Fenway Sports Management deserves lots of credit score for opening the doorways to Fenway Park for highschool soccer.
Since ending an 80-year void by internet hosting a quartet of doubleheaders on Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day in 2015, faculties have relished the chance of trotting by way of the dugouts and onto the hallowed grounds to play a highschool soccer sport.
“We are thrilled to host high school football once again at Fenway Park,” Fenway Sports Management President Mark Lev mentioned as soon as the video games had been introduced. “Thanksgiving rivalry games are always a highlight of the high school football season and adding the iconic backdrop of Fenway Park will only make the occasion more special for the players, coaches, and fans. We look forward to welcoming the communities and football fans to (Fenway) Park to celebrate this time-honored tradition.”
This yr, FSM reached out to 10 faculties and the online result’s a doubleheader on Tuesday and a tripleheader on Wednesday. Latin Academy and O’Bryant get issues began on Tuesday (5 p.m.), adopted by the longtime Malden-Medford rivalry.
On Wednesday, St. Mary’s and Austin Prep will meet for the ultimate time at 1:30 p.m. Watertown and Belmont meet within the center sport with Brockton and Bridgewater-Raynham battling for the Southeast Conference title in Boxer head coach Peter Colombo’s remaining sport.
But what concerning the future? Going on the belief that FSM would like to not have repeat performers, listed here are some strategies:
Start with annual marquee matchups and head to the Hockomock League. Franklin and King Philip are each groups which have been firmly entrenched within the Sweet 16 the final two years and has turn out to be one of many high rivalries round. Duxbury and Marshfield have lengthy been one of many high Thanksgiving Day video games on the docket and deserve an opportunity to showcase their expertise at Fenway Park.
In the Middlesex League, two video games which would definitely draw effectively are Reading/Stoneham and Melrose/Wakefield. Three different video games which we’d love for FSM to take a look at shifting ahead can be Chelmsford/Billerica, Marblehead/Swampscott and Braintree/Milton.
Now take into account a number of the longest-standing rivalries. Some might not need to depart their residence fields on Thanksgiving, however it wouldn’t harm to ask. Fitchburg and Leominster first began enjoying within the late nineteenth century and this matchup takes a backseat to few others.
Proximity rivalries are enjoyable. Lynn Classical and Lynn English have performed seemingly without end at Manning, however a one-time alternative to maneuver the sport to Fenway Park to honor one in every of its best athletes, Harry Agganis, may be an enticement. Quincy/North Quincy, Plymouth North/Plymouth South and Attleboro/North Attleboro are three extra video games that should be within the dialog.
Jim Kelliher is among the many high 5 winningest coaches in state historical past. The longtime Abington teaching icon needs to be given a chance to teach his Thanksgiving Day sport towards Whitman-Hanson right here. Three different video games with historic significance are Beverly/Salem, Ashland/Hopkinton and Norwood/Dedham,
And listed here are three video games with distinctive causes to warrant consideration. Revere and Winthrop had been invited to play at Fenway Park in 2017 however opted to play their Thanksgiving Day at a newly refurbished Miller Field in Winthrop (the Vikings performed street video games for 2 years and this might have given the seniors one final shot at enjoying a real residence sport).
If you’re a Revolutionary War buff, might you do any higher than Concord-Carlisle and Lexington? It’s a no brainer if you happen to ask me.
Last however not least can be Brookline and Newton North which options two non-Boston faculties as near Fenway Park as you can see. We additionally hear there’s a bigwig within the Red Sox entrance workplace who may need a vested curiosity on this sport. Paging president and Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy, a Brookline High grad.
Fenway soccer info
(Results for the reason that excessive faculties have returned to enjoying on a constant foundation at Fenway)
2015
BC High 13, Catholic Memorial 10
Boston Latin 28, English 6
Needham 12, Wellesley 7
Xaverian 14, St. John’s Prep 0
2017
BC High 32, Catholic Memorial 16
Everett 36, Masconomet 20
Hingham 7, Scituate 6
2018
Foxboro 35, Mansfield 33 (3 ot)
Framingham 14, Natick 6
West Roxbury 24, Burke 6
Xaverian 14, St. John’s Prep 12
2021
Blackstone Valley Tech 47, Nipmuc 19
East Boston 50, South Boston 0
North Andover 27, Andover 26
Woburn 26, Winchester 22
2022
Tuesday, November 22
Latin Academy vs. O’Bryant, 5
Malden vs. Medford, 7:30
Wednesday, Nov. 23
St. Mary’s vs. Austin Prep, 1:30
Watertown vs. Belmont, 4
Brockton vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 6:30
(An alphabetic listing of groups who’ve performed at Fenway Park since 2015)
Andover
Austin Prep
Belmont
Blackstone Valley Tech
BC High
Boston English
Boston Latin
Bridgewater-Raynham
Brockton
Burke
Catholic Memorial
East Boston
Everett
Foxboro
Framingham
Hingham
Latin Academy
Malden
Mansfield
Masconomet
Medford
Natick
Needham
Nipmuc
North Andover
O’Bryant
St. John’s Prep
St. Mary’s
Scituate
South Boston
Watertown
Wellesley
West Roxbury
Winchester
Woburn
Xaverian
Source: www.bostonherald.com