SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW- SPRING 2017 ISSUE
KINGSTON, MA — As crazy as it sounds, the 2016-2017 year of high school sports is quickly coming to a close. The spring season has been the most successful of the three seasons. Four teams qualified for postseason play, while all teams tasted some sort of success.
The boy’s baseball team has had a coaching change this year this year. Coach Eugene Boyles had been running the program for many years, but stepped down after last year. The new coach this year is Mr. Mike Hurm. The Saints had a tough 2016 spring, finishing with a record of 6-12, but losing most of those games by 2 or less runs, including several walk-offs. The Saints lost two ace-caliber pitchers in Collin Gillis and Nick Weir, who threw a large majority of their innings last year. As a result, the pitching had to step up this year. Anchoring the staff was freshman Joe Krotchko, who led the Saints to two victories, and had a strong relief appearance to preserve another win. Junior Nick Fantasia also had several good outings. Sophomore John Husband was unstoppable at the plate, leading the team with a .435 average. The seniors on the team were Nick Samia, Joe Sullivan, Captain Andrew Mason, and Captain Jack Murray.
The boy’s lacrosse team was spectacular last year, finishing 14-6 and making it to first round of the MIAA tournament last year, after winning a preliminary game. This year they were dominant, finishing 17-0, and winning the Mayflower Conference title. They were led by their senior tri-captains Steve Fehrm, Bryce Molloy, and Loren Simpson, as well as freshman Timmy Mathison and junior Maguire Duggan. In addition to seniors on the team were Jimmy O’Brien, Greg Hokanson, Derek Cronin, and Matt Finn. Their first tournament game is Friday, June 2nd at Sacred Heart.
Senior captain Loren Simpson said that this season, “We wanted to stay strong as a team, and be the best we can. That has allowed us to have a good season.”
The girl’s softball team went 6-12 last year, and lost a deep core of seniors, including star pitcher Lauren Melchionda. However, the Lady Saints have moved on,and had a very successful season, finishing 10-8 and qualified for the playoffs. The ace of the staff is junior Jillian Blake, a hard throwing Southpaw. They had good years from quite a few players, including senior Olivia DiBiase, junior Mia Gavin, and seventh grader Emma Barnes. The only senior on the team was Dibiase. Their first tournament game is Thursday, June 1st at Sacred Heart..
The girls lacrosse team improved to 11-4 this spring, and qualified for the playoffs. Sadly, they fell to Dedham in the preliminary round of the tournament, 18-15. The girls had a very good season nevertheless, and the future looks bright for the Lady Saints. The seniors on the team were Bridget Leblanc, Erin Hallam, Stephanie Rouse, Josie Tracy, and Amelia Beaton.
The boy’s tennis team struggled with numbers last year, and that showed in their results. This year they were more competitive, and won a match. A key to the team’s success is junior Captain Conor Greeley. He was the top singles player for the second year in a row, and qualified for the individual tennis playoffs. Some other players who had success are eighth graders Ben Trovato and Matthew Straut. There were no seniors on the team
Greeley addressed the team's aspirations, “A good start was to win a match. Now it is up to people to develop, so we will become a stronger team in the future.”
The girls’ tennis team is the defending Mayflower Conference champions, but lost two key seniors, Hayley Ferraro and Caroline Sheen. The team fell a little this year, but still made the playoffs at 7-7, Some players who had success this year were juniors Mia Camelio, Julia Jennings, and Kaitlyn Melchionda, as well as sophomores Emma Keane, and Julia Abraham. Their playoff match is Thursday, June 1st at Norwell High School.
The boys’ and girls’ track teams were back at it again this spring, and participated in many meets, The numbers were down from years past, so it was a rebuilding year. The young talent looks promising. The seniors on the boys’ team were Matt Dunn and Yanni Pappas, while the seniors on the girls’ team were Erin Carberry and Jackie Rouse.
This year in Sacred Heart sports had many lasting memories. The football team qualified for the playoffs in only its second year as a varsity program, the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams continued their runs of excellence, and the volleyball team had another deep run in the tournament this fall. In the winter, the boys’ hockey team survived having only 11 skaters, the boys’ basketball team improved, and the girls’ basketball team once again qualified for the post-season. This spring saw plenty of success as well. All in all, a great year of sports for the Sacred Heart Saints.
F BLOCK SOCIAL JUSTICE CLASS VOLUNTEERS AT PINE STREET INN
BOSTON, MA— In a day and age when many just want to improve their own fortune, it is easy to leave behind those who are in need. The F block Social Justice class taught by Domenica Hudy got a taste of life's hard reality when they volunteered at the Pine Street Inn, a homeless shelter in Boston. The students performed plenty of services, from cutting peppers to slicing and dicing onions, to simply wrapping plastic silverware.
“It was a very eye opening experience.” said senior Rafael Uribe. “We got to help homeless people by cutting pepper, onions, and making silverware. It made us appreciate what we have.”
At the doors of the shelter, several homeless individuals were loitering close by the shelter, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to come back and enjoy a meal. These citizens have endured hardships that are indescribable, and many have severe mental illnesses that do not allow them to build themselves back up in this world. It was a very powerful image for these students, and truly shows the amazing opportunities that the Pine Street Inn brings its dwellers.
Once they were inside the building, the students were immediately assigned to stations. The kitchen was buzzing, with plenty of cooks and workers rapidly trying to prepare food. After being assigned to stations, the students did everything they could to help the staff. Plenty of workers came up to the students and thanked them for their contributions. One worker’s comment was really powerful. He told the students that although it may just seem like they were cutting peppers, they were really supplying food for over 1,500 people. That number is staggering, and motivated the students to help even more individuals.
After around three hours of hard work, the students work was complete. After, they toured the facility and really learned about the process inside the shelter. The good that the Pine Street expands much farther than just feeding and housing there tenants. Every person who checks in must meet with a counselor to discuss getting out of the shelter. They try to contact any family they may have, and help them learn skills that will help them find employment. To further encourage seeking employment, they have a lounge for the inhabitants that have a job. This allows the workers to have a place to relax, as well as rest if they have a night shift. The Pine Street Inn also owns many living facilities, where they can place their tenants when they earn enough money to pay rent. If an inhabitant commits to improving their lives at the Pine Street inn, they will have an opportunity to move on.
With college in the near future, the seniors have all spent a significant time thinking about themselves, and what lies ahead. This visit put everything in perspective, and truly reminded students that their worst days are infinitely better than other people’s best days. That is nothing to feel guilty about, but instead gives everyone more incentive to help those in need.
WINTER SPORTS RECAP– WINTER ISSUE 2017
KINGSTON, MA— The winter months can grow dreary for the citizens of Massachusetts, where snow and cold weather are a guarantee, not a possibility. Despite the less than stellar conditions, many athletes continue to compete for the Sacred Heart, and wear the Saints logo with pride. The five winter sports may not have had as much success as the fall teams did, but the improvement of every team gives hope for the future.
Hockey officially started on November 28, but it was a long and bumpy ride to get there. Although the Saints had a dominant season last year, going 17-4-2, with three losses to eventual Division 3 State Champion Hanover High School, most of that team, as well as Head Coach Tom Macdonald, did not return for the 2016-2017 campaign. Instead, this year’s team is led by Sean Coady, who has been an assistant for the last few years, as well as having a very impressive hockey background.
The team carries 14 players, three of those players are goalies. However, the short bench has not broken the Saints, and they competed hard in every game, finishing with a deceiving record of 3-11-3. A key contributor to the Saints ability to compete was senior goaltender and assistant captain Tim Scully. Scully has been solid between the pipes, including a stellar game against Nauset Regional High School, where he held a deep Warrior team to just three goals. Captain Steven Fehrm was a force to be reckoned with, laying out devastating hits, in addition to blasting shots from the blue line. Junior captain Joshua McCafferty split the year between defense and forward, making a difference in both area, and led the team in goals. Eighth Grader Christian Koylion and sophomore Spencer Irving may have been newcomers to the team, but that didn’t slowed them down. Both Skaters flew around the ice, and frustrated opposing defenders with their offensive ability. The veteran second line of Conor Greeley, Maxwell Allen, and Greg Hokanson stepped up in a big way this year, not surrendering many goals, as well as providing some offense. Freshman Zack Crossman brought his physicality from the gridiron onto the ice. In addition to Mccafferty and Fehrm, freshman Leo Darling has contributed significant minutes, and seventh grader Nick Sivieri has played well beyond his years. Hokanson, Greeley, McCafferty, Darling, and Allen have all been rovers, spending time at both forward and defense. Team manager Mike Walsh has been a presence in the locker room, and a great addition to the team. The Saints competitiveness is due to the phenomenal coaching staff of Coady, Ron High, and Matthew Cox, as well as the courage displayed by the players.The teams All-Star was McCafferty, and they won the Mayflower Conference Sportsmanship award.
When asked about the season, freshman Allen said, “ It’s been a long season. It's been hard with the small amount of players we have, but we just took it one game at a time. Regardless, we had fun.”
Boys basketball fell short of the state tournament this year, which was hard for the team to take. The boys came so close, finishing 7-13. The boys battled some strong teams this year, and that will only help them in the long run. The team seems poised to make a run in the near future, as they have many underclassmen logging significant minutes. Three starters on the team were underclassmen, freshman Joe Krotchko and Tim Mathison, and eighth grader Hunter Wardwell. If this group stays together, the Sacred Heart Saints could build a powerhouse. The all-star for the team was Mathisen.
Junior Cody Boyington had reflected on their season, “We have improved from last year as a team, and have benefited from hard work.”
Girls basketball had a successful season, finishing 13-8 . The Girls made the state tournament, as the #9 seed, and fell to Old Colony 38-25 in the first round. One of the better moments of the year was their early redemption victory over Upper Cape Regional Technical School, who eliminated them last year. They have been led by senior Bridget Leblanc and junior Aidan MacDonald, who were named the team’s all-star’s
The Swimming and Diving teams have faced one major obstacle, they don't have one participant in high school. Despite this age difference, the middle schoolers have worked very hard. The girls team has been very competitive, with eighth graders Carolyn and Katherine Crampton qualifying for sectionals. Eighth grader Cristina Fantonio is very close to joining them in sectionals. The boys team is young and inexperienced, but improving every day. Katherine Crampton was named their all-star
The Cheerleading may not participate in any competitions, but they are a big part of the Saints Winter season. They support the basketball teams, and provide entertainment for the crowd. The seniors on the team were Olivia Dibiase and Amelia Beaton, and Dibiase was named an all-star.
With the winter season over, it is time to get back to the outdoors, with the sports representing the fighting saints. The spring sports season starts March 20.
FALL SPORTS WRAP-UP – FALL ISSUE 2016
KINGSTON, MA— The fall sports season has finally come to a close, and it was very successful. Four teams qualified for the state tournament. Underclassmen stepped up, and seniors all around performed exceptionally.
The football team entered this year with a very different identity than they had last year. They had a smaller roster, gained many new players, and became a co-op with Rising Tide Charter School. They responded by qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in program history, having a regular season record of 3-3, 2-2 in the Mayflower Conference. Although they were a one and done playoff team, the team who defeated them, Millis High School, went on to win the South Division 4A Championship. Despite the playoff loss, there was still more football to be played. The boys went .500 after, losing to Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School, but bouncing back for a win against Bishop Connolly High School. Lastly, the Saints traveled to the lower cape area to battle with their rival Monomoy Regional High School for the Thanksgiving Day. The frigid temperatures frustrated the offenses of both teams, but Monomoy would end up winning 17-7. Some prominent underclassmen were freshman quarterback Tim Matheson and freshman running back Joe Krotchko, who both emulate a bright future for Saints football.
Senior Mike Walsh reflected on the season. “The amount of dedication that this football team produced will be remembered forever. Being part of the first ever Sacred Heart Football team, to then reaching the playoffs four years later shows the dedication and commitment that this program produced. My coaches and teammates this season will be my brothers forever and I am grateful for that”
This year was a step in the right direction for Sacred Heart football, and next season offers more hope for improvement.
The girls volleyball team had another strong year, finishing with a record of 17-4, and a 7-1 record within the Mayflower Conference, resulting in a league title. They also had a big playoff run, defeating St. John Paul II High School and Bishop Connolly High School, and falling to a strong Fairhaven High School team in the State Semi-finals. It was an outstanding season nevertheless. Kaitlyn Melchionda and Abby Slavik represented Sacred Heart in the Mayflower Volleyball classic.
The boy’s soccer team had a successful year as well. They finished 13-5-1, and finished 7-2-1 within the Mayflower League. The boys defeated Sturgis East Charter Public School in the first round of the tournament, before falling to a always formidable Nantucket High School team. The team was led by Seniors Kyle Coleman and Matt Dunn, as well as sophomores Ryan Veitkus and Matt Leary. Leary played exceptionally in the net. They will be losing some players who will be tough to replace, but hopefully will have plenty of replenishments.
The girl’s soccer team were the fourth team to qualify for the state tournament, and also added a Mayflower championship to their resume. The girls also finished with a record of 13-5-1 overall, and a 9-1 record within the Mayflower Conference. They suffered a tough loss to Millis High School in the first round, but still gave a great effort this season. Some prominent players were senior captains Bridget Leblanc and Rachel Struski. The dynasty will hopefully be continued next year.
The golf team went 9-2-1 on the year, and held a 7-2-1 record within the Mayflower Conference. Some consistent performances were given by Eighth Grader John Webster III, Sophomore Quin Sullivan, Junior Sean Flaherty, Sophomore Jake Egan, and Senior Andrew Mason.
”After losing our top three golfers from last year, our younger players had to step up and fill starting roles. This was accomplished, and we did an excellent job under senior captain Andrew Mason. We are looking forward to next year.” Said Junior Sean Flaherty.
The boys and girls cross country teams cap off the wrap up. The boys went 8-1, 3-0 within the Mayflower Conference, and the girls went 6-4, 1-1 within the Mayflower Conference. The boys were led by Seniors Yanni Pappas and Loren Simpson. Senior Erin Carberry represented Sacred Heart and the Mayflower Conference at the Cross Country recognition breakfast in Braintree.
Congratulations to all athletes!
SACRED HEART FOOTBALL GEARS UP FOR ITS SECOND SEASON AS A CO-OP WITH RISING TIDE–SUMMER 2016 ISSUE
KINGSTON, MA— Fall is often regarded by many as their favorite season. The colorful leaves, the comfortable temperatures, and most of all for some, football season. Football starts at the professional, collegiate, and high school levels at the same time, and many fans soak it all in at once. Football is a relatively new sport at Sacred Heart, entering its fourth season of competition, and second at the varsity level. The Saints had a humbling, but positive season in their first year, finishing 2-9. Many have higher hopes for this year, but the large amount of graduating seniors sparked a lower number of participants in years past.
As a result of this, Sacred Heart invited Rising Tide, a charter school right down the street, to join the program. This is a win-win situation for both schools, as Sacred Heart hopes to build up this football program, and Rising Tide will be able to give their football players a place to play. In the inaugural year of the co-op, around 10 players from Rising Tide will be putting on their Blue and Red Saints jerseys, and fighting to potentially bring Sacred Heart to the playoffs.
Any change to any team completely shakes up the dynamic that was set the year before, and obviously adding a whole different school is not a small change. Some Sacred Heart veterans reflected on the change.
When asked about how much the change has impacted the team, Senior captain Joe Sullivan stated, “It's impacted the team in several ways by giving us the extra bodies that we needed but also by growing our fan base by a lot because their whole school was excited to have football players there. We needed the depth they gave us and we also got a lot of younger players which will keep the program running for years to come.” Sullivan Added.
Freshman Joe Krotchko said, “It has impacted the team a lot, and I feel that it was a very smart choice to combine the teams. We have more players, and more talent as a result.”
When asked about challenges that were brought up by this merger, Sullivan said, “The biggest challenge was making one team out of two schools, because none of us knew the rising tide kids and football is a sport where a tight bond is essential to success .It was tough at first to have that bond with kids we just met and many of them have never played football before so we had to help teach them the game in a short amount of time.”
Krotchko stated, “We haven't faced too many challenges, but one big one was developing chemistry between the players.”
Any co-op is faced with a question of how long it will last. Sacred Heart being the host team, our players are not in danger, but numbers could always threaten the continuation. However, both players felt that this combination could last awhile, “The way the coaching staff has talked recently, it's beginning to sound like it will continue for awhile, as we are trying to build a long tradition of football in both schools and we hope that more and more kids are going to want to come out and play every year from rising tide.” Sullivan said.
Krotchko stated, “The merger will be long term definitely.”
The Saints prep for their second year with the hearts of two schools this year, instead of just one. A close battle with Old Colony may have been a low for the Saints, but is definitely a good sign for this upcoming season, and seasons to come.
NEW STUDENTS – SUMMER 2016 ISSUE
KINGSTON, MA— For a school like Sacred Heart, one of the most exciting things is meeting the new students that enrolled for the new year. Sacred Heart tends to get kids from all over the South Shore, in past years having kids ranging from Dorchester to Lower Cape areas. Also, students from close towns such as Kingston and Plymouth attend as well. I was a new student last year, coming for my junior year of high school from Sandwich. Having been in the same school system my whole life, it was a strange transition. When transferring to a Catholic high school, many students will immediately think of the obvious routine changes, wearing a uniform, going to school masses, and also the lower student to teacher ratio. However, I found these changes to be miniscule. The more intense changes in my opinion had to do with meeting new people, and adjusting to the different curriculum and schedule.
There were many other new students for the 2015-16 school year, and they all seem to have adjusted well to the new school. Sophomore Jake Egan of Plymouth, who came in his freshman year from public school, claims that, “My athletic teams really helped me get comfortable at Sacred Heart. Also, getting to know teachers made me much more confident.”
His advice to any new freshman this year is, “ "Don't be nervous, you are just entering high school. If your calm and relaxed about it everything will go smoothly"
Senior Greg Hokanson of Marshfield was also a new student last year, coming from The Landmark School in Beverly. He stated, “I was comfortable with students and faculty right away. It almost felt like I had been at Sacred Heart in past years. The change in schooling was a great thing, and I was surprised at how accepting and nice everyone was to new students.”
Sacred Heart is a tight knit, small community that is friendly towards newcomers. Everyone has the goal of having a positive high school experience, and meeting new people is a goal for everyone. Playing sports, or joining a club seems to be a good way to meet others with common interests. The first term last year felt awkward at times, because I wasn't on any team. However, I made some bonds as soon as hockey season started, and branched out to more kids when baseball season occurred. If you are a winter or spring athlete, it is a good idea to try and meet the returning players from the team, as well as attending pre-season events, such as captain’s practices. If you are not an athlete, or are interested in meeting other kinds of people, finding other common interests is helpful. You will interact with the other students in your class more than anyone else, so it is vital to grow close to at least one person in each class. If you are having trouble, don't worry about it, but it is helpful.
At Sacred Heart, it is important to be “part of the heart” and enjoy school. It is likely you will find others to like you, so just be yourself and friends will come. Positivity is key.
SPRING SPORTS WRAP-UP –SPRING 2016 ISSUE
KINGSTON, MA— The 2016 spring sports season was a real interesting one for the Saints, a big factor being the weather. Mother Nature was not very thoughtful of the sports teams, and many cancellations were made, especially early on in the year. The fact that most if not all of the games were made up is outstanding. Here is a sport by sport recap.
The boys baseball team had a competitive season, and finished with a record of 6-12, but that record does not give them justice. There was only one blowout all year, and the saints bounced back and beat that team, Westport, in their next matchup. The bounces just did not go the Saints way all year, and they lost 6 games by one run, and a few more by 2. Every single game was a battle, and the reason the saints could never be counted out was due to senior captains Colin Gillis and Nick Weir. Both of them pitched around 90% of the games, and on top of that would catch the games they wouldn't pitch. Truly incredible athleticism.
The Girls softball team also finished 6-12, and they played better than their record as well. The reason they didn't qualify for the state tournament was because of a late season slump, a sad but common thing for a team to go through. The team had the bats going all year, and would got double digit runs quite a few times. They got a strong year from senior Lauren Melchionda, who hit consistently well the whole year, as well as pitched well. Sophomore pitcher Jillian Blake also pitched strongly this year.
The boys lacrosse team had a successful year, with a 14-6 final record, and advanced to the 2nd round of the state tournament, losing to a very tough Nantucket team. Junior Captain Bryce Molloy was a consistent scorer for the saints, as well as senior Jake Hallam. Steve Fehrm played strong in net for the saints, and was a big reason the team had a lot of success.
The girls lacrosse team had a building year, and at 4-10-2 were unable to qualify for the state tournament. They battled hard the entire year, matching up against powerful public schools like Plymouth South and Silver Lake, and were competitive in all games they played. Consistent scorers were Juniors Erin Hallam and Stephanie Rouse, as well as Sophomore Rose Crossman.
Boys and Girls tennis had different seasons, they boys didn't win a match, but battled hard in many of them. Sophomore Conor Greeley and 8th grader Jack Smercynski were able to pick up some wins for the team. Girls tennis went undefeated in the Mayflower, and qualified for the state tournament. All the girls had good years, and seniors Hayley Ferraro and Caroline Sheen had good final years at Sacred Heart.
The Girls and Boys track teams worked very hard this year, and had some good individual performances. One notable performance was by Bridget Leblanc, who won the 800 m in the league meet. Boys Track had a few athletes almost make states, including Matt Dunn in the Javelin and Chris Gren, Matt Johnson, and Yanni Pappas in the one mile.
SAINT LOOK TO GO INDEPENDENT– WINTER 2016 ISSUE
KINGSTON, MA— The Sacred Heart Hockey team has just ended a historic season, with not only a league title, but also an undefeated record in the league, at 14-0. This is remarkable for any team, but is even more so for a team that was formed less than 5 years ago. Coach Tom Macdonald is very happy with the development of the team, and is enthusiastic about the future. He said, “The program has progressed extremely well since its creation, and there has been a culture established. The biggest accomplishment is how the team has improved every year, and has no looks of turning back.”
With all this in mind, the thought of possibly going independent in the future is not a crazy idea. The Mayflower league is not a bad league, with strong programs such as Southeastern, Nantucket, and Tri-County all qualifying for the state tournament as well as our Saints, but any time a team sweeps a league, there should be talk of possibly moving up. When asked about what going independent could do for the program, Coach Macdonald brought up the flexibility it would bring the team, the new levels that the saints could compete at, and the ability to attract more players. If the success continues, going independent wil be an option.
To get back on the success this year, it can be attributed to one characteristic of the team, depth. The team is extremely talented, with senior captains John Quinn and Colin Gillis coming off productive senior seasons. Other senior captain, and goalie Ian Fillion has been a brick wall for Sacred Heart, and gives the team a chance every time they step on the ice. Backup goalies Tim Scully and Jake Egan stepped in and making some timely saves as well. The first three lines have all excelled in their own ways, the first two lines being offensive powerhouses, and the third line being a two-way line that is superior to many teams’ first or second lines. The 4th line is able to keep up the pace when given the chance, and the defensive core has been superb. The second line of Liam Walsh, Colin Gillis, and Shane Comeau led the team in regular season points, with an astonishing 118 combined points!
When asked about the season, sophomore and three year veteran Conor Greeley said, “I’ve really enjoyed being a part of a team that cares about each other and to notice how we’ve changed since our first scrimmage is very tremendous.”. This Saints team had a relatively smooth run, with no real rough patches, and looks to continue the run. The coaching staff of Tom Macdonald, Sean Coady, Mike Doyle, and Ron High has been essential to the success of the tea, with coach Gary Hebert coming in and helping the team obtain an arsenal of new moves to use in games. Coach Macdonald is impressed with the integrity of the team, as he said, “I enjoy a team that wants to win, and players that want to be coached. This team portrays those qualities. I also feel that the academics and the overall character of this team is very impressive”
AL EAST ANALYSIS –WINTER 2016 ISSUE
KINGSTON, MA— The time has come, baseball season is upon us. After three last place finishes in the last four years, our beloved Red Sox our trying to repeat the outlier year in those four, which ended with the World Series Trophy being paraded around Boston. The competition will be tough, as the AL East will likely still be as formidable as it has been forever. Here is an analysis of all five teams.
The defending champions of the AL East, the Toronto Blue Jays, have not been able to replicate their dominant 2015, and at the moment are 4th in the division with a record of 11-14. Offensive production hasn't been the issue, with sluggers Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson both having solid years, but pitching has been an issue. Marcus Stroman is not an ideal ace of any staff, and that is a gaping hole.
Last years division runner ups, the notorious New York Yankees, have also been struggling this season, stumbling to an 8-13 start. This Yankee team is old and not very talented, and a down year is fair to be expected. Their big name offseason acquisition was closer Aroldis Chapman, who has been suspended all season and is still going to be gone until 30 games have ended.
The middle team in the AL East in 2015 was the Baltimore Orioles, who are returning to their division winning 2014 form, as they are leading the AL East at the moment with a record of 14-9. The O’s success can be attributed to hot starts from star players Manny Machado and Chris Davis, along with newcomer Mark Trumbo contributing greatly.
The Tampa Bay Rays finished in 4th last year, and aren't much better as they are in 3rd place this season with a record of 11-12. Their star player last year was Chris Archer, who had a record of 12-13, with a 3.23 E.R.A, which may seem mediocre but he constantly gave a quality start. This season he has struggled, with a 1-4 record, and an E.R.A of 5.01.
Last years cellar team, The Boston Red Sox, have emerged to a record of 13-10, good enough to secure 2nd place. The Red Sox showed flashes of brilliance last year, with players like Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr, Travis Shaw, and Eduardo Rodriguez showing moments of excell, but the season was largely associated with a hat trick of offseason flops, Hanley Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval, and Rick Porcello. The players who came out of nowhere last year have continued the excellence, and while Pablo is on the disabled list, Hanley has bounced back in a big way, and Porcello is pitching like he was expected to when we acquired him. Combined with David Price, the Red Sox have two number one pitchers, a luxury not available to them last year.
Will the Red Sox be able to win the AL East this Season? It is still early, but this year does have the potential to be magical in Boston!
BRUINS: CONTENDER OR PRETENDER – FALL 2015 ISSUE
KINGSTON, MA—The Boston Bruins were better than they showed last year, as they failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2007. It wasn't necessarily a terrible year, their 96 points were the most ever for a non-playoff team, but they had too much talent to miss the playoffs.
Draft day was a big day for new general manager Don Sweeney, as he dealt away the always solid Milan Lucic, and budding superstar Dougie Hamilton. As a result, they received first round picks for each of them, as well as goaltender Martin Jones, Colin Miller, and two second round picks. With their three first round picks, they selected three players whose help to the club will remain unseen for a few years. Jones was traded for a 1st rounder for next year and a prospect.
These are drastic changes for a team once considered to be in the best position of any team in the NHL. The defensive core is mediocre: Zdeno Chara is not what he used to be due to age; Torey Krug is not a legit top defenseman. Kevin Miller is a solid top six defenseman thrust into a top four role, and Dennis Seidenberg is injured until Christmas. The rest are all inexperienced, and will have an adjustment period. The forward core is solid with David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron's star power. David Pastrnak is a great player with lots of potential. He is only 19 years old. Jimmy Hayes and Matt Beleskey have proved to be good additions, and youngsters Brett Connolly and Tyler Randall have been nice complimentary players. The goalie situation is a strength, as Tuukka Rask is one of the best goalies in the league, and Jonas Gustavsson is a proven backup.
The season started off on the wrong foot, stumbling to an 0-3 record as they struggle to compete uncompetitive. Winnipeg crushed them 6-2, Montreal beat them 4-2, and Tampa Bay came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 6-3. Passes were failing, defenseman were getting beat, and this was not the typical "Big Bad Bruins" of recent years. Fans and critics alike were writing them off, and Claude Julien looked to be in the homestretch of his tenure here in Boston.
They now sit at 3-3-1, by turning the tide and crushing Colorado 6-2, beating Arizona 5-3, and beating the New York Islanders 5-3. They lost in overtime to Philadelphia, but played a good game. Chara has improved his game, and Krejci has dominated with a league leading 12 points. They're much more offensive than in past years and that's a good sign for the future.
So what does this mean for this year? It is too early to tell. At the moment they don't appear to be a top team in the NHL, but they're definitely not one of the worst. They could possibly reach the playoffs, as a wild card team, but it's pretty safe to say that it's not the Bruins year this season. The good news is the offensive development, and defensive experience that will be gained this year brings big hope for next year. The future looks bright for Boston, and it is highly possible that another Stanley Cup could be won before the end of the decade.