Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/sports/page/122/)
The Watertown U12 girls softball season got underway this week, and the chilly conditions did not dampen the spirit of the Crushers and the Panthers. The Crushers won the first game 5-2. Pictured are both teams, along with their coaches – Jen Fandetti and Dan Carroll.
By Del Furbish
Despite the very un-Spring like weather, the Lowell Field was alive again with Softball as the 2014 season kicked off with a U14 match up between Waltham and Watertown. Waltham claimed the first victory of the season with a nail biter of a game as they bested the Watertown Raiders 11-10. It was a fun, back and forth, contest between what will prove to be two very good teams. The season will sure to be filled with a lot of excitement ~ so long as mother nature decides to turn the heat back on. Next up for the Raiders is a match up with Manchester NH and another feisty Waltham team. Have a youth or high school sports report?
It’s time to play ball for Watertown’s young baseball and softball players. Opening Day for Watertown Baseball, Watertown Softball and Watertown Challenger is Saturday, May 3. Teams will kick off the season with a parade, beginning at Saltonstall Park on Main Street, and ending at Casey Field on Watertown Street. The parade will be led by Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio. Casey Field will host the opening ceremonies, then there will be a full slate of games.
Race organizers put down electronic timing equipment for the Finish Strong 5K Road Race on the anniversary of the Watertown Manhunt, but when they went to retrieve it, the equipment was gone. The race raised money for charities that helped the Boston Marathon Bombing victims and local school and community groups. (Click here to find out more about the race). RaceWire, which ran the timing of the race organized by the Watertown Police Supervisor’s Association, had left a generator and red mats with bib timing devices in it on Arlington Street near Merrifield Avenue for the start of the road race, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “They went to set up the finish line, and when they went back it was gone,” Lawn said.
Watertown was well represented in the 118th Boston Marathon, with 76 runners plus others from the Watertown Police and Fire Departments running, and it was a day for the women. The top runner from Watertown was Kath Hardcastle, who had a net time of 2:45:42. She was the 36th fastest woman in the entire race and 32nd in the women 18-39 category. Second was Nicole Casey with 2:58:23, and third (and top male) was Daniel Gulas at 2:59:21. Women took six of the top 10 places for Watertown runners and 12 of the top 20.
The number of Boston Marathon entrants from Watertown has spiked a year after the bombing at the finish line and events that culminated in the shootout with and stopping of the bombing suspects in town. In 2012, 38 Watertown residents ran the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Boston (Ed. Note: I could not find the 2013 numbers but they were similar). This year 76 town residents are running, according to the Boston Athletic Association. In addition, a dozen Watertown Police officers (including 5 from the list of town residents) and one Watertown Firefighter are running the race.
On Saturday, Watertown marked the anniversary of April 19, 2013 with a road race and a family celebration at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center. The top male runner was John Lequin of Salem, who finished the 5K race in a time of 17:54.7. The top female finisher was Jill Wilder of Waltham, who had a time of 18:54.3. After the race, people headed to the Armenian Cultural Center where they enjoyed, pizza, sandwiches and drinks while students from the Maria’s School of Dance performed.
Players of the Watertown High School baseball team wear special hats this season with the words “LT ED WALSH BFD” embroidered on them to honor a former Raider player. Lt. Edward Walsh, the Boston firefighter killed fighting a blaze in the Back Bay graduated from Watertown High School and he played for the Raiders on the baseball diamond. Watertown baseball Coach Aram Manoukian is good friends with Ed’s younger brother Mike. After Walsh’s death, the team wanted to do something to honor him. “The players decided pretty much immediately that they wanted to dedicate the season to him, for being the hero that he clearly was,” Manoukian said.