Christmas Tourney pairings announced
The Commonwealth Classic Christmas Basketball Tournament pairings were announced this week.
Nope, it’s never too early to start thinking about basketball season.
On the boys side, defending champion Lawrence High School drew the top seed overall.
The Lancers dominated the event a year ago, and despite losing a ton to graduation, all signals point to them having reloaded. That is if summer league results are any indication.
Captains Obbie Luciano and Joendy Rosario leaded an athletic Lawrence High crew into the winter season.
Central Catholic, which saw its two top scorers leave for prep school, still managed the second season. Big man John Kelley and dynamic sophomore Javi Lopez lead the Raiders.
With much of the crew from last year’s state semifinalist intact, Eagle-Tribune Super Teamer Zach Wolinski and North Andover were given the No. 3 seed, while Andover High picked up the fourth seed.
Rounding out the boys field are 5. St. John’s Prep, 6. Methuen, 7. Beverly and 8. Newburyport.
Girls field set
If Andover High coach Alan Hibino needed to fire up his defending Division state champion girls team, he just needs to show them the seedings for the Christmas tourney.
The defending champ Warriors were selected as the No. 3 overall.
Point guard Michaela Buckley is the lone starter returning for the Warriors, but sharp-shooting super-sub Ella Vidoni showed her stuff in the dramatic run to the state title.
“The tournament committee did their homework,” said Hibino. “The two teams ahead of us are going to be very tough. and we know that the team (seeded fourth) is going to be very strong as well.”
Central Catholic drew the top seed overall. The Raiders return an athletic and tested crew with the likes of Abby Yfantopulos, Kerri Finneran, Sam Guertin and Shea Montague back in the fold.
Perennial powerhouse Pentucket is the No. 2.
Multi-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star Samantha Pfeil and the Methuen Rangers drew the No. 4.
Rounding out the field are: No. 5 Natick, No. 6 Westford, No. 7 North Andover and No. 8 Haverhill.
Hajjar on right track
Cleveland Guardians minor league lefty Steve Hajjar earned an Arizona Fall League invite, coming off a solid summer at high Single-A.
Hajjar could not attend. He was committed to and is currently at the University of Michigan, finishing up the final three classes to earn his bachelor’s degree.
The Central Catholic product and North Andover native finished his summer with the Lake County Captains of the Midwest League, going 3-4 with a 3.61 ERA. He fanned 58 in 57.1 innings of work.
Andover’s Jaillet commits
Speaking of power lefties from the region, Andover High junior Chris Jaillet announced his verbal commitment to UMass Amherst, this week on “X,” the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
As a sophomore last spring, the Eagle-Tribune All-Star went 5-2 on the mound with a 0.46 ERA. He fanned 59 in 46 innings.