Local sports roundup
Algonquin Regional baseball team off to another fast start
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Region - With two of the top five hitters in the league and a pair of the top three pitchers, the Algonquin Regional High School baseball team - the 2006 Division 1 State Champions and 2007 Division 1 State Finalist - is off to a 10-2 start.

The Tomahawks, 5-1 in the Mid-Wachusett League's A Division, is led by Kevin Brown, the league's leading hitter, who has 19 hits in 37 at-bats, a .514 batting average. John McKenna is the No. 4 hitter in the league, with a .424 average (14-for-33).

McKenna is also the No. 3 pitcher in the Mid-Wach A, having compiled a 3-1 record and 2.23 earned run average (ERA). Teammate Mike Bonner is 4-0 with a 1.96 ERA.

A look at other local baseball teams reveals that Westborough and Hudson are off to solid starts while St. John's, Shrewsbury and Marlborough are flirting with a .500 record.

Westborough (7-4 overall, 3-1 in the Mid-Wach B) is led by Dan Sharifpour, who is batting .462 (14-for-31), and Fran Whitten (.429, 12-for-28). Keying the Rangers' pitching corps is Matt Daniels, who is 2-1 with a 2.23 ERA.

Hudson, the 1999 and 2002 Division 2 state champions, are off to a 4-0 start in Mid- Wach C, as have compiled a 7-5 overall record. Evan Childs leads the team in hitting with a .406 average (13-for-32). Mike Wood is the team's top pitcher, with a 4-1 mark and 1.31 ERA. Matt Jacobs is 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA.

St. John's is 6-9 overall and 3-2 in the Central Mass. Conference. Shrewsbury is 5-7 overall and 2-3 in Mid- Wach A play. Marlborough is 5-5 overall and 1-1 in the Mid-Wach B.

Local boys lacrosse

teams start strong

Westborough, Shrewsbury, St. John's and Algonquin are all among the top five Central Mass. teams in boys lacrosse.

Westborough has raced out to a 5-0 mark in the Central Mass. A League and a 9-1 record overall. The Rangers are led off ensively by Sebastian Herdt and Phil Mendes. Both players have racked up 38 points thus far this season in exactly the same manner - 24 goals and 14 assists.

Steve Sullivan has scored 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) for the Rangers and is followed closely in the scoring race by Kyle Demers, who has 25 points (15 goals, 10 assists), and Brian Catapang, who has 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists). Danny Krane is the league's top goalie with a 4-1 mark and a save percentage of 69.

Shrewsbury is tops in the Central Mass. B League with a 4-0 record and 8-2 overall mark. Ian Powers leads the Colonials with 47 points (32 goals, 17 assists), while teammate Alex Raposa has recorded 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists). Shrewsbury goalie Ben L'Bassi is 8-2 with a save percentage of 62.

St. John's is 8-3 overall and 4-1 in the Central Mass. A League. Colin O'Rourke not only leads his team in scoring, but the league as well, his 63 points coming from 31 goals and 32 assists. Teammate Rich Bamberger has 46 points (33 goals, 13 assists), Eric Proos 32 (14 goals, 18 assists).

Algonquin is 2-2 overall and 7-4 in the Central Mass. A League. Jamie Hart leads the Tomahawks in scoring with 40 points (17 goals 23 assists). Mike Vulcano has 24 points on the season (16 goals, 8 assists). Contact Ken Powers at kpthesportsguy@yahoo.com with your sports team's news.