I’ve always enjoyed playing around with math.
So, just out of strange curiosity because it interests me, I wanted to figure out what percentage of All-CAL First Team selections — and MVPs — from this recent spring season came from our area. The Daily News covers five Cape Ann League schools (Amesbury, Georgetown, Newburyport, Pentucket Triton), and there are 12 schools in the league.
Since we cover about 40% of the league, I was hoping our athletes would make up at least 40% of the All-CAL First Teamers and MVPs.
My confidence was rewarded.
There were 118 All-CAL spots between the eight spring sports, and Daily News athletes took up 50 of them (42.4%). Boys track was the best at 13/18, with athletes like Amesbury’s Aiden Donovan and Pentucket’s Joel Spaulding and Tighe Hosman winning multiple events at the CAL Open to earn that honor. We also have softball to thank taking up 11 of the 16 spots, much to the credit of Georgetown’s Ellie Barbarick, Newburyport’s Emma Keefe, Pentucket’s Kayla Murphy and Triton’s Skylar Colburn and Kyla Story.
And the MVPs were even better.
Out of the 17 potential CAL Kinney and Baker MVPs, Daily News athletes made up 9 of them (52.9%). Softball, again, had three with Newburyport’s Emily Meleedy and Triton’s Emma Penniman being named co-MVPs in the Kinney, while Amesbury’s Izzy Levasseur was Baker MVP. We also had Amesbury’s Bayleigh Shanahan as the Baker Female Athlete of the Year, Georgetown’s Hayden Ruth as the Baker baseball MVP, Newburyport’s Lilly Pons as the Kinney girls lacrosse MVP and Pentucket’s Ben Turpin as the Kinney boys lacrosse MVP.
Georgetown coach openings
Georgetown High School is in search of two varsity head coaches for the upcoming school year.
The Royals are still looking for a new girls volleyball coach for the second straight year. Athletic director Ryan Browner stepped in to coach the team a year ago, and the Royals did win a playoff game.
Georgetown is also now looking for a new girls basketball coach for the winter season. Tim Mahan, a teacher at Newburyport High, has led the team successfully over the past two seasons, going 14-9 each year. The Royals advanced to the Division 5 quarterfinals two years ago and the Round of 16 last year, and will have plenty of talent returning this winter with Daily News All-Stars Neiylah Marcelin and Talya Mariani, as well as Avery Upite, Katie Davies and Bailey Pierson.
Both positions can be applied for at: www.schoolspring.com.
Celebrini props up Eiserman
A lot of people, including the entire New York Islanders front office, were shocked when Newburyport native Cole Eiserman fell to No. 20 overall in the recent NHL Draft. Eiserman — probably the best pure goal-scorer available — broke the United States National Development Team record for career goals with the program (127), and was once thought of as a consensus top-5 pick.
But scouts began to label his game as “one-dimensional” — despite that dimension being the primary reason why you win a hockey game — and questioned whether he could be developed to play acceptably in his own zone at the NHL level.
One person who’s not concerned though? Eiserman’s good friends and former teammate at the powerhouse Shattuck St. Mary’s school, Macklin Celebrini — the No. 1 overall pick to the San Jose Sharks.
Speaking to the popular “Spittin Chiclets” podcast, Celebrini said of Eiserman: “He’s an amazing player. When we were at Shattuck’s — obviously, it was the lowest level — but every time I got him the puck, he scored. It was crazy. Like every breakaway … you just knew he was putting it in the back of the net. I haven’t had that feeling with anyone else that I’ve played with.
“If he gets an opportunity and he misses, he’ll be more mad at himself than you could get mad at him. He knows what he can do. and it’s not even like his shot is really good. His release is unbelievable. But it’s where he puts it. His knowledge of actually putting the puck in the net, I feel, is his real strength.”
Road races in Newburyport
Local running junkies have a trio of opportunities coming up to sign up for a road race in Newburyport.
The IPA 5K & Half Marathon will take place this Sunday (7/21), starting at 8 a.m. at the RiverWalk Brewery. There are limited spots still available, but you can still register at the race website.
Then, of course, the following Tuesday (7/30) is the ever-popular Yankee Homecoming Road Race, which draws over a thousand runners to Newburyport every year. There is still ample time to sign up for both the 5K and 10-mile races.
And finally, the Newburyport High Street Mile will take place on Sunday, Aug. 4th.