By Steev Riccardo

OXFORD – Mike Adams, who in 2010 was the youngest high school football head coach in the state of New Jersey and helped Parsippany High School in Parsippany, NJ, end a 31- game losing streak, was hired last week by Oxford High School to take over as its head football coach.

Adams, a graduate of Springfield College, will also be a Health and Physical Education teacher at the school. He replaces Jeff Parcells, who took over the Athletic Director position at Sutton High School.

The school also announced that Matt Tyrell, who has been hired as an Algebra teacher, will be one of Adams’s assistant coaches as the line coach.  He is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and is also a strength and conditioning coach.

“Coach Adams comes to us highly recommended by several college coaches so we are excited about that,” said Principal Kevin Wells.  “He is in the process of shoring up the other three paid positions on the football staff.” 

Adams will be in Oxford on July 9 when the team begins its strength and conditioning program for the fall.

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Nick Cardoni with Nick Bates in the background

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

Chicopee – The Oxford Pirates state championship run ended Tuesday (June 12) with a tough 3-0 semi-final loss to a scrappy Mt. Everett Eagles team at a rainy Szot Park field in Chicopee.

The Pirates could not overcome a shaky three-run first inning in which the Eagles manufactured three runs with two outs with only one hit. 

The typically solid Pirates’ defense committed three costly errors in the first inning and were not able to overcome those mishaps and get back in the game.

Third Baseman Cody Stone

Despite hitting a season-high four batters, junior right-hander Nick Cardoni pitched well enough to win, allowing only three Eagles hits and striking out eight batters, but didn’t get the run support he needed as the Pirates could only muster three hits.

“We picked the absolute worst time to have the worst inning that we have had all year, “said Pirates Head Coach Justin Richards.  “We tend to not make errors, let all alone three errors in the same inning.  It happened with two outs with nobody on, a walk, a hit, a couple errors.”

“It’s playoff baseball, every run is critical as you saw in our district final game (against Hopedale), one run won that game, one run would have won today. In this game everything is magnified, every pitch is magnified, every at-bat is magnified, and that is exactly what happened today.”

The Pirates had at least one base runner in five of the seven innings but couldn’t get a runner home. It didn’t help that the Eagles made some key defensive plays and their pitcher lefty Erik Derwitsch didn’t make many mistakes on the mound.

“Their pitcher mixed up his pitches pretty good. At times we had guys in scoring position and he got us out when he had to. Congratulations to them, they outplayed us and they deserve to play for the state title.”

“Unfortunately the top of the first inning bit us in the butt today and that was the difference in the game, they have nothing to be ashamed about at all, they had a great season,” said Richards about his players.

The coach was also pleased at the way Cardoni pitched despite the shaky first inning and the hit batters. “After the first inning, he bore down really well for the rest of the game and pitched really well.  He pitched his heart out and it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t score any runs for him.”

“We do have a lot to be happy about; we won our first District title in about 12 years.  We lost a lot of guys from last year’s team and we weren’t really sure what to expect coming in. We knew we only had one pitcher, we had three other guys that stepped up, we started a freshmen catcher, a couple sophomores; we are a nice even mix of players. It is very difficult to come together as a team, especially in baseball with a four year age difference, but we did.”

“Obviously this is disappointing right now. it’s going to be a rough bus ride home for these guys. They did everything that we asked of them all year, they worked really hard, and at practice we have a good time.”

“The future looks bright, we have a pretty good program here, we are happy with the direction that we are going in. We have gotten better and better each of the four years that I have been here.”

The Pirates have nothing to be ashamed of. At 18-6, they were the crème of the crop in Division 3 and one of the most feared teams in the Southern Worcester County League and with a young team have plenty to build on for the future.

“I think we are in a position now where we are going to reload every year without having to rebuild,” said Richards.  “I would expect us to be competing again next year for a district title without even looking at our team. We have a lot of guys coming by.”

The Pirates last won a state title in1986 and lost in the state finals in 2001.

Some of The Pirates fans who made the trip to Chicopee

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Nick Bates scores the only run of the game as #8 Nick Cardoni celebrates

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

Worcester – The Oxford Pirates beat the Hopedale Blue Raiders 1-0 on a perfectly executed squeeze play in the top of the seventh inning at Tivnan field on Sunday afternoon to win the Division 3 Central Mass title and to advance to the Mass State Tournament.

Cody Stone laid down a perfect bunt, scoring Nick Bates from third base with one out to preserve the shutout win for Pirates ace Nick Lemay, who was outstanding, pitching himself out a jam in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Pirates coach Justin Richards was elated afterwards and said this was the biggest win of his coaching career.  He also praised Hopedale, where he had previously started his career as an assistant coach before taking the Oxford job four years ago.

“It was fun the first six innings to be down here; unfortunately one of us had to lose,” said Richards. “We come from the same type mold, we have the same philosophies; it was really great that both of our programs made it here.”

Pirate hero Cody Stone and Coach Justin Richards

Richards felt confident with the squeeze play and knew he had the right people in the right places.  “He (Stone) is the best bat handler we have if we were going to get the bunt down; Cody was the one person I was most confident in getting the bunt down and he did.”

Bates, only a sophomore, and up in a key situation, started the Pirates rally with the biggest hit of his career. “I was just trying to make contact, put the bat on the ball, I’m the number nine hitter, that is what I am supposed to do.”

As for the squeeze play, Bates was ready to go. “The coach told me the squeeze was on and he said once we get a strike on him, just go.”

Lemay, who was brilliant once again on the mound, could feel something was about to happen. “As soon as Bates hit that triple I knew we were going to score. I have so much faith in Cody; every time he is at the plate I know he is going to do something good.  He has that mentality.”

“I try to do as much as I can and keep our team up,” said Stone, who like several of his teammates, was part of the Oxford team that won the state championship in the town league in 2010, and has been one of this team’s leaders all season.

“At the beginning of the game we talked to Nick Bates and James Sheehan, the only two guys on the team that weren’t on the town league state championship team. We told them it was going to come down to them and look what happened. Without Nick Bates and, of course, Nick Lemay, we don’t win that game.”

Stone also praised a gutsy Blue Raiders team. “They are a great team, one through nine, it was hard, they battled, I knew it was going to come down to pitching and we have a way better pitcher than anyone.” 

Nick Lemay, superb as usual in the clincher

Lemay proved his worth in the bottom of the seventh inning, pitching out of a jam with two runners on and one out. “The biggest out was that second out, I knew if I was going to throw and my teammates were going to make the play.”

“Words can not even describe how I feel right now. I knew coming into this game that it was going to be a battle, a low scoring game, their pitcher is really good. I myself needed to hold them to one to zero runs. I am so glad that we manufactured the run in the last inning to get the lead against them.” 

Lemay said he was going to go home and run ten miles like he always does, and certainly pitched like he always does on Sunday, dominating his opponent, allowing only two hits while striking out seven.

The Pirates, who are now 17-5, will face Mt. Everett on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Szot Park in Chicopee in a Division 3 state semifinal.

Pirates overpower Narragansett in semi-final win
Nick Cardoni (photo above) pitched one of his best games of the season, a complete game three-hitter, in the Pirates 7-0 win over Narragansett in a game that was postponed twice and played at Fino Field in Milford on Friday, June 8.

Cardoni walked his only two batters in the first inning but was nearly flawless after that.  The junior right-hander may have been a bit nervous pitching in a big game early. “I had a couple of butterflies at the beginning of the game but once you start throwing some strikes it comes back to you.”

“It feels great coming into a district game and getting a win for us,” said Cardoni.
Stone continued his torrid hitting with a couple of big keys, while team mate Mike Cicero also had a couple of RBI’s.

Opening round game Tuesday, June 5
Lemay was masterful in the Pirates opening round 9-0 win over Abby Kelley Foster.  He not only struck out 15 batters in five innings, but also capped off his great pitching performance with a monster two-run homer.  It may not have been as good as his opening day three-hit sixteen-strikeout performance over Quaboag, but it was close.

“In the past couple starts I couldn’t really locate that well, I was walking guys left and right. Today I didn’t walk anyone.  I was just focusing on getting the ball over the plate. I knew my defense would make plays,” said Lemay.  

“I miss-located on the first two hits, they were both right down the middle.  The first kid’s hit was a 2-0 count so I had to throw a strike. I give them props because they went with both the pitches.  I was confident I was trying to throw strikes.” 

Stone also had a big game at the plate going three-for- four with a pair of RBI’s. 

Dennis Snead also looked sharp, striking out two batters in the sixth, while Tyler Barrie got in a slight jam in the seventh inning but pitched his way out of it nicely.

The celebration is on

Pirate seniors receive trophy from Oxford Principal Kevin Wells
and Oxford AD John Doldoorian

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Jamie Brodeur at the plate

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

Grafton - The Oxford Pirates season came to abrupt halt on Sunday when they were knocked out of the District playoffs in the quarterfinals by the Grafton Indians 8-0.   

It was the third time this season that they were beaten by the Central Mass powerhouse, which is 21-1this year and looks like the team to beat.

The Pirates previously lost to the Indians 5-0 and 6-0 and just like the previous two times, could only muster three hits off Indians’ ace Kendal Roy, who outdueled Nicole “The Franchise” Mangaudis on all three occasions.

The Pirates were victimized by a couple of fielding mistakes that led to four runs in the bottom of the first for the Indians. It was hard to come back after that with Roy in total command, striking out ten in route to a three hitter.

Pirates 8-3 over Blackstone Millville Thursday, May 31
By no means did the loss to Grafton overshadow a tremendous opening round 8-3 victory over Blackstone-Millville on Thursday.

“The Franchise” struck out nine Blackstone-Millville hitters and except for a two-run homer in the bottom on the seventh inning, was virtually unhittable. Mangaudis also contributed at the plate, banging out three hits with a run batted in.

Freshman Evelyn Marquis, who has been crushing the ball all season, also had three hits in the lead off spot for the Pirates.

Senior co-captain Kayde McCarthy made two great catches and also contributed a couple of key sacrifices at the plate, one of which drove home Marquis with the Pirates fourth run in the fourth inning.

Sara Smith also had a pair of hits and two RBI’s while doing a masterful job of catching Mangaudis.

Jamie Brodeur also had a pair of hits, including a key two-run double in the sixth inning that blew the game open.

Mangaudis struck out the side in the second and fourth innings and at one point retired 15 straight batters.

“You know the old saying you have to be strong up the middle, with Nicole in the circle, Sara (Smith) behind the plate and Mac (Kayde McCarthy) in center along with Evelyn (Marquis) at short we are very strong up the middle and it showed today,” said Pirates Head Coach Jamie Hetherman, on his team’s performance against Blackstone-Millville.

Hetherman went on to praise his pitcher, “She did outstanding again. I think the experience of being in the Districts last year was a big help. In the second inning with one out and the bases loaded she struck out two in the row.  She had full command of her pitches and retired 15 consecutive batters. That is unbelievable, that is how we are going to win.”

Mangaudis was also happy with her effort. “I think this was one of my hardest throwing performances. I like when I have a break,” referring to a few extra days off.

“It felt good. I had to be careful with their first two batters; they each had four hits off of me last time we played them. Our team defense was outstanding today.  Molly Kirk did excellent filling in left. Our infield was unstoppable, Sara did an outstanding job catching and I felt good pitching today.”

McCarthy added, “Our defense was really good today, Nicole pitched excellent as always. We did pretty good overall.” 

The Pirates had a good season finishing 13-9 and will now look to rebuild with a good young nucleus coming back next season.

They will have to overcome the loss of their seniors, including their pitcher Mangaudis, who has truly been “The Franchise” the last four seasons, pitching in every inning of every game. 

Solid centerfielder and leader McCarthy also played her final game in the orange and black along with three-sport star Lauren Puishys and left fielder Cassie Coleman.

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by Steev Riccardo

Fitchburg - Oxford High School junior Emily “The Sweet Assassin” Dawidczyk (above) stole the show at the Central Mass track and field championships this past Saturday at Fitchburg State University.

Dawidczyk won the 200-meter dash, set the meet record in the 110-meter hurdles, and came in second in the long jump in an epic all-around performance.

“Winning the 200 and the hurdles was a huge surprise to me. The two events weren't really spaced out so when it came to doing the finals in both, I was pretty tired. I'm happy I did both though,” said a jubilant Dawidczyk.

“Breaking the hurdle record was an amazing feeling. Even though it wasn't my best time, I was still really pleased. I remember running against the girl who had it before when I was a freshman. It was cool to actually know the person who had it before me.”

The state tournament is next for Dawidczyk, who is taking it as it comes at this point. “I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing in this meet but I know I will be doing the 200 and hopefully finishing strong.”

Shepherd Hill sophomore sensation Stella Worters was the other local to take home the gold, winning the one-mile run.  Worters was also part of the 4x3200 meter relay team, which also included senior Kaleigh Durkin, Haley Chamberlin, and freshman Juleanna Schultz.

Schultz also had a strong showing in the two-mile run, finishing in third place.

Shepherd Hill’s girls' 4x1600 relay team of Emily Thibaud, Valerie Thibaud, Chamberlin, and Durkin came in a respectable fifth place.
The Rams' senior and US Marine Corp-bound co-captain Emily Mattson came in third in the high jump.

On the boys' side, Bartlett’s Arthur Hackenson came in second in the discus throw, while his teammate Rocco DiStefano came in fifth in the javelin throw.

The Rams' Leo Harmon came up big with a fourth place finish in the 800-meter run.

The Shepherd Hill boys' 4x400 relay team consisting of Jon Benoit, Chris Patrinos, Drew Jean-Guillaume, and Adam Banks had an excellent third place finish.

As far as the overall team scores went, Shepherd Hill’s girls finished sixth overall, while the boys came in fourteenth place. Bartlett finished in nineteenth place overall.

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Nick Lemay

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

The Oxford Pirates wrapped up a fantastic regular season by avenging an early loss to the Millbury Woolies with a 2-1 win behind another masterful performance by Nick Lemay at Oxford High School on Wednesday May 23.

The victory, which was payback for a 12-3 smack down in April at the hands of the Woolies, was the icing on a brilliant 15-5 regular season for the district playoff-bound Pirates.

It was also Lemay’s eighth win of the season and only the second earned run he has allowed all season. The left-handed ace has an ERA below one run and is far and away the MVP of the Southern Worcester County League.

“It was a tough battle; they played really well, they hit the ball right to our players. We managed to get out and we managed to get one more run that them,” said the senior co-captain, who is also hitting over .450.

Lemay remembered losing more than just a game to the Woolies this year. “My sophomore year they knocked us out of the Districts, we just got revenge on them today. It felt good.”

“I think we need to step it up for the Districts,” said Lemay. “In the first ten games of the season we averaged almost ten runs a game, but  we have dropped a lot since then. We are playing great defensively, but we need to step it up in both categories if we want to make it far (in the Districts).”

“We are doing decent hitting the ball, but we are having problems manufacturing runs.”  The Pirates did just that against the Woolies, with one run coming on a sacrifice fly by Nick Cardoni and the second on a double by Lemay. That was all the pitcher needed to secure the win.

Cody Stone

Third baseman junior Cody Stone was also hyped up about the upcoming District play after the win, “This year we are a team. Last year it felt like a few players were hot, a few players were cold, this year we are all hot.”

As far as the recent hitting struggles go, Stone had a good explanation. “Every week we are seeing ace after ace after ace.  In the beginning of the season we weren’t seeing as good pitching as we are now.”

Like Lemay, Stone was also happy to beat their SWCL rivals Millbury,
“They needed that win to get in the Districts so it felt good to beat them after what they did to us earlier.”

The Districts are scheduled to begin later this week and hopes are very high for the Pirates, who along with Northbridge are great representatives of the SWCL and could go far in the playoffs.

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Freshman Evelyn Marquis

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

It was a jovial scene at Oxford High School field last Wednesday afternoon. The Pirates had just beaten the Millbury Woolies 3-0 and the players and their parents were celebrating a successful season and an impending return trip to the district playoffs.

While it’s business as usual for senior co-captain and all-star pitcher Nicole “The Franchise” Mangaudis, who struck-out 13 Woolies batters en route to a superb shutout win, a torch was also being passed to newly named Captain Sara Smith and freshman sensation Evelyn Marquis, who had two hits in the win over the Woolies.

2013 Pirate Captain Sara Smith

Smith, the team’s stalwart catcher, was an obvious choice to be captain, with her great leadership qualities, a mighty .400 batting average, and the team’s backbone behind the plate.

Marquis, only a freshman, has been incredible this year both in the field at shortstop and at the plate, batting over .400 all season long and ending the regular season hitting around .460 for the 12-8 Pirates.

With Smith and Marquis in the mix for next season, the Pirates and Coach Jamie Hetherman have plenty to look forward to, but first they have some unfinished business in the next couple of weeks.

“We are finally coming around, our defense is getting better, we cut down on errors, we are still one hit away from opening up games,” said Hetherman. “Obviously, it’s all about pitching and we have that, and if our bats come alive we will be OK.”

“I think if we have today’s attitude and motivation we will do well.” Said Mangaudis, “Sometimes we come into a game and we are not as excited or enthusiastic; without team work we will go nowhere. As long as we have the right attitude we will do well.  I think we are excited to go farther than we did last year.”

The newly named captain for next season Smith added, “I am very excited for the Districts and proud our team has made it this far. We we don’t plan on giving up, and we hope to push through and go the championship.”

In regards to the future, Smith also said, “I feel very privileged being named captain for next year and I plan on leading the team very far.”

Hetherman, although thinking in the present, is also confident about the future, “Sara Smith, along with Evelyn (Marquis), is the backbone of the future here.”

Sometimes you hear the expression “big shoes to fill,” In this case there couldn’t be a truer statement. Marquis has to follow a pitcher who has been the face of the program for the last four years and has pitched in every single inning of every game.

“She shocked us this year, she was clutch at shortstop and she has done amazing, and I think with a year of watching what varsity is like, and if she works hard during the off season, she will do really well pitching,” said Mangaudis.

“We have already tagged her and now she has to live up to it, as “The Dynasty,” said Hetherman, who gave Mangaudis the moniker “The Franchise” a few years back.  

“She will be the number one pitcher going into next year,” said Hetherman. “She works at it year around, she plays travel ball, she is a great kid, great teammate, as a freshman she showed great leadership.”

Evelyn Marquis and Nicole Mangaudis

Marquis is definitely a hard worker. She plays for the Charlton Wildfire and goes to the batting cages at Extra Innings in Auburn every weekend, “sometimes twice a week.” It has paid off, with her team leading average and batting numbers that rival anyone in the Southern Worcester County League. 

She knows about those “big shoes” she has to fill, but you get the feeling there really is a new “Dynasty” in the works at Oxford High School and with “The Franchise” moving on, it’s just what the team needs.

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High School baseball round-up

Photos and text by Steev Riccardo

Oxford - Junior Nick Cardoni (seen, left) started the first game of his career for the Oxford Pirates and turned in a gem, helping his team complete a 3-0 week with a 3-0 shutout victory over Hopedale Friday morning at Oxford High School field.

The Pirates, who toppled Blackstone-Millville and Grafton earlier in the week, completed the trifecta with some timely hitting and a solid performance from Cardoni, who allowed 3 hits against the defending District champions. 

Pirates manager Justin Richards praised Cardoni’s performance but was also impressed with the way his team fared against Hopedale ace Dan Mantoni. “He is a very good pitcher. He might the best pitcher we faced this year so far. We had really good at-bats, even some of our strikeouts went deep into the at-bats. We are quick enough, we are athletic enough that when we are in games like this, we can bunt, steal, and run and try and manufacture runs like we did today.”

Manufacture runs they did, using their five hits, including two by junior Tyler Barrie, to score the runs they needed to get the job done.

One of these rallies came in the bottom of the fourth inning, which featured a Cardoni single, a sacrifice by Mike Cicero, and an RBI single by Barrie, which produced the third Pirate run.

Above: Cody Stone playing great two-way baseball

The Pirates also got a key defensive play from third baseman Cody Stone on a hard hit ground ball that he nearly muffed but ended up corralling in the fifth inning. Richards said jokingly afterwards, “He’s all about the show; that was probably intentional, knowing him.”

Ultimately it was Cardoni’s pitching that was the real story and the junior knew this was a big opportunity for him. “I was a little nervous getting into it, but once I started pitching it came easy.  I am not going to strike a lot of people out, so as long as I have a solid defense like these guys behind me, I am going to be all right. I am really good when I can hit my spots and walk as little people as possible. This was a big test, I guess I passed it.” He sure did.

The 7-1 Pirates are looking pretty solid these days. “Everyone is hitting the ball really well,” said Cardoni. “Everyone is making the plays in the field, and it’s coming easy right now.”

Pirates Batter Blackstone-Millville 17-6

Earlier in the week, the Pirates scored 10 runs in the sixth inning to dismember Blackstone-Millville’s pitching staff on its way to a dominant 17-6 win.  Nick Lemay was 5 for 5 and Mike Cicero went 3 for 4 including a homerun and 3 RBI’s

Lemay, Pirates Topple Grafton 16-0

The Pirates scored 16 more runs bringing their two-day total to 33 with a lopsided 16-0 win over SWCL rival Grafton on Tuesday. 

The Pirates used an 11 run 4th inning and a superb 5 innings no-hit performance from senior ace Lemay to silence the Grafton Indians bats.  Lemay, (seen in photo, left) who struck out ten batters and helped his own cause with a pair of hits, has yet to allow a run this season (3-0). Senior shortstop Nick Bruzios went 3 for 4 for The Pirates in the win.

Rams Get Crushed 11-0 by Shrewsbury
The Shepherd Hill Rams could only muster 7 hits including a pair of hits by Brady Ravenelle in an 11-0 loss to Shrewsbury last Thursday. Adam Darling took the loss for the Rams.

Indians Edge Worcester Tech 4-3

The Bartlett Indians rebounded from a trouncing at the hands of the Auburn Rockets earlier in the day and edged Worcester Tech 4-3 Tuesday in the consolation game at the Auburn Classic.

Indians’ sophomore right-handed hurler Evan Anderson pitched a complete game and also helped his own cause by going 3 for 4 at the plate. Tyler Mandeville had a key RBI single in the top of seventh for the 3-2 Indians in the win.

The win helped soften an 18-1 loss they suffered at the hands of the Auburn Rockets earlier in the day.

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“My goals are all based on records, so now my motivation is to break my own records”

-- the “Sweet Assassin”

Photos and text by Steev Riccardo

Emily Dawidczyk has been setting and breaking records in both outdoor and indoor track since she was a freshman at Oxford High School. The good news is that she is still only a junior, good news for Oxford that is, bad news for everyone else.

Dawidczyk, or “the Sweet Assassin” as we like to call her (sweet off the track and an assassin on it), grew up in Oxford with her parents Patricia and John, who were both athletes in high school (Mom ran track and Dad played soccer). Her older sister Maggie, who also ran track and played soccer for Oxford, was instrumental in paving the way for the future athlete as well.

“When I was young and used to go to my sister’s soccer matches, I would run on the field and they would have to carry me off,” said Dawidczyk, who started playing soccer at a very young age and has gone on to play three years with the Pirates, this past year, a junior, as a Captain.

She began running on the indoor track team as a freshman for “fun” because “she loved running fast and sprinting.” This passion led her to the 300-meter dash and her very first competitive matches. 

“My sister had held the record for the 300 meters but Noelle Richards (ex Oxford star now at WPI), broke it and my sister told me that I had to get the record back under our name.  I ended up breaking my sister’s record when I qualified for States and I thought I can do this.”  She went on to win at her first Division 4 state meet and realized then that this “was a big deal.” 

During her sophomore year she was out sick with mononucleosis and missed most of the indoor season, and upon returning had only limited time to train.  She still managed to win the 55-meter hurdles in the Districts when she was well enough to train but wasn’t quite well enough to compete in the 300 meters. It was still a remarkable feat.

She was healthy again by the time outdoor track started but suffered a lower back injury. She skipped the SWCL (Southern Worcester County League) meet but made it back for the Districts and ending up winning the 200 meters.

A trend was certainly developing, as Dawidczyk was not going to let anything stop her.  That sophomore season she went to the State meet and won the 200-meters qualifier but had to be scratched from the finals because her back started acting up again. It was still a successful campaign for her despite the injuries.

“This year was really important to me, people start to look at you when you are a junior, it was a lot of pressure and I was hoping that I wouldn’t get hurt. I trained hard and I tried to be healthy and I focused more on the 55-meter hurdles.”  She still wanted to get “her” SWCL 300-meter record back that she had lost while she had mono. She succeeded and then put some icing on the cake by grabbing the SWCL record in the 55-meter hurdles as well.

This week she started her junior season in outdoor track by winning both the 100 and 200 meters in a meet against Millbury. “I think we could be pretty competitive this season as a team; for me, my main focus is 200 meters. I want to win States again,” she said.

She has also paid attention to her peers at the school and has good camaraderie with the other female athletes. “The field hockey team had a great run this fall. I know I can go to them, it’s nice to know that you are not alone, it’s great that there are girls here that know the athletic situation. It’s always great to look up to them.”

She credits the Oxford youth programs but also believes “it depends on the person, if you find something that you like to do you want to work at it, I think it’s more personal, but you also feed off of everybody else. The coaches are also huge influences.”

One coach who she had as a freshman was Timothy Craig.  “He was an inspiration to me in my freshman year and from then on I could always share my feelings with him. He is my math teacher this year, which is kind of interesting, I respect him a lot and I respect the way he treats me as an athlete.”

When she is not on either the soccer field or running track, Dawidczyk is also a member of the National Honor Society and the Student Council.

She is also involved as an associate with the “Best Buddies” program, which is something that is close to her heart, especially since her sister Abby, who is a senior at Oxford, is a special needs student.

“I don’t like seeing people look at those kids differently. I understand the importance of why they need to be treated equally and they need friends too.  I think it’s important that everyone gets involved and I try to get people involved. I can see with my sister what kind of an impact it has.”

It’s been a great run so far for the “Sweet Assassin” but it’s also far from over and the future looks awfully bright.

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Photos and text by Steev Riccardo

Oxford Pirates senior Pitcher Nick Lemay (above) struck out 16 Quaboag Cougars hitters en route to a 3-hit complete game shutout victory on opening day, Wednesday afternoon, at Oxford High School.

Lemay was outstanding, outdueling Cougars ace Thomas Jankins, who only allowed two hits while fanning 10 Pirate batters.

The Pirates scored their first run in the bottom of the first inning on an error and watched as Lemay pitched masterfully, at one point striking out seven straight Cougars batters.

The Cougars had a runner on second base with no outs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Lemay helped his own cause picking the runner off.

The Pirates scored three times in the top of the eighth. Nick Bruzios opened the inning by walking and then Lemay got the first Pirates hit of the game singling off Jankins to put runners on first and second with no outs. The Pirates executed a nice double steal, moving the runners up to second and third base. Jankins then made a crucial throwing error on a ground ball by Tyler Barrie and both runners scored, giving the Pirates a 3-0 lead.

Freshmen catcher James Sheehan came up big with a line drive double that scored Barrie, giving the Pirates an insurance run and a 4-0 lead that chased Jankins from the mound. 

Lemay wrapped up the seventh inning, picking up his 16th strikeout of the game off the last hitter he faced.

Pirates Manager Justin Richards was impressed by Lemay’s performance. “Lemay is a four-year varsity player and he knows that he has to be the ace of this staff and we knew going in that their pitcher (Jankins) is outstanding. He is really good so we knew that it was probably going to be a pitchers duel.  Lemay stepped up to the challenge, he knew when he had to overpower hitters, and he did, and he hit the spots when he had to.”

The pick-off play by Lemay is something the team has worked on and it certainly paid dividends. “We spend a lot of time on pickoff plays and for that purpose we can keep guys close. Lemay historically has been very good at that.  Getting the one guy they had in scoring position in a 1-0 game made things very easy for us,” said Richards.

“We go over that in practice a lot, probably every other day,” said Lemay, “I love that move, the spin throw. We got two or three guys like that last year.” 

Lemay knew he had to be on top of his game facing a pitcher like Jankins, “I have never faced him but I have seen him at a couple showcases. He throws wicked hard, he is also a great hitter.” 

Richards was also happy with his freshmen catcher Sheehan, who had a big hit and also threw out two Cougars runners attempting to steal. “He is only a freshmen, he can be real good if he wants to be and this was a very good first game for him.”

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