FITCHBURG – One local team managed to crack the top 10 at the Central/West Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field championships Saturday at Fitchburg State University, thanks to a golden performance from a pair of senior sensations.
St. John’s won the team championship with 81 points, followed by Northampton (56) and Shrewsbury (52). Westfield was seventh with 33 points.
Westfield’s senior Gabriel Piepergerdes (730 points) was second-to-none, claiming the pentathlon crown against the likes of top athletes, St. John’s Jared Magsino (689) and Wachusett’s Gunnar Hasselquist (673), who finished in second and third, respectively.
Piepergerdes won two legs of the four-part challenge against the other pentathlon participants. He took first in the long jump (19-0) and high jump (5-8), second in the 110 meter hurdles (16.14 seconds) and fourth in the shot put (31-6.66).
Senior Ryan Prenosil brought home the gold for Westfield in the 800 meters, crossing the finish line in 1:54.28. Prenosil just edged out second-place finisher, Leominster’s John Gove (1:54.62), by less than four-tenths of a second.
Southwick-Tolland’s Dermotheo Walden shows winning form in the discus event at Westfield State University Saturday. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
Westfield’s 4×400 relay team placed fifth (3:29.14).
In the D1 girls’ track and field competition, Westfield’s Moira McDonald placed third in the 400 meters with a 59.31, Bianca Hiltz finished fifth in the 100 meter hurdles (16.77) and 10th in the triple jump (32-6.50), Amanda Hall claimd sixth in the shot put (32-3) and 14th in the discus (77-11), McKenzie Chaban took eighth in the 100 meter hurdles (17.44), and Margaret Philpott was 10th in the mile (5:39.31). The Bombers’ 4×800 meter relay team placed sixth with a time of 10:28.17 and the 4×400 meter relay team placed seventh in 4:18.94.
Other notable finishes included: Westfield’s Mia McDonald (800 meters/13th/2:31.18), Hannah Florek (800 meters/23rd/2:38.17), Katie Knapik (javelin/19th/79-8) and the Bombers’ 4×100 meter relay team (20th/54.81).
Nicole Servetnik placed 12th in the girls’ pentathlon.
RAMPED UP: Southwick-Tolland’s Dermotheo Walden threw the competition for a loop in the D2 championships at Westfield State University, taking first prize in the discus with a throw of 148 feet, four inches. Rams’ Jared O’Connor was fifth (123-2).
Walden also took fourth in the shot put (44-6.75).
Westfield’s Amanda Hall competes in the girls’ shot put event at the MIAA Central-West Division 1 Track & Field meet Saturday at Fitchburg State University. Hall, a senior, placed sixth in the event with a throw of 32 feet, 3 inches. She also competed in the discus event, placing 14th. (Photo by William Eagan)
Two other Southwick track athletes shredded the competition. Brandon Castor finished fourth in the 200-meter dash (23.12) and sixth in the 100 meters (11.53), Brandon Blackburn leapt to a fourth-place finish in the 400 hurdles (59.00).
Five girls recorded top 20 finishes in the Division 2
Lauren Sussman (400 meters/14th/1:04.40), Rebecca Drohen (mile/15th/5:40.81), Marissa Longhi (2 mile/13th/12:27.09), Jordyn Demyon (long jump/11th/15-2.75), Erica Pickard (discus/17th/82-7).
HOLIDAY WEEKEND RESULTS
BOYS’ TENNIS
Gregoire, Nelson team up for thriller
Pioneer Valley Christian Academy 3, St. Mary 2
Nick Gregoire and Mark Nelson won a thriller at second doubles for St. Mary, rallying to defeat PVCA’s Daniel Dockter and Leo Chen, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, (12-10).
St. Mary also won a forfeit at third singles.
“The Saints completed the season with positive efforts, great sportsmanship, and definite improvement, which were all shown in this final match,” St. Mary coach George Hart said. “(Our) only senior, Pat Boyle, will be missed next year, but we all look forward to the team’s future with the eight returning players.
Boyle lost a hard-fought match to Ethan Ondrick at first singles, 6-3, 6-3.
SOFTBALL
Britland, Wolfe, Belardo a hit
McCann Tech 12, Gateway 0
Dayna Britland, Erica Wolfe, and Samantha Belardo all got hits in their final game for the Gators.
Other senior teammates were Diana Tereshchuk, Emily Warren, Taryn Kubik, and Shannon Burke.
BASEBALL
Bonini, Saints shut out Red Raiders
St. Mary 4, Hampshire 0
St. Mary pitcher Nate Bonini (4 Ks) tossed a five-hit shutout, and Jack Masciadrelli (2 RBIs) and John Daley each had two hits. Saints’ Hunter Authier doubled and scored a run.
McKittrick, Mastello steal show for Gators
Granby 16, Gateway 1
Gateway’s Jake McKittrick went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and Shane Mastello had a hit and scored a run.
Burnett breaks up no-no
West Springfield 10, Southwick-Tolland 0
Southwick’s Dan Burnett singled in the fourth inning to break up a no-hit bid by West Side.
