Archive - Sports Article
April 12th, 2013
CUMBERLAND â For runners like Dave Constantino, the unicorn on the logo of the Boston Marathon has been fitting.
For nearly a decade at the hallowed 26.2-mile race, the 43-year-old Cumberland native has tried to track down his own personal unicorn â that is, break the 3-hour mark â but each time, heâs fallen short.
And he has come oh-so-close. Two years ago, his time was 3:04:46. The previous year, he ran a 3:07:40. And in 2006, his second trip to Boston, he turned in a 3:09:27.
PAWTUCKET â From a win-loss perspective, the Pawtucket Red Sox canât ask for much more. Winners of six of seven games, it seems that Mother Nature, not the opposition, is the teamâs toughest foe in the seasonâs early stages.
Fridayâs postponement of Rochester-Pawtucket marks the second time in three days that the pitter-patter of raindrops has come into play for Gary DiSarcinaâs ball club. This past Wednesday saw Pawtucket play two innings at Lehigh Valley before the game was halted in the second inning due to rain.
April 11th
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.
