Vineyard sports is back in full swing after a brief break over April vacation, racking up both first wins and losses for respective teams and turning out personal best performances. After a tough start to the season, the boys' lacrosse team has found its footing with two wins this week. The boys' tennis team, meanwhile, remains undefeated.

Boys’ Lacrosse

The boys overcame their season struggles to earn their first — and second — wins of the year against two Eastern Athletic Conference teams this week. On Tuesday, the team took on Bishop Stang, going up 10-5 at the half but slipping in the third quarter Stang rebounded to bring the game within one goal. The Vineyard was up 11-10 going into the fourth, fighting to hold on to the lead, and although Stang slipped a tying goal in, senior Thomas Wilkins put away the game winner with three minutes left.

Head coach Chris Greene described the 12-11 victory as the proudest moment of his coaching career, which spans more than 15 years. “We have been on the doorstep a few times this year and could not make it over the threshold,” coach Greene said, praising the team for continuing to rally. 

The Vineyarders earned a 17-3 win against Coyle and Cassidy on Thursday, with junior Huck Burke scoring 5 goals, senior Nick Costello scoring four, and senior Sam Burke notching 3. Tyler Paulson won 10 of 18 face offs. The team controlled the offense from the start, showing particular strength on ground balls, a former trouble spot for the Vineyarders.

Girls’ Lacrosse

The Vineyarders battled with Bishop Stang on Tuesday, changing leads multiple times before the Shamrocks pulled away in the final quarter. The girls entered the second half tied, with senior Taylor Poggi putting the team back on top on a pass from senior Alayna Hutchinson. Stang quickly scored again, but sophomore Olivia Ogden made a run downfield to give the Vineyard another lead. Despite the Vineyard scoring two more goals in the game, Stang held on for the 14-10 win.

The girls took on Falmouth and Hingham last week, turning in what coach Dripps described as their best game of the season against Falmouth on Sunday. Hargy had 15 saves and Hutchison scored 6 goals (4 assists) in the team’s 17-12 win. Freshman KC Wallace had a standout game on defense and scored 4 goals. After the Falmouth win, the team traveled to face a tough Hingham squad, staying with their opponents in the first half but falling in the second for a 17-8 loss.

The JV squad picked up a home 1105 win against Stang on Tuesday, with freshman Belle Dinning notching a hat trick and four players (Emma Caron, Molly Houghton, Shannon Morris and Sara Poggi) scoring two goals each. Goalie Sam Bettencourt had 10 saves. JV coach Laurie Gordon said she was excited to see the depth of the team on display.  

Track and Field

The boys took their first loss of the season during Wednesday’s meet against Bishop Feehan, falling 74-62, but the day was not without its highlights. Junior Jeremy Alley-Tarter broke his own school record in the 800 metre run with a time of 1:57:00, and several athletes turned in personal bests. Senior captain Jacob Lawrence tied his own personal best time with a time of 11.74 in the 100 metre dash, won the 200 metre dash, and earned a new personal best in the long jump with a leap of 20’6”. Sophomore Kevin Montambault won the 110 metre hurdles with a personal best, and sophomore Galen Mayhew took a personal best in the 400 hurdles to earn the victory. Senior Andrew Freitas threw a personal best 127’” in the discus for second place, and junior Tony Breth took first in the triple jump with a personal best 38’10”. The boys’ 4x100 relay team squeaked out a win in a near photo finish.

The girls fell to Feehan 98-36, with key event wins coming from senior captain Maggie Riseborough (shot put and discus) and senior Shivanae Anderson (long jump and triple jump). Senior Katherine Reid threw a personal-best 73” in the javelin, taking third place by just one inch; senior Ella Mahoney also had a personal best in the event.

Boys’ Tennis

The undefeated boys expected to face one of their greatest challenges this week when they traveled to rival Cape Cod Academy, but the Vineyarders instead swept a depleted CCA squad, who were absent their number one player. Just six players (instead of the usual nine) faced the Vineyard team; the third singles match was forfeited. Sophomore Charlie Parkhurst and freshman Dunovan Belisle stepped in to the number two doubles spot during the CCA match to earn a 6-0, 6-0 win. The boys are now 8-0 for the season.

Girls’ Tennis

The Vineyarders took a close 3-2 loss to league opponent Bishop Feehan last week, with sophomore Samantha Potter and number one doubles team Julia Cooper and Annabelle Hackney earning the Vineyard wins. Senior Annie Burton turned in a long, hard-fought match in the number two spot before ultimately falling. The girls swept Somerset last Friday, with sophomores Josie Iadicicco and Charlotte Potter stepping in to the number two doubles spot to earn the win. On Saturday, the team picked up a 3-2 win over Ursuline Academy.  

Baseball

Hampered by a injury-depleted roster, the Vineyarders fell 16-0 Monday to EAC powerhouse Bishop Feehan, but posted a 9-4 Sunday win against Nantucket , with sophomore pitcher Tim Roberts throwing his first varsity complete game.

The Vineyarders hosted South Shore Christian Academy in a double-header last Saturday, and picked up wins in both (18-8, 18-9).

The team is searching for its first league victory as they take on Coyle and Cassidy today, and is 6-6 overall. Head coach Gary Simmons said more players are making the jump up from JV as a result of injuries; both senior captain Jack Roberts and sophomore Mike Mussell are out with injuries, as is freshman Emerson Mahoney.

Softball

The Vineyarders hold a 7-4 record going into this weekend’s home games against Coyle and Cassidy and Cambridge Ringe and Latin. Last week, the team hosted Somerset on Friday, falling 8-1 but holding the Raiders to just one run after the first two innings. On Saturday, the girls played a home double-header against South Shore Christian Academy and picked up both wins (13-1 and 16-4). The Vineyarders defeated Madison Park this week 23-1, with senior pitcher Emily Cimeno earning her first win of the season and throwing a one-hitter. Senior pitcher Hailee McCarthy threw a one-hitter in the Vineyard’s 15-0 rout of O’Bryant on Wednesday.

Sailing

The Vineyarders host one of the top teams in the New England, Tabor Academy, this week, as well as a local Barnstable fleet. The team is now 7-7 after a busy return from vacation. The team sailed against Tabor in a quad meet last Saturday, falling 3-2. The group racing was composed entirely of sophomores, and head coach Andrew Burr reported seeing some of the best Vineyard sailing in his tenure. “Every race we were either winning the race or in position to make a play,” he said.

The Vineyarders defeated Monomoy Regional at home on Wednesday, and faced another top New England team, Cape Cod Academy, on Thursday. The team lost 2-1 in a best-of-three race.