Archive - Sports Article
April 11th, 2013
PAWTUCKET â It was clear that David Ortiz was in no mood to stroll down memory lane.
Asked if he felt a touch of nostalgia upon returning to McCoy Stadium for the first time since the memorable three-game show he put on during the summer of 2008, the Red Sox slugger offered a wry smile. After being down for so long, itâs clear that Ortiz is using his rehab stint with the PawSox as a prime opportunity to make up for lost time.
âBeen a while, huh? Yeah, man, just coming down here to get some at-bats and get that engine going,â said a succinct Ortiz.
PAWTUCKET â As if enough confidence wasnât radiating from Jose Iglesias already, the shortstop was privileged enough to spend part of his Thursday afternoon with a noteworthy batting practice partner.
About two hours prior to first pitch, David Ortiz emerged from the clubhouse to get a few on-field swings. Fighting through the crowded wall of TV cameras and microphones, Iglesias had every intention of stepping in the cage the moment Ortiz needed a breather.
Iglesias may have been at McCoy Stadium, but it was clear that the big leagues were still on his mind.
April 10th
Wednesdayâs announcement from the Rhode Island Principalsâ Committee on Athletics regarding the awarding of a two-year football officialsâ contract to a group from Massachusetts does not automatically spell the end of Rhode Island-based officials from overseeing games statewide.
What remains to be seen is just how many Rhode Island officials are willing to put hurt feelings aside and âbreak ranks,â those words coming from Bruce Guindon, a Pawtucket native and registered Interscholastic League official.
PAWTUCKET â A tip for those with plans to turn out at McCoy Stadium for the Pawtucket Red Soxâ home opener on Thursday night: Make every effort to get comfortably seated by around 6:15.
An elaborate pre-game ceremony laced with pageantry will directly lead into the 7:05 first pitch between Pawtucket and Rochester. The festivities commence with a tribute to neighboring police and fire units. The jubilant spirit inside the ballparkâs walls will undoubtedly remain at a fever pitch when the 2012 Governorsâ Cup champion PawSox are recognized as part of a special ring ceremony.
LINCOLN â Regarding the defending state championship unit he oversees, Lincoln High head coach Dick Ryan has very few reasons to feel nervous.
Even on a day that saw senior pitching standout Lindsay Mayer demonstrate that she is human after all, the Lions were still able to outclass the opposition in every conceivable sense. Lincoln was supplied by plenty of offensive fireworks and a stout defense that was on full display during the fifth inning of Wednesdayâs game when centerfielder Adriana Toro unleashed a cannon of a throw to nail a Smithfield baserunner at third base.
WOONSOCKET â On Monday afternoon at Slater Park, Tolman High mustered only one hit in a 3-0, extra-inning loss to defending Rhode Island Division I champion Lincoln.
Naturally, that was a point of contention for head coach Craig Giarrusso, who in practice has been working with his girls to produce more at the plate.
It showed, and then some, in a Division I showdown with Woonsocket on Wednesday afternoon. The Tigers bashed 14 hits, 11 of them in the final three frames, to post an easier-than-anticipated 8-0 victory at Cold Spring Parkâs Baldelli Field.
April 9th
PROVIDENCE â Through all the twists and turns on his basketball journey, Ricky Ledo never once lost sight of what he interpreted to be the brass ring.
Mentioning Ledo and the NBA in the same sentence is a parlor game thatâs been en vogue for quite some time. The Providence native always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye when it came to pro hoops â his tunnel vision so clairvoyant that the only matter left to itemize was to wait for Declaration Day.
April 8th
NORTH PROVIDENCE â North Providence made quick work of St. Raphael in their showdown for first place in the Division II-West standings on Monday afternoon at Governor Notte Park.
The Cougars used a four-run rally in the bottom of the fifth inning and the steady five-hit pitching of senior Lindsay Cabral to help produce their third shutout victory in as many games, a 5-0 win that took just 70 minutes to complete.
ALLENTOWN, PA -- The Lehigh Valley IronPigs scored 13 unanswered runs to rally from an early deficit and hand the Pawtucket Red Sox their first loss of the season, 14-5, on Monday night at Coca-Cola Park.
Jeremy Hazelbaker led off the game by belting the third pitch he saw for his third home run of the season, and a few batters later, Bryce Brentz launched a two-run homer to give the PawSox a quick 3-0 lead.
The PawSox then upped their lead to 5-1 in the second on an RBI single by Jonathan Diaz and a sacrifice fly by Justin Henry, but things went downhill for them after that.
MOOSIC, Penn. â Terry Doyle admits that the Pawtucket Red Sox were playing with house money.
With the PawSox having won the first three games against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the main question heading into Sundayâs series finale was whether the RailRiders could save face and avoid falling victim to a season-opening four-game sweep at PNC Field.
April 7th
MOOSIC, Pa. â It appears the Red Sox are electing to take a cautious approach with pitcher Rubby De La Rosa.
The fifth member of Pawtucketâs starting rotation will make his first start of the season at Lehigh Valley on Monday night. Unlike the teamâs other four starters, all of whom have thrown around 85 pitches, De La Rosa will be limited to about 50 pitches. Graham Godfrey, who tossed two innings in Thursdayâs season opener, is expected to serve as backup.
âJust taking it easy on him,â said PawSox pitching coach Rich Sauveur about De La Rosa. âNo rush.â
MOOSIC, Pa. â The book on Jackie Bradley Jr. is that he possesses a keen eye at the plate and is a very disciplined hitter. In his first week with the Boston Red Sox, the highly-touted outfielder did little to sway how heâs perceived.
Entering Sundayâs road-trip finale in Toronto, Bradley had seen 92 total pitches in five games. The 18.4 pitches-per-game average furthers the belief that despite beginning just his second full pro season, the 22-year-old already has a thorough understanding of what is a strike and what isnât.
April 5th
MOOSIC, Pa. â There are baseball lifers, and then thereâs someone like Gary DiSarcina.
In short, the 45-year-old is a man whoâs worn many hats since retiring 11 years go. Heâs enjoyed successful stints in three totally different realms with all roads leading back to the game that saw him carve out a 12-year major-league career. Thanks to experiencing life as a manager, television analyst and trusted front-office contributor, DiSarcina can speak comfortably on a number of topics.
PAWTUCKET â When the Mount St. Charles team bus rolled into the parking lot fronting Slater Park's Mike Kenny Courts on Friday afternoon, and head coach Sean McClelland stepped from it, a chorus of boos rang out from the Tolman High netters.
Most mentors would've been flabbergasted, and spoken immediately to the opposing coach about a lack of respect.
Not McClelland.
April 3rd
PAWTUCKET â It wasn't pretty, not by any stretch of the imagination.
Still, Shea High utilized more-than-aggressive base-running and several stellar offensive performances to cruise past extremely inexperienced Central Falls, 19-9, in both squads' Division III season debut at Max Read Field on Wednesday afternoon.
PAWTUCKET â In the wake of Rutgers University's Wednesday afternoon firing of men's basketball coach Mike Rice for physically and orally abusing his players, some local â and legendary â high school coaches/athletic directors chose to âweigh inâ on the subject.
Rice's dismissal came at the helm of a video that news outlets nationwide carried throughout the afternoon and evening hours. It showed numerous clips of Rice rifling basketballs at players' backs, legs, etc., grabbing them by their jerseys and shoving them; he also could be heard screaming obscenities and homosexual slurs at them.
April 2nd
PAWTUCKET â After ending a 28-year Governorsâ Cup drought last season, the Pawtucket Red Sox will defend their title while holding true to the organizationâs No. 1 creed â put players in a position where if an opportunity arises in Boston, theyâre ready to answer the call.
PAWTUCKET --- After hitting bullets last September to help spark the Pawtucket Red Soxâs magical run to the Governorsâ Cup championship, Bryce Brentz nearly had a bullet end his 2013 season long before it began.
What started out as a routine cleaning of a handgun three months ago in his Knoxville, Tenn. home nearly resulted in tragedy for the power-hitting right fielder, who was tabbed as the No. 8 ranked prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization by Baseball America.
PROVIDENCE â In his travels around the state following the 2012-13 season, whenever Ed Cooley has crossed paths Providence College basketball fans, they have met him with big smiles and thanks for providing hope for the future.
As far away as it may seem, PCâs fan base canât wait for the 2013-14 season to tip off. They see the cast that is scheduled to return for the Friars â fingers crossed on that front âalong with two transfers and two incoming freshmen, and hope the mix contains the necessary ingredients to end what is a near-decade NCAA Tournament drought.
