Archive - Jul 2011 - Sports Article
NORTH ATTLEBORO â The mission of Chemawa Golf Course is simple.
âIf people think itâs fair, theyâll come back,â Chemawa owner Glen Burke was saying over the weekend. âA lot of older guys have said âI went somewhere and the rough was so high and thick that I was tired by the end of the round.â [At Chemawa] youâre not going to be tired, youâre going to enjoy yourself.
âMy thought is that when they come into the parking lot, they forget about their worries and enjoy themselves,â Burke added. âI think thatâs true as based on the number of car doors and trunks that open.â
PAWTUCKET â Lars Anderson made four trips to the plate Sunday, every one of them transpiring in a Pawtucket Red Sox uniform.
For someone who spent Saturday night bidding farewell to teammates and contemplating a future in Oakland, Anderson spent most of Sunday morning trying to make sense of the unstable trade winds that had rocked his universe. One minute the first baseman was standing in the batterâs box in McCoy Stadium. Then came word that Anderson was involved in a trade that would have sent starting pitcher Rich Harden to Boston.
PAWTUCKET â Not even the nifty baserunning maneuver that Ryan Lavarnway pulled off the eighth inning could yield a smile on the face of PawSox manager Arnie Beyeler.
Truth be told, Lavarnwayâs ability to avoid the tag while sliding into second base represented the lone highlight in Pawtucketâs 7-2 loss to Louisville Sunday afternoon. The power-hitting catcher had his eyes on second base after lining a bullet down the left field line. The throw from Bats leftfielder Felix Perez was there with plenty of time to spare, but Lavarnway was able to dance around the tag and get a hand on the bag.
July 30th
WEST WARWICK â Joe Yankee wasnât even sure heâd be able to pitch on Saturday. Hurd Auto Mall certainly wishes he hadnât.
With Cumberland Post 14 fighting to stay alive in the American Legion Senior Division state tournament, its ace left-hander overcame back and shoulder discomfort to toss a complete-game three-hitter that headlined his teamâs 2-0 win at sun-splashed McCarthy Stadium.
It was quite an afternoon for the Lincoln High School rising senior, who celebrated his birthday by striking out eight batters and not allowing a runner past second base.
July 29th
WEST WARWICK â Like many American Legion coaches, Collette Vacations boss Ray Ventura was probably hoping that Jeff Diehl was going turn pro after getting drafted by the New York Mets in June.
You could see why Friday night as Diehl single-handily almost won the game for Gershkoff/Auburn Post 20, the catcher belting two home runs in a 6-4 win over Collette in the winnersâ bracket final of the American Legion Senior Division playoffs.
WOONSOCKET â Woonsocket High School athletic director George Nasuti is guardedly optimistic that his interscholastic sports program will continue to enjoy the success, and occasional state championships, that the Villa Novans have accrued in recent years.
WEST WARWICK â Instead of dwelling on Thursdayâs loss to Collette Vacations Post 79, the boys from Cumberland Post 14 answered the challenge of keeping its season alive.
Top-seeded Post 14 lives to fight another day thanks to eight standout innings from knuckleball artist Zach Perry and key hits from Tyler Santaniello and Nick Zammarelli. Almost forgotten in the aftermath of Fridayâs 5-2 win against defending champion New England Frozen Lemonade/Shields Post 43 was the spectacular â some may argue season-saving â catch Matt Sorkin made in center field to end the top of the first inning.
July 28th
The fourth week in July means the following:
1). The bombardment of back-to-school commercials, serving as a cruel reality check and a reminder that summer reading will not be accomplished through osmosis or CliffsNotes.
2). Thereâs roughly a month remaining in the minor league season. Where does the time go?
3). Another fast-moving July 31 trading deadline is just days away from building toward a crescendo.
EAST PROVIDENCE â Itâs been quite some time since Collette Vacations Post 79 enjoyed a nine-game win streak or found itself two wins away from a state championship, but thatâs the state of the Pawtucket ballclub heading into tonightâs 8 p.m. winnersâ bracket final at McCarthy Stadium.
Eric Geisman gave a splendid performance on the mound and Post 79 did just enough offensively to help produce a 4-1 victory over Cumberland Post 14 on Thursday night in their semifinal-round game at Pierce Field.
Roland Lavallee has never veered away from his dream of qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in January.
But for the last nine months, the former Mount St. Charles standout has certainly been tested with a series of personal and physical setbacks.
