Sports

By KEVIN DEVLIN The 2016 Boston Youth Lacrosse Association began its spring season this past weekend with two girls’ home games at Moakley Park. The fifth and sixth grade and the seventh and eighth grade girls’ team played against Revere and went home with victories. This association, originally the South Boston Youth Lacrosse League, recently expanded to include youth from all Boston neighborhoods. The association is currently comprised of eight teams. There are four boys’ teams and four girls’ teams broken down by grades from the first through the eighth grade. Taylor Wallace, Anna Stefanov and Lindsay Birch coach the seventh and eighth grade girls’ team. “I’ve been part of this program for the past three years,” Birch said, “and it’s been an honor to [...]

By KEVIN DEVLIN The Saint Vincent’s CYO seventh and eighth grade boys’ travel team is the 2016 CYO Vicariate and State Champions. Four of those players are Walter Steele, Luis Rodriguez, Edilson Pinto and Emmanuel Disla. Walter Steele is the son of Walter and Beth Steele. He’s in the eighth grade at the UP Academy Charter School of Boston, the former Gavin Middle School on Dorchester Street. His favorite subject is math and he’s a straight A student. He hopes to attend Duke University and plans on being a teacher. In addition to his CYO team winning two titles, Walter’s school team won the city charter school championship. This year in a school game, he netted 23 points and hauled down 16 rebounds. Last season [...]

By KEVIN DEVLIN The Saint Vincent’s seventh and eighth grade boys’ travel team recently captured the 2016 CYO Vicariate and State Tournament Championships. The team won the CYO Vicariate crown on Sunday, Feb. 28, at Saint Agatha’s gym in Milton, when the team defeated Saint Agatha’s in their home gym by six points. In the CYO state tournament, Saint Vincent’s defeated Saint John’s of Swampscott at Malden Catholic, 46-36. Next up was Saint Mary’s of Winchester. The game was played at Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, and Saint Vincent’s cruised to a 72-31 victory. On Sunday, March 20, the championship game was held at Catholic Memorial. Saint Vincent’s eked out a hard fought 80-76 victory in double overtime against Saint Leonard’s of the [...]

On Monday, approximately 105 members of the L Street Running Club will participate in the 120th Boston Marathon. Fourteen week of training, which began on Jan. 10, has brought us to this point – our runners are ready to go. To all of our first time marathoners – trust in your training and enjoy your day. To all of our charity runners – you are truly making a difference. To all of our qualifiers – have another great race. To all of our runners – good luck and be proud of your accomplishment. It takes courage, dedication, sweat and, in some cases, blood and tears, to make it to the start line. You’ve got this!

By KEVIN DEVLIN It’s good to talk to young people who have their entire lives in front of them and are following their dreams. Boxing is a tough profession, yet these two young men from Dorchester are willing to work hard, pay their dues, and hopefully, someday in the near future, see their dreams fulfilled. These two enthusiastic athletes are Jonathan DePina and Brian Lawrence. Jonathan DePina, 21, is the son of Leo and Gloria Pizarro-DePina. He has a younger brother, Giovanni and two sisters, Adriana and Naisha. He attended Madison Park High School and graduated in 2012. He lives in Savin Hill and is currently in the Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 apprentice program, which is located on Adams Street in Dorchester. When he [...]

By KEVIN DEVLIN On Saturday, March 25, former members of the South Boston Youth Hockey League participated in an alumni game to raise funds for the SBYHL. The event was initially organized by Mike Prendergast several years ago. Each player involved in this event made a donation. “It’s good to get the guys back together,” said Thomas McGrath, SBYHL president. “It’s a good way for the guys (and gal) to see the new rink and the improvements. Hopefully we can do this next year again and make it an annual event.” SBYHL Vice President Teddy Cunniff was also happy that these guys came out in support of their former youth hockey league. “It’s great to see them back here,” he said. “I’m glad they took [...]

By KEVIN DEVLIN The Tynan Community Center staff and kids received new equipment and sports apparel from representatives for GEICO and Good Sports of Quincy, which partners with corporate sponsors in reaching out to grassroots programs in need of assistance, on March 22. GEICO funded the donation and was represented by its legislature attorney Samantha Freedman from the Washington, D.C., office. Mike Wright, Good Sports community partnerships manager, Kayley Gallagher, Good Sports partnerships assistant, and Vaughn Pffeffer, Good Sports operations assistant, brought in and set up the presentation. Also present to view the newly-donated sports equipment and apparel was Boston’s Chief of Health and Human Services Felix Arroyo, Boston Center for Youth and Families Commissioner,Will Morales, BCYF Deputy Commissioner Mike Sulprizio, and BCYF Director of [...]

By KEVIN DEVLIN On Tuesday, March 15, at the Tynan Community Center gymnasium, the Sullivan Insurance Club defeated Sal’s Club, 54-42, to capture the 2016 South Boston Basketball Association winter league championship. In the end, too much height and offensive firepower stood in the way of Sal’s “Young Guns” to win it all. In the first half with the game tied, 7-7, and with 14:04 on the game clock, Sal’s went on an 8-0 to take a 15-7 lead. The Sullivan Club responded with their own 8-0 run to tie it up, 15-15. For the remainder of the first half, the teams exchanged baskets, and the Sullivan Club had a 30-27 advantage at the half. In the second half, with 15:32 left in the game, [...]

By KEVIN DEVLIN and LISA BALLARD On Sunday, March 13, the South Boston Youth Hockey League Mite “A” team won the Mite South AAA Blue Valley League Hockey Championship title by defeating Needham in Haverhill, 5-4, in sudden death overtime. Southie made it into the championship tilt by defeating Lexington/Bedford, 8-4, in the semi-finals the day before. Lexington/Bedford was the division’s first place team. Sunday’s championship game was a fight to the finish with both teams playing their best hockey. South Boston’s Ryan Alexander scored the first goal for South Boston in the first period but the local squad was down 3-1 going into the second period. Southie forward Harry Minucci scored two goals to tie the game up in the second period. Southie took the [...]

By KEVIN DEVLIN On Sunday, March 13, the annual Evacuation Day Ice-o-rama event was held at the Murphy Rink. The event was sponsored by the DCR, the South Boston Youth Hockey League, Comcast and Mass Bay Credit Union. SBYHL volunteers Thomas McGrath, Teddy Cunniff, Andrea Flaherty, Cheryl Joyce, Harry Minucci and Joyce “The Admiral” Higgins were present at the rink to oversee this event. Puck Shooting contest In the six and under age bracket, Thomas Brooks (boys division) and Maddie Minucci (girls division) finished first. In the eight and under age bracket, Harry Minucci finished in first place and Rocco Blasi came in second. In the 10 and under age bracket, Mario Blasi came out on top and Nolan Young finished second. In the 12 [...]