DANVERS — During its run to a Div. 1 boys lacrosse championship final spring, St. John’s Prep was dominant in nearly each sense of the phrase. The crew coasted all through the season, finally going 22-1.
The Eagles’ lone blemish? A loss to Acton-Boxboro almost one calendar 12 months in the past on April 16, 2022.
On Saturday, they have been capable of earn some payback after a stellar efficiency from senior captain Jimmy Ayers. The Johns Hopkins commit registered a game-high six objectives to go along with a pair of assists, as St. John’s Prep (2-0) pulled away within the second half to win a press release sport, 12-8.
“That was a pivotal turning point for us last year,” coach John Pynchon stated. “Because they came out, and they got right after us. That was a big (moment) last year. I don’t think we’ve beaten Acton-Boxboro since I’ve been at St. John’s. We played at Beverly a lot, pretty sure we lost to them in the playoffs in the North semis I think, and then we lost last year. I think this is the first win over A-B in six years. It’s nice.”
With the applications tied at 3-all within the closing seconds of the primary, Ayers gained a little bit of separation, then fired a bullet into the cage to offer St. John’s Prep a 4-3 benefit.
After the Eagles took a 5-4 lead at intermission off a objective from Matt Morrow, play opened up within the second half.
Acton-Boxboro senior Ryan Cho buried his third objective of the sport to finish the hat trick with 5:21 left within the third quarter, tying issues again up at 6-6.
However, St. John’s Prep is at all times able to an onslaught and the levee lastly collapsed for the Revolution within the waning moments of the stanza.
During the ultimate 4:27 of the third quarter, the Eagles netted 4 unanswered objectives, three within the final 53 seconds. Cam McCarthy and Luke Kelly bought the scoring began, earlier than Ayers capped the body with a pair of tallies. In a flash, St. John’s Prep had a commanding 10-6 lead.
While Acton-Boxboro (2-1) managed to chop it as shut as 10-8 following a objective by senior Tyler Clayton with 4:38 left in regulation, the deficit was too steep to erase. Ayers would bury one other pair of objectives within the ultimate two minutes, icing the victory for St. John’s Prep.
Kelly, Nate Jones and Rowan Mondello every completed with a objective and an help for the Eagles.
In addition to Cho’s efforts, Clayton additionally recorded a hat trick to energy Acton-Boxboro.
“We had a string of three or four in a row there when we were playing fast at the end of the third quarter,” Pynchon stated. “I think we shot the ball a little bit better there in the third. Chris (Esposito) did great on the faceoffs, I think it was three there to help us gain some separation. (Acton-Boxboro is) a really, really good team, so I think getting out of here with a win was a good start for us this season.”
Baseball
Aiden Cardoza pitched an entire sport, permitting only one hit and one stroll whereas placing out 14 as Bishop Stang blanked Apponequet, 4-0, in nonleague motion. … Danny Powers pitched 4 scoreless innings and added an RBI and a run on the plate as Xaverian topped Holliston, 6-1. … Zach Gilmore picked up his second win and Jake Thompson earned the save as Georgetown (3-0) defeated Whittier, 5-2. … An Angel Baez single within the twelfth drove within the game-winning run for Leominster because it defeated Central Catholic, 2-1. … Will Gindel threw a no-hitter as Winchester dropped Somerville, 6-0. … Owen McHugh and Sean McDougal every drove in a pair as Milton (3-0) defeated Boston Latin 8-2.
Girls lacrosse
Katherine Taylor and Molly Berinato each tallied 4 objectives for Wakefield in its 14-6 victory over Middlesex League foe Arlington. … In a nonleague matchup, Ryann Cobban scored seven objectives and Sophia Visceglio added 5 assists to elevate Sandwich to a 16-1 win over Martha’s Vineyard.
Softball
Maggie Schlossberg struck out 13 and homered at bat as East Bridgewater defeated Southeastern, 8-4, in nonleague play. … Katie Melendy tallied 9 strikeouts and offered the game-winning RBI as Oliver Ames beat Whitman-Hanson, 1-0, in 10 innings.
In the Independent School League, sophomore Nia Phillips tossed a two-hitter with 12 Ok’s as Milton Academy outslugged Rivers 14-1 in a five-inning affair.
Senior Caitlin Conroy had a double and two RBI and Senior Maya Tuolozzo was 2-for-2 with a homer as Newton North edged Framingham 6-5 in Bay State Conference play.
Source: www.bostonherald.com