High schools: Northampton track & field drops dual meet with Minnechaug

The Amherst Regional High School varsity athletic field and six-lane track, with some repair patches visible in lane four. Photographed on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

The Amherst Regional High School varsity athletic field and six-lane track, with some repair patches visible in lane four. Photographed on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

By BRADYN COTE

Staff Intern

Published: 04-08-2024 9:20 PM

Modified: 04-08-2024 10:53 PM


NORTHAMPTON – Both the Northampton boys and girls track and field teams faced off against Minnechaug Monday afternoon, with the Falcons earning the sweep.

The Northampton boys fell short 91-54, but were carried via the distance running efforts. The Northampton girls were edged in a tight 72-69 loss.

“It was expected that distance is now our bread and butter so they all pretty much swept everything they needed to do,” said Northampton boys head coach Eric Pfalzgraf. “I’m competitive and would like to win dual meets, but I'm looking for once we get to invites, Western Mass. and championship season when it is more about your top heavy stuff and that's where I think we'll likely do a little bit better.”

The boys team was led by Theodore King-Pollet, who placed first overall in both the 1-mile (4:58.2) and the 2-mile (10:47.2). On the field, Sy Coles placed first in high jump (5 feet, 10 inches), and Davis Wheat secured second in javelin (133-3.5).

“I think it went pretty good,” said Northampton girls head coach Moira McDonald. “We have strength in all areas, and everybody is really good at cheering for each other and building each other up and holding each other accountable. So that's the most part but we had tons of PRs today.”

For the girls, it was a full team effort against Minnechaug.

Leading the way for the girls was Odessa Gianesin who placed first in the 400-meter hurdles (1:13.1) and second in the 800 (2:34.3). Camilla Brewer came in first for the 100 hurdles (16.2) and right behind her was Eleanor Lewis, who placed second in both the 100 hurdles (16.7) and second in the 400 hurdles (1:13.9).

Looking ahead, both the Northampton boys and girls will be traveling to Agawam on April 23 at 4 p.m.

Boys volleyball

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Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Granby 3,Ware 0 — The Rams’ red-hot start to the spring season continued on Monday, as they swept through Ware to improve to 4-0 – including 2-0 in the PVIAC West League.

Set scores were 25-21, 25-18, 25-19. The win marked Granby’s second straight three-set victory.

Baseball

Greenfield 14, Granby 1 (5) — The Rams were limited to just one hit by Greenfield pitcher Deven Dubie in a Monday loss on the road.

Nik Misiaszek doubled and walked to pace Granby offensively, and Collin Murdock scored the team’s run in the top of the third inning. 

Frontier 7, Ludlow 5 — Rosco Palmer and Brady Poreda each knocked a double and two singles for the Redhawks, with Palmer adding an RBI. Grayson Loos tallied a pair of hits and RBIs, Jack Conlon cracked two hits and drove in a run while Nico Fasulo and Tyler Cusson both had a hit and an RBI in the win.

Cusson struck out four, Wyatt Edes tallied three strikeouts while Owen Babb and Max Skribiski-Banack both struck out a pair for Frontier. 

West Springfield 10, Holyoke 2 — Knotted up at one apiece entering the fourth inning, the Terriers’ bats took over and pulled away from the Purple Knights on Monday afternoon.

West Springfield put up three runs in the bottom half of the frame, then hung six more in the fifth to break the game open. Darwin Jimenez tallied two of Holyoke’s five hits and Jaden Diaz drove in the lone RBI in the loss.

Hampshire 7, Hopkins 5 — Trailing 7-2 entering the seventh inning, the Golden Hawks wouldn’t go away easily. Hopkins ripped off three runs in the frame, but Hampshire’s Drew Thompson spelled Will Hogan and got the Raiders out of trouble to close out the win.

Hogan (five strikeouts, three walks) earned the win on the mound, tossing 6.1 innings in his first start since he had ACL surgery nearly two years ago. Liam Pond (two RBI) Mikey Thompson (two runs) and Jack Boyle (two runs) each had two hits

Liam Flynn fanned six batters in 5.2 innings of work for Hopkins while also going 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and an RBI. Beau Elson added a hit and three RBI to pace the Golden Hawks offense in the loss.

Girls tennis

Belchertown 5, Agawam 0 — The Orioles dropped just two total games in their doubles matches, cruising to a 5-0 sweep on Monday.

Emalee Chaisson and Mia Corish were 6-1, 6-0 winners at No. 1 doubles, and Kasey Gibbons and Ellie Gelinas took a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 2. Ava Shea (6-0, 6-2), Anna Stamp (6-3, 6-2) and Mandy Murray (three-set win) were all victorious in singles action.

Amherst 3, East Longmeadow 2 — A huge 6-2, 7-5 win at second doubles by Elena Ruíz and Janaki Ewoton gave the ‘Canes their third win of the match to push them over East Longmeadow on Tuesday.

Sofia DaSilva-Askew (6-0, 6-0) made quick work of her opponent at first singles as did teammate Emma Learned-Miller at second singles, as she won 6-1, 6-1.

Greenfield 3, PVCICS 2 — Nina Zorzi was a 6-3, 7-5 winner at first singles to pace the Dragons in a tight road loss on Monday in Greenfield.

The second doubles team of Kaylin Lane and Jiyu Moon also picked up a 6-4, 6-1 victory for PVCICS.

Boys tennis

Belchertown 4, Agawam 1 — Trevor Weiss was dominant at first singles, sweeping his opponent 6-1, 6-0 to pace the Orioles to a win on Monday.

Tyler Burrows and Jake Gormely earned a hard-fought 6-3, 6-3 at first doubles while Graham Guardenfield and Luke Dudek cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles. Mason Pobieglo was credited with a forfeit win at third singles to round out Belchertown’s winners.

Frontier 4, Palmer 1 — Robert Fuqua picked up a 6-1, 6-2 triumph in No. 2 singles while Caiden Manning earned a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 triumph in No. 3 singles, helping the Redhawks earn a win over the Panthers in South Deerfield on Monday. 

Oliver Brown and Brayden Reipold took No. 1 doubles 6-2, 6-2 while Frontier won No. 2 doubles via forfeit. 

Boys lacrosse

South Hadley 7, Amherst 6 — Four goals from Ethan Roy helped the Tigers edge the Hurricanes by one on Tuesday evening. 

Owen Dawson tallied four points of his own, finding the back of the net once while adding three assists for South Hadley, and Sly Curto finished two goals of his own. Noah Marion won nine of his 10 face-off opportunities and collected 10 ground balls. Bennett Allen recorded 14 saves on 20 shots in the cage in a winning effort.

Softball

Easthampton 3, East Longmeadow 0 — Rosie Follet tossed a gem, striking out 13 batters while allowing just two hits to go with six walks in a shutout victory for the Eagles at Nonotuck Park on Monday.

Easthampton scored a run in the third and tacked on two more in the sixth, plenty for Follet. Makenna Slate and McKenzie McCarthy each had two hits in the victory, and Kayley Downie singled and drove in a pair for the Eagles. Follet helped herself with a hit and a walk, and she also scored a run.

Granby 24, Southwick 10 (5) — The Rams broke the game open early, scoring 11 times in the first inning en route to a dominant victory.

Granby, which scored seven times in the second and six more in the third, were led by Jordyn Placzek’s three hits and six RBIs, including a grand slam. Katie Grabher (two hits, five RBIs) and Quinn Cook (two hits, three RBIs) were other offensive stalwarts, and Ellie Szlosek doubled and drove in a pair for the hosts.

Mabel Carillon picked up the win, striking out five in four innings before Placzek finished up with three punchouts in the final inning.

South Hadley 9, Monson 0 — Isabella Schaeffer continued her torrid start to the season, striking out 18 batters and allowing just two hits to lift the Tigers to a shutout win.

Schaeffer is now four punchouts away from 500 for her career. South Hadley hosts Longmeadow on Friday.

Schaeffer and Ara Powers had three hits apiece, and Karli Carmody smacked two hits with two stolen bases. South Hadley scored three runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to pull away.

Lee 17, Gateway 3 — It was 5-3 Wildcats after five innings of play until their offense erupted for 12 runs over the final two frames.

Alexi Bonenfant went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI to lead the Gators offense, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with Lee. Sawyer Wilkinson, Kaitlyn Maynard, Amy Fisk, Reeghan Morawiec and Anna Sakaske each tallied a hit as well for Gateway.

Late weekend results

Softball

Hampshire 17, Agawam 3 — The Dubay sisters put together two strong performances to lead the Raiders to a blowout win over the Brownies on Sunday. Ryanne Dubay tossed five innings in the circle while Reagan Dubay went 3-for-4 at the plate including a home run and four RBI.

Hailey Wodecki blasted a home run of her own as part of a three-hit day, and Rachael Hickox, Ashley Cortis and Tegan Charles all recorded three hits as well. Hampshire scored 10 runs in the first inning and never looked back.

Baseball

Southwick 8, Hampshire 1 — Southwick took advantage of five Raiders errors and connected on timely hits to pull away from the Raiders in an 8-1 victory on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Liam Pond crushed a solo home run to tally Hampshire’s lone run in the loss, while freshman Riley Florek earned his first varsity hit. Jack Boyle (five innings pitched, four earned runs, six strikeouts) and Colin Hogan (one inning pitched, no earned runs, one strikeout) took the mound for the Raiders.