jason Lasser, Josh Mack and Adam Trotta.

Senior letterman Ryan Frerichs ia also back but unable to play after undergoing knee surgery.

"Ryan will be with us all season," said Wartman, "helping out in various capacities like an assistant coach."

Completing the 18-player roster are sophomore Corey Frerichs and five freshmen, Jeff Birenbaum, Shane Huggins, Nitin Mahesh, B.J. Merinder and Randy Sartor.

Challenge matches are ongoing throughout the pre-season to determine who plays and at what position in the lineup.

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The regular season, weather permitting, will start next Monday, April 2, at home against neighboring non-league power North Andover of the Cape Ann League (3:30 p.m.).

The MVC opener is next Wednesday at Billerica (3:30).

The strong non-league schedule also includes Reading (April 5, home), Newton South (May 3, away) and St. John's Prep of Danvers (May 7, away).

The North Sectional Individual Tournament is scheduled for consecutive weekends beginning May 12-13.

Coach Wartman believes Chelmsford, which lost No. 1 singles Alex Loyer but returns No. 2 Caleb Klick, will provide solid MVC opposition.

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Last year marked the third straight and 18th MVC title overall for AHS boys tennis teams coached by Wartman.

There have been tournament appearances all 22 years and an overall record of 374-53, for a spectacular .876 winning percentage, including 323-14 in conference matches (.959).