The final week of the Merrimack Valley Conference baseball and softball schedule is upon us.
There is still plenty to be decided, not just in the league standings but also how the week impacts state tournament eligibility.
On the baseball field, MVC1 is in North Andover’s hands with Chelmsford looking to pick up a piece of the title pie.
Coach Todd Dulin’s Knights, 11-5 overall, are 11-1 in the MVC, while the Lions sit at 11-5 and 10-3 in the league.
North Andover has an interesting week ahead. The Knights will be “on the road” on their home turf on Monday against Central where they can clinch at least a share of the championship. Wednesday, they’re at Chelmsford, and then they really hit the road, going to Cooperstown, N.Y., on the weekend for a Sunday battle with Lowell on Doubleday Field.
Few would have pointed to North Andover in the conference back in March.
First-team All-MVC catcher Mike Phelps, who would have been one of the top returners in the league, was out because of a football injury.
Graduation pummeled North Andover last spring.
Yet, after a couple non-league bumps, the Knights have dominated the conference.
“We started two freshmen and three or four sophomores, so we’ve had some time figuring out just who should be where,” said Dulin. “The kids have worked hard. We’re extremely happy. There’s no quit in them. Even early on you could see, they would fight when things didn’t go their way. That was there from the beginning. They are fun to coach, for sure.”
Junior catcher Harrison Goodrow raised his game big time to fill the void for Phelps. That was a huge lynchpin in the Knights’ success.
Now, they can finish the job from the driver’s seat. But it won’t be easy.
Central is playing solid baseball, winning three times last week to move to 6-9 and keep their tourney hopes alive.
Chelmsford is very dangerous, and who wants the MVC to be decided in upstate New York, right?
Regardless, it’s a huge week ahead.
In the MVC2, Dracut has been in charge most of the way, now sitting at 10-5 and 7-5 in the league. The smalls play 14 MVC games, meaning the Middies can clinch at least a share with one win.
Both Haverhill and Methuen sit at 5-6 in the league.
Dracut hosts Methuen Wednesday and Billerica Thursday. The Rangers host Tewksbury on Monday and Haverhill on Friday night. The Hillies host Billerica Monday and are at Tewksbury on Wednesday.
Methuen or Haverhill needs to win out to have a chance.
Talking softball
There is not as much drama on the softball side, at least in MVC1.
Central Catholic, at 12-0 overall and 10-0 in the league holds a three-game lead over Chelmsford and a four-game advantage over Tewksbury.
Things could get a little interesting in MVC2 where Andover holds a one-game edge on Lowell.
Those two teams close out the week on Friday in Andover, which took the earlier meeting, 5-2.
Astro Additions
Pinkerton Academy athletic director Brian O’Reilly was extremely pleased to note a pair of new additions to the Astros’ varsity coaching staff.
Ashley Hugh will step up from her spot as the junior varsity coach and take over as varsity girls basketball head coach, replacing Lani Buskey.
Before the season, Buskey, a Pinkerton alum, told O’Reilly that she would be stepping down after 13 years at the helm, reaching on state final in 2018.
The Astros also have a new varsity boys hockey coach. Cole Carter, a teacher in the building who has at various times volunteered on the staff, takes over on the ice.
Food for Thought
An interesting “Niche” study recently ranked the top 25 Massachusetts high schools for athletes using criteria like parent/student surveys, sports offered, championships won and participation rates.
To nobody’s surprise, the Catholic Conference held the top four spots – BC High, St. John’s Prep, Xaverian and Catholic Memorial – with Central Catholic taking up the No. 5 spot.
Only two other Merrimack Valley Conference teams cracked the top 25 – Billerica at No. 13 and Tewksbury at No. 24.