There are many “truths” in baseball, and there are two among many when it comes to early-season Spring baseball games. Truth number one? Quite often the weather will be more suited to Football season. Truth number two? Very rarely will games be “clean.” In other words, there will be errors and base-running gaffes and pitchers who have trouble finding the strike-zone, and on and on. Most high school teams get relatively very little time outside prior to the regular season beginning, and just as little actual game action. All that said, Saturday’s home opener was a pretty darn good baseball game for Game 1 of the season, and despite all the above happening, the Raiders swung the bat, played decent baseball overall and received two quality pitching performances on the way to a 9-7 non-league win versus Fitchburg.
The Watertown Recreation Department provided the following announcement:
Please fill out our Interest Survey
Watertown Recreation is exploring the possibility of launching a Youth Travel Field Hockey Team to join the Baystate Youth Field Hockey League in the Fall of 2026. Before moving forward, we’d like to gauge interest from families in the community. Your feedback will help us determine whether this program is viable. Proposed Program Structure
Grades 1–4
1 Practice Per Week
Sunday Morning Games (8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)
Grades 5–8
2 Practices Per Week
Sunday Morning Game (8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)
Estimated Cost: $150–$190 per playerhttps://forms.gle/7XhhAJhqNqqyqSxq7
Boston Bruin Alex Steeves learns about goalball from two members of Perkins School for the Blind Towerhawks. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Boston Bruins center Alex Steeves has played in some tough environments — Montreal, Toronto, Madison Square Garden — but on Monday he entered the Perkins School for the Blind’s gym to try his hand at a new sport: one which requires him to play blindfolded. The NHL player visited the campus in Watertown to play goalball, a game designed for the blind and visually impaired. Because participants have a range of visual abilities, every player wears an blackout goggles so their vision is completely blocked. Bruins player Alex Steeves throws the ball down court during a game of goalball at Perkins School.
The Watertown High School cheerleaders won the Winter North Small Co-ed Championship. (Photo by Watertown Cheerleading)
Watertown High School’s Cheerleaders claimed a championship at the Winter North Regional Cheerleading Championship in Billerica on March 1. The Raiders were crowned 2026 Winter North Small Co-ed Champions after what coach Stephanie Owens called “an incredible performance.” “This is the second Championship they have won in two years,” Owens said. “They also placed second at the Fall North Regional Cheerleading Championship.”
Watertown senior Jimmy Strestha claimed his 100th career win at the All-State Meet in Springfield. (Courtesy of Watertown Athletics)
A pair of Watertown wrestlers faced the Bay State’s best in the All-State Meet in Springfield on Sunday, and one picked up a milestone win. Senior Jimmy Strestha won his first consolation match in the 132 pound division with a technical fall to join a select few in the Raiders’ wrestling program, said Watertown Wrestling Coach Kevin Russo. “Jimmy got his 100th win there, becoming only the 4th wrestler in program history to do so,” Russo said. Another senior, Fahad Khan, also claimed a win at the MassMutual Center in the 106 pound bracket.
The Boston Gold Kings have two more regular season home games at the John A. Ryan Arena in Watertown, and each one has a theme. The first is Youth Hockey Night, and the second is a Puck Cancer fund raiser. See details provided by the Gold Kings, below. Sunday, March 1 – Youth Hockey NightWe’ll be recognizing local youth hockey organizations and celebrating the next generation of players. Any youth player who wears their hockey jersey to the rink will receive free admission.
Isaac Maillis and the Raiders will face Shawsheen Valley Tech in the State Tournament on Thursday. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
Two Watertown High School squads will play in the winter State Tournaments, with the boys hockey team skating on Thursday girls basketball team playing Friday. The boys hockey team faces Shawsheen Valley Tech on Feb. 26 at 7:10 p.m. at Hallenbourg Ice Rink in Billerica. The Raiders (3-17) are the 28th seed, while Shawsheen (17-2-1) is the fifth seed.
Watertown seniors Jimmy Shrestha, left, and Fahad Khan both finished fourth in their divisions at the MIAA Div. 3 State Wrestling Championships. (Courtesy of Watertown Athletics)
Watertown’s Jimmy Shrestha and Fahad Khan will compete with the top wrestlers from across Massachusetts after both placed fourth at the MIAA Div. 3 State Meet in Gloucester on Saturday. Both seniors placed among the highest finishes in the State Meet in Watertown history, said Watertown Wrestling Coach Kevin Russo.
The Boston Gold Kings (BGK), coming off a tough road loss back on Feb. 7th, put together a strong and disciplined effort on Valentine’s Day night in front of their home crowd, running away with a 9-4 win. Nine different Gold Kings littered the scoresheet and Goalie Mike Cowell, while maybe not as a sharp as some previous games, was still there when needed to post the win. The Gold Kings move to 7-5-0-2 on the season and with two games remaining in the regular season hold a 4-point lead over third place Holyoke. The Gold Kings got off to a great start when Nick McNally, flying down the right side and going upstairs with a wrister, made it 1-0 1:38 into the first period. But last-place Norfolk, with only two wins on the season, found their skating game and put two past Cowell 10 minutes apart to take the lead 2-1 for the one and only time on the night. The Gold Kings righted the ship with a huge goal with a minute forty one left in the period off the stick of fourth-line Center Mike Delisio to tie it two. Delisio and McNally both had excellent nights and were named two of the three stars post-game. One of the bugaboos for the defending champion Gold Kings this season has been a lack of disciplined hockey at times. Whether taking silly penalties or failing to clear the zone or missed assignments, their game has not always been as clean as they would like it to be. On this night, though, the Gold Kings looked much sharper and in control. Second period goals by M. Baldino, Drizen and Cebula paved the way for a third period explosion, as the Gold Kings simply wore down the Mallards. Despite being a last-place team, Norfolk could skate, but they were vulnerable with ever other aspect of their game, and the Gold Kings took advantage. Goal-scorers Forte, Carta, DiCostanzo and Smith made sure of it after a pretty quiet start to the third period. But once the clock hit 8:54, it was all Gold Kings till the final whistle. Final score, Gold Kings 9 Mallards 4.
