EVERETT REVERE YOUTH HOCKEY has championship weekend
Special to the Independent
The Everett/Revere Bantam AA hockey team played in the playoffs this past weekend. The team squared off in the Regionals against Dedham. They won a hard fought battle 3-0 with Nick Summers, Gerry Visconti, and Thomas Sullivan scoring for the Bantams assisted by Ethan Long and Joe Uftring. The team advanced to the Semifinals against Brookline. They took home another win 5-2. Captain Brendan Currie scored a hat trick, while Thomas Sullivan and Nick Summers finished with a goal each. Gerry Visconti, Alexio Trichilo, Adam Higgenbottom, Arianna Orlandino and Nick Summers assisted in all five goals. The Bantams moved on to the Divisional Championship Game in a tough game against Medford. The Everett/ Revere Bantam team had won the last three games against the Medford Mustangs during the season but knew that this game was going to be a battle. And a battle it sure was! In front of a packed crowd, they took the win by a score of 3-2. “This had to be one of the most exciting games we have ever been part of, said all three coaches Gerry Gosselin, Gerry Visconti, and Mick Harris. The coaches added, “We would like to thank the parents and players from the other teams in the program and those that came out to support our team tonight. It was electrifying and bittersweet to win in overtime.”
The Everett/Revere Bantams moved on to what some may call the Stanley Cup game against the first-place team and winner of the South Division the Hudson Starhawks. The coaches were pleased with the outcome once again. “Our kids played hard and persevered in another 3-2 victory. I think we took the wind out of their sail when we drew first blood and scored the first goal, said the Coach Mick.” “This is such a great victory for the team as well as our program” said Head Coach Gerry Gosselin. “We are a small, inner-city program that does everything possible to get kids to play hockey for their youth program and to bring a championship to the program makes all the work that is invested all worthwhile”, said Coach and Treasurer Gerry Visconti. The coaches would also like to give a special thanks to the President of the League Joe Desantis. “Joe has been the face of this program for many years. One would say, it’s like his baby. He puts an endless amount of time and effort making sure our local kids have a place to play hockey,” added Visconti.
A New Field of Dreams
Everett Little League Opening Day set for April 28 at Sacramone Park
By Cary Shuman
George Castiello has been a vital part of the Everett youth sports scene for decades.
But this spring the third-year Everett Little League (ELL) president is especially excited because of the brand new, state-of-the-art, artificial turf fields at Sacramone Park.
“We’re very grateful to Mayor DeMaria for this beautiful, new ballpark – it’s amazing, the kids love it,” said Castiello. “I think we’re one of the few communities in the state that have artificial turf fields for Little League.”
The league, consisting of 250 players on 22 teams, will have its traditional Opening Day parade beginning at 11 a.m. at the old Everett High School. Players, coaches, and league officials will march to Sacramone Park where the official ceremonies will be held.
Mayor DeMaria will throw out the first baseball for the new season. State Sen. Sal DiDomenico, State Rep. Joseph McGonagle, and Supt. of Schools Frederick Foresteire are also invited guests.
Castiello said the names of the five Major League teams are the Red Sox, Tigers, Pirates, Angels, and the White Sox. In a change from past tradition, the Minor League teams will also be named after Major League Baseball (MLB) teams. In previous years, Everett’s Minor League teams were named after professional Minor League teams such as the Mud Hens, Mudcats, the Storm, and Rock Cats.
All players will be hitting with newly sanctioned bats as a result of a change in the regulations for bats that was implemented by the national Little League Baseball organization beginning in the 2018 season.
EHS Roundup
EHS softball defeats Latin Academy, 12-9
The Everett High softball team earned a come-from-behind, 12-9 victory over Latin Academy last week to post its first win of the season.
After Latin took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Lady Crimson Tide struck back for two markers in their half of the frame with a two-out rally. Maddy Duraes singled, then scored on a triple by Maddy Smith, who herself came home on a Latin error on the play at third.
The teams traded home runs in the second inning, but Latin’s was good for two runs, plus an RBI double. Everett’s was a solo blast by Izzy Bourouis.
Latin moved out to a 7-3 advantage thanks to five Everett errors in the third inning, but the Lady Crimson Tide got two of those back in its half of the stanza. Maddy D. singled and moved to third on a single into the outfield by Maddy S., who advanced to second on an error. Kaylee Nearen then came through with a clutch base hit to deliver both Maddies to make it a 7-5 contest.
The teams traded solo tallies in the fifth, with Nearen tripling and coming home on a sacrifice fly by Bourouis.
Latin expanded its lead to 9-6 with a solo marker in the sixth, but Everett stormed back in its half of the inning.
Ashley Fitzgerald started off the rally with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Veronica Bento. Kloey Cardillo singled into the outfield and with two outs, Duraes also singled into the outfield, knocking in Fitzgerald and moving Kloey to third.
Carrillo then scored on another base hit by Smith. With runners on first and second, Kaylee Nearen was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Bourouis, who delivered a two-run double. With Nearen at third and Bourouis at second, Lexi Bartolomeo bounced one back to the pitcher, but was safe on an error, allowing both Nearen and Bourouis to score for a 12-9 Everett lead.
Bento, who tossed all seven innings, fanning seven, set down the Latin side in order, the final out coming on an unbelievable catch near the foul line by senior Madison Cifra.
“The coaches had to keep reminding the girls that errors will destroy the game and we were allowing them to beat us,” said EHS head coach Stacy Poste. “I told them we only had one more shot and needed to step it up. They pulled through and produced singles when they needed to. They adjusted to Latin Academy’s third pitcher and made their at bats count.
“This was a great comeback and we were happy to get our first win,” added Poste.
Hitting stars for Everett were Kloey Cardillo (2-for-3), Maddy Duraes (3-for-4 with an RBI), Maddy Smith (3-for-4, including a triple and two RBI), Kaylee Nearen (2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI); and Izzy Bourouis (2-for-3 with a home run, a double, and two RBI).
Poste and her crew did not fare as well earlier in the week in a 19-10 loss to Gloucester.
The Lady Fishermen started fast, scoring five runs in the opening inning. Cardillo slammed a lead-off roundtripper in the bottom of the frame and Everett added another marker in the second when freshman Fitzgerald singled, moved to second on a base hit by Bartolomeo, and scored on another hit by Cardillo.
Gloucester scored seven runs in the fourth to take a commanding 12-2 lead. Everett stayed close, thanks to a grand slam by Smith (who is a freshman) and a solo shot by Nearen in the bottom of the fourth to close the gap to 12-7.
However, Gloucester put the game away with five more runs in the fifth. Cardillo connected for a homer on a 3-0 pitch in the bottom of the fifth and the teams traded dual markers in the sixth for the 19-10 finale.
Bourouis socked a homer and Nearen doubled to account for the final two Everett tallies.
“Gloucester was a very good, disciplined hitting team throughout their entire lineup,” said Poste. “They put the ball in play and we just could not catch up. The Everett girls kept battling, chipping away at hits and runs. However, we had the big hits when we had no runners on. In the third inning, we actually had bases loaded and fell short of producing runs.”
The big hitters for Everett were: Kloey Cardillo (3-for-3 with two home runs); Ariana Garay (3-for-5); Maddy Duraes (3-for-5); Maddy Smith (3-for-4 and the grand slam); Kaylee Nearen (2-for-5 with a homer); Izzy Bourouis (3-for-4); and Lexi Bartolomeo (2-for-4).
Poste and her crew are set to host Peabody this morning (Wednesday) and Revere on Friday morning. Both games will start at 10:00. They will play at Malden on Monday and at Winthrop on Wednesday.