Schedule changes and this week's Top 5

Shepherd Hill's Matt Vertucci (#42) was huge in the Hill's win over SPM

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

Greetings Sports Fans!

Usually it’s the inclement weather that causes disruptions in high school sports schedules, but that wasn’t the case this past weekend in Central Mass when several game times and dates were changed due to the threat of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

The Bartlett Indians found themselves traveling to Warren to play Quaboag at 5:00 Friday afternoon, while Shepherd Hill and St. Peter-Marian played on St. Peters-Marian’s practice field when they had to move the 7:00 start time of their game from Anna Maria College to 1:00.  The Oxford Pirates had breakfast just in time to kickoff at 11 a.m. Saturday morning.

It was a little confusing, but the games were all played and the stands were full of fans-- and that’s the bottom line. Oh, and just for the record, I got three mosquito bites in Warren at the Bartlett game. 

Next weekend schedules are already being shuffled as well. The Indians will play Nipmuc in their home opener at 5:00 in Webster, while both Shepherd Hill and Oxford, also both at home, will play afternoon games on Saturday.

The View’s Top 5 of the week: This week we unveil a new weekly feature to celebrate the top five performances of the week!  Without further adieu, check out this week’s Top 5 performances.

1. The Shepherd Hill Rams offensive line: There were many great performances within the Shepherd Hill-St. Peters-Marian game, but none bigger than the Rams offensive line, which is outstanding once again this season.

2. Emily “The Sweet Assassin” Dawidczyk: “The Sweet Assassin” is on fire with 13 goals in the Oxford Pirates first four games. At this rate, Dawidczyk is going to set some marks that may never be matched. We are really looking forward to seeing how Shepherd Hill defends Emily on Thursday (September 27), should be interesting.

3. Alex Givens-Perry:  I saw AGP before the Indians-Quaboag game and I told him he needed to rush for over 100 yards to insure an Indians win and he just nodded. He didn’t let his team down and also scored a touchdown in the win in a solid performance.

4. Shepherd Hill Girls soccer team: The Rams are on fire and from what star players Tine Gauvin and Taylor Daniels (also part of the Rams outstanding hoop team) told me this weekend, this is only the beginning.  The girls are off to a 4-0-1 start after beating Bartlett 11-2 and tying Algonquin on Saturday.

5. Shepherd Hill senior running back Matt Vertucci: Vertucci was outstanding on Saturday with a 69-yard touchdown run and another big run for 44 yards.  Drew Ravenelle, who Vertucci edged out for the #5 spot, raved about his teammate after his performance on Saturday, telling us he deserves a lot of credit for the team’s early success.

Nick Lemay: We ran into former Oxford Pirate star pitcher Nick Lemay this past weekend at the Oxford-Worcester South football game and the lefty told us that he is getting ready to play Fall baseball for Becker College. He also said he may be getting the nod on the mound in the team’s opener, which will be in Florida. We are not surprised.

Secret Agent Soccer Bond: Turns out Lindsay Bond has joined the Anna Maria College soccer team as a walk on last week and even played in the team’s opener last Saturday. Looks like the Secret Agent will be playing three sports this year at Anna Maria. Just like the old days.

Lockdown Defenders: It was unlikely that Bartlett freshmen Anne Marie Markiewicz had any clue whatsoever who Emily Dawidczyk was when Bartlett coach Colleen Nasis told her that she would be guarding the Oxford all-star last week.  Nevertheless “Marksy” took it all in stride and then did excellent job covering the senior.

Until next week, see you on the sidelines! Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any sports news and check out the new View From The Sidelines Facebook page with exclusive photos and news at https://www.facebook.com/ViewFromTheSidelines