Canton Citizen recognizes 23 spring sports all stars

Senior Ben O’Neill finished in 2nd on the all-time scoring list. (Mike Barucci photo)

The following all-star selections appear in the June 30 issue as part of the Canton Citizen’s annual spring sports wrap-up.

Boys’ MVP

Ben O’Neill (Lacrosse)

A senior captain and two-time All-Hockomock selection, O’Neill was the Bulldogs’ leading scorer and most dangerous offensive weapon — the kind of singular talent that defenses build their game plan around. Using a combination of toughness, smarts, and an incredible scoring touch, O’Neill tied his previous season high with 66 points while also helping to lead the squad back to the postseason for the third time in his four seasons. He also passed several former players on the all-time scoring list and ends his career at No. 2 with 191 points (125 goals, 66 assists).

Girls MVP

Mary Nee (Lacrosse)

A standout performer in field hockey, ice hockey and lacrosse, Nee joined elite company this spring as one of only a handful of athletes to be named a captain and an all-star in three different sports in a single year. On the lacrosse turf, Nee was a two-way force, providing consistent scoring from the midfield position to go along with excellent defense. A leader by example who refuses to take plays off, she helped lead the Bulldogs to a Division 1 playoff berth this season and continued to battle right to the end, scoring a team-high three goals in the Bulldogs’ opening round loss to Hingham.

Baseball

Kevin Powers

A four-year varsity starter and a surprising snub from this year’s league all-star team, Powers put together another stellar all-around season as he helped lead the Bulldogs back to the postseason with several dominant pitching performances. The team’s unquestioned ace, he finished the season with a 24-inning scoreless streak, capped off by a nine-inning masterpiece against Middleboro in the opening round of the playoffs. In addition to his pitching prowess, Powers also batted over .400 this season with 26 RBIs and played well defensively at shortstop.

Joe Peccia

A senior captain and an All-Hockomock honorable mention, Peccia moved seamlessly between the two middle infield positions and provided a ton of value with his glove. He also had another outstanding season at the plate, batting just shy of .300 with 19 hits, including two homeruns, 17 RBIs, and 15 runs scored. Peccia’s hot hitting has also continued into the summer as he is currently hitting well over .300 for the American Legion Post 24 team.

Griffin Jerrier

A senior captain, Jerrier joined with Powers to anchor the Bulldogs’ pitching staff, and he won several games to help keep Canton in the postseason hunt. He showed the ability to go deep into games and he drew the start in the team’s second playoff game against Sandwich, going six strong innings in a hard-luck loss. In addition to his steady contributions on the mound, Jerrier also had some big games offensively for the Bulldogs and displayed excellent range in the outfield.

Softball

Sarah Reissfelder

A senior captain and the team’s starting pitcher, Reissfelder wrapped up her four-year varsity career with another impressive season on the mound, finishing with 63 strikeouts and earning a second straight All-Hockomock honorable mention. She also had a strong season at the plate and came up huge in the team’s three late-season wins, belting two homeruns and three triples.

Gab Matthews

A four-year varsity player and a two-time team captain, Mathews was relied upon as a key team leader as well as a valuable part of the everyday lineup. She had one homerun this season and was a defensive force at first base, saving throws and making many diving catches.

Boys Lacrosse

Michael Pigeon

A junior long-stick midfielder, Pigeon solidified his standing as one of the very best defenders in the league and was rewarded for his efforts with a second consecutive All-Hockomock selection. In addition to covering the opposition’s top midfielder, Pigeon is a groundball machine and does all of the little things that help make a team better. He is an outstanding athlete and is widely respected by fellow coaches in the league.

Jake Ragusa

A senior defenseman, Ragusa built on a promising debut season last year and finished his brief career as one of the top defenders in the league, earning an All-Hockomock honorable mention. The reigning Davenport Division MVP in football, he brought his own unique brand of toughness and physicality to the position and seemed to be at his best when the stakes were highest. He was especially dominant in the team’s playoff game against Sandwich, scoring his first career goal and completely shutting down Sandwich’s all-time scoring leader.

Shaun Kirby

A junior midfielder, Kirby followed up a solid sophomore campaign with a breakout 2016 season, finishing with a career-high 27 goals and 15 assists. A talented athlete who also starred on the ice hockey team, he had several big games late in the season and was one of the best players on the field in the Bulldogs’ tournament game against Sandwich.

Girls Lacrosse

Casey Bradley

A senior captain and an all-league honorable mention, Bradley made her mark as both a leader and a playmaker, spearheading the attack and helping to propel the Bulldogs to a Division 1 postseason berth. Although she could put the ball in the net and had her share of big goals throughout the season, she was an especially gifted passer and finished second in the Hockomock League with a whopping 41 assists.

Lindsey Nolte

A three-sport captain just like her teammate Mary Nee (field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse), Nolte helped form the nucleus of a formidable midfield group and made her mark on both ends of the field. Her strength, however, was on the offensive end, where she proved that she could score in bunches and finished the season as one of the team’s leading goal scorers.

Boys Tennis

Nathan Maltz

A two-time All-Hockomock selection and a team captain for a third straight year, Maltz was the Bulldogs’ unflappable leader and a model of consistency on the court at third singles. He only lost a handful of matches all season and finished as the team leader with 15 individual victories. He also came up in big spots, including in his memorable three-set win over his Dighton-Rehoboth opponent in the Division 2 south tournament.

Jake Wolicki

Only a sophomore, Wolicki made a huge leap this season from promising doubles player to the No. 2 singles spot, and he made it look easy as he helped lead the Bulldogs back to the Division 2 postseason. He was arguably at his best against the toughest opponents and finished the season second on the team in wins behind Maltz with 13. He also drew the attention of the league’s coaches and was recognized at the end of the season as a Hockomock all-star selection.

Jeevith Chandrasekar

A highly touted freshman, Chandrasekar made his debut at first singles a few matches into the season and never relinquished the role, winning eight matches against the league’s very best tennis players and earning a spot on the All-Hockomock team. In addition to showing remarkable poise for such a young player, Chandrasekar also helped to strengthen the entire lineup with Wolicki and Maltz sliding into the other two singles positions.

Girls Tennis

Tiffany Ha & Sarah MacQuarrie

Both senior captains, Ha and MacQuarrie picked up where they left off last season and reestablished their position as one of the top doubles pairings in the Hock, earning their second straight all-league honorable mention in the process. The formidable duo won most of their matches in straight sets and finished the spring with a team-best record of 12-4.

Carly Scanlon

A senior captain, Scanlon went into the season as the No. 2 singles player, but an injury to a teammate forced her into the top spot and she proudly accepted the challenge. Despite facing every team’s top player in one of the toughest tennis leagues in the state, Scanlon played with poise and purpose and came away with several big wins, finishing with an individual record of 9-8.

Boys Track

Mark Clancy

A senior captain and a Hockomock League all star, Clancy was voted team MVP and was the Bulldogs’ top distance runner. He won the mile at the Warrior Invitational, finished sixth in the two-mile at the league championships and eighth at the Division 3 meet, and was part of the 4×800 relay. “Mark is a versatile athlete willing to run whatever was best for the team on that given day,” said head coach Anna Amico. “His strong work ethic pushed himself and his teammates to be better.”

Patrick Hession

Another senior captain, Hession was the team’s top runner in the 400m and 800m and was recognized as an All-Hockomock honorable mention. He won the 400m at the Warrior Invitational, placed 16th in that event at the Division 3 meet, and was a member of two state-qualifying relays (4×400 and 4×800). “His combination of speed and endurance made him a tough competitor to race, and his versatility was an asset to our team,” said Coach Amico.

Girls Track

Hannah Link

A league all-star selection and Canton’s second leading scorer, Link followed up a stellar indoor season with an even better spring, earning the nod as the team’s co-MVP. Not only did she go undefeated in running events in the five dual meets; she also had a team-best seventh-place finish at the D3 championships (400m) and anchored the qualifying 4×400 relay. Coach Amico described Link as the “ultimate team player” and an “extremely hard worker who is always looking for ways to improve.”

Selena Cho

An All-Hockomock honorable mention, Cho was the Bulldogs’ leading point scorer and most versatile performer, qualifying for the Division 3 meet in the 200m, long jump, triple jump, and as a member of the 4×100 relay team that went 4-1 in dual meets. “Selena’s versatility and consistent scoring gave us a chance in every meet,” said Coach Amico, “and I am excited to see how she will continue to make an impact in her upcoming senior season.”

Catherine Song

A senior captain and an All-Hockomock selection, Song cemented her legacy as one of the school’s very best female distance runners after another stellar spring campaign. In addition to placing third in the mile at the league championships, Song finished 13th in the two-mile at the Division 3 meet and also posted the second fastest 800m time on the team this year. “Her consistent scoring was very important to us and our success this year and her hard work and versatility will be missed,” said Amico.

By Mike Berger and Jay Turner

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