Local Sports Roundup
Mix of veterans, defense, goal-tending give Aztecs solid start "
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Marlborough - A nucleus of key returnees, a good defensive eff ort and consistent goal-tending have all added up to a solid start for the Assabet Valley Regional High School hockey team.

The Aztecs entered play this week 4-1-4.

"The kids are coming together, the leaders are emerging and the team is finding its identity," Assabet coach Dave Quinn said. "With a bounce here or there we could probably have six or seven wins, but we could also just as easily have a couple more losses, too."

Quinn said while some of the upperclassmen have seen a considerable amount of ice time through the years, others who have been in the program for two or three years are only now beginning to skate significant minutes.

Senior captain Peter Richardson centers the Aztecs' first line with junior Billy Morin on the left wing and sophomore James Tyler on the right wing. Junior Colby Tyler (no relation to James) centers Assabet's second line with senior Mike McDonald, the Aztecs' assistant captain, on the left side, senior Shawn Durkin on the right side.

Assabet's third line is centered by junior Mark Yeaton, who has senior Jay Krause on his right wing and senior Brandon Ashford on his left wing. Senior Chris Orell is the center on the Aztecs' fourth line with his wings a rotation of junior Kyle Newell and freshmen Scott Martin and Brett Pettis.

"Another big key is the fact that Chris Lowe is having a much better season in net than he did a year ago," Quinn said about his goalie. "He had a very strong freshman year two years ago, but then was up and down last year as a sophomore."

Playing defense in front of Lowe are senior Mark Reed, juniors Steve Davis, Joe Puzar and Pat Cooper, and freshmen Kurt Sawyer and Matt Tucker. Pitch tournament

scheduled

The Fourth Annual John Armour Pitch Tournament will be held beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday Feb. 17 at the Masonic Hall in Marlborough.

Following the tournament, a buffet dinner and raffle will be held. Proceeds of the tournament and the raffle will benefit scholarships for area high school seniors and, if enough money is raised, will be used to help out needy families and area sports teams.

The cost to enter the tournament is $50 per person and seating is limited to the first 120 people who register. Cash prizes will be awarded to the first- ($500), second- ($300) and third-place ($200) finishers.

Those interested in participating in the tournament should send a check for the entry fee to the John Armour Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of Richard Armour, 13 Greendale Avenue, Marlborough MA 01752, or see Mary Armour at the Marlborough American Legion

" hall between 1 and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Registration is open to both teams of two as well as individuals who are interested in participating. Girls lacrosse

registration

continues

Spaces remain for third- and fourth-grade girls interested in participating in the spring season of the Northborough/ Southborough Girls Lacrosse League.

Practices and an eightgame schedule will be held in Northborough and Southborough and will begin in March, indoors, at St. Mark's School. Eight-on-eight games will be played in Sunday afternoons in April, May and June.

Interested players will be required to bring a stick, goggles, a mouth guard and cleats. It is a no-checking league.

For more information or to register, visit the league's website at www.nsgl.org.

Contact Ken Powers at kpthesportsguy@yahoo.com with your team's sports news.