An evening set to honor the base-stealing, RBI-hitting lefty and 2009 graduate of the regional high school had an unexpected interruption Saturday. Tad Gold took a call on his cell phone. He had just been drafted by the Baltimore Orioles.
Spring sports at the regional high school are underway and lacrosse, track and field, tennis, sailing, baseball and softball all look to have promising seasons so far.
The Martha’s Vineyard 13-year-old All-Star team competed in the Babe Ruth District 7 finals over the holiday weekend, earning their spot after a 6-5 defeat of Sandwich on Friday. The game was close throughout, with the Vineyard trailing by just one run in the bottom of the fifth. After starter Elias Fhagen-Smith turned in a solid start on the mound, Jack Sayre came in to hold Sandwich scoreless in relief.
For Vineyard Little Leaguers, tournament play is a mainstay of the summer when travel teams of All-Stars compete across the Cape each week. Beginning next year, as work progresses on the organization’s Penn Field project in Oak Bluffs, the Vineyard may at last be able to compete as a home team during the summer.
“On the Vineyard, it’s always been that we go off-Island for every tournament,” said Phil Regan, whose twin sons Jared and Jeremy play for the All-Star team in the summer and the Red Sox during the Little League regular season. Mr.
The high school baseball team closed out its season on Monday with a 4-3 loss to visiting Bourne. The Vineyarders, hampered by injuries for much of the season, finished with a 7-11 record. Senior captain Jack Roberts led the team in batting average, turning in a .545 before a dislocated shoulder put him out of action last month. Roberts also led in stolen bases (19). Sophomore Andrew Wiley posted a .362 batting average and led the team in RBIs (16). Senior Brendan Maseda led in runs scored (19), with a .273 average and 16 stolen bases.
Home sports action picks up after April vacation on Monday with boys’ lacrosse taking on Dartmouth at 3 p.m. On Tuesday girls’ lacrosse hosts league opponent Coyle and Cassidy at 3 p.m., and sailing takes on Barnstable at the Sailing Camp Park at 3 p.m.
When the weather begins to turn warm, Doris Clark begins her search.
For the past two summers, Mrs. Clark has been the host families coordinator for the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks baseball team, which competes in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, a summer wooden bat league for college athletes. Most of the players on the team have never been to the Vineyard before, and most need a place to call home base while they travel to and from games across New England.
The future of the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks is looking bright — and a lot more comfortable, too.
When the Sharks, who play in the wooden-bat Futures Collegiate Baseball League, begin their third season in June, they will do so at a much-improved home field, situated at the regional high school.
Spring training is in full swing in Florida, but on the Island summer baseball preparations are also underway. The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks collegiate summer baseball league has announced its roster for the 2013 season, with some familiar faces and a brand new bullpen.
For the third year in a row Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School graduate Tad Gold will take to center field. He will be joined by current regional high school senior Jack Roberts.
The eighth annual Birdies for Baseball golf tournament will take place on Sunday, Oct. 21 with an 8:30 shotgun start at Mink Meadows Golf Club.
The tournament is a benefit to support the Vineyard baseball scholarship and field improvement fund. The cost is $90 and includes breakfast and lunch. To register, call 508-693-0600. For questions, call Gary Simmons at 508-989-8154.
