My Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Walpole High School athletics seems to be building a pipeline to UMass-Lowell. In the last two years, Walpole has sent two of its athletes to play lacrosse at Lowell: Conor Foley ('19) for the men and Abby McLaughlin ('19) for the women's team.
Xaverian’s Funke headed to BC

By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Xaverian Brothers High School has produced some high level athletes over the years. Famously, former Hawks such as Dana Barros and the Hasselbeck brothers have gone on to excel at Boston College before later making their way to the pros.
DS’ Gregory headed south to Jacksonville

Pictured during the 2019 Division III Central/East playoffs against Medway, Dover-Sherborn lacrosse star Pierce Gregory will take his talents South to Jacksonville following his senior season in the spring of 2021. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
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Needham’s Williams named Bentley AD

Needham resident Vaughn Williams, senior associate athletics director at Boston College, has been named the director of athletics at Bentley University, Vice President for Student Affairs J. Andrew Shepardson announced Monday morning in an email to the Bentley community. Williams will begin his new role in mid-September.
Williams, a University...
Medfield’s Goodman headed west to Pepperdine

Pictured during this summer's MIBL contest against Dedham, Medfield rising-junior shortstop Jack Goodman committed to play Division I baseball at Pepperdine this past week. Photo by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
For obvious reasons, the recruiting process for high school athletes...
MIAA building plan for fall sports

By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Last Wednesday, the MIAA COVID-19 task force voted to send its series of recommendations and plan to the MIAA Board of Directors for a potential fall high school sports season.
The plan includes sports such as field hockey, volleyball, cross...
Wagner serving role in bubble for B’s

By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
In March, the Boston Bruins appeared poised for another deep run into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. David Pastrnak was tied for the league-lead in goals with 38 and Tuukka Rask was first in the league in goals saved above-average (23). The only team in...
Needham’s Shuman makes PGA debut

By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Former Needham High School golf star and two-time state champion Jake Shuman made his PGA Tour debut on Thursday at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Shuman, who played collegiately at Duke University from 2014-2018, placed second in Monday’s qualifier...
River Rats trapped in MIBL final

Sam Palmer (pictured) squares up a ball and rips a single to center field on Friday night against Ashland. Photo by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
After dominating their way through quads, Medfield/DS continued its hot summer this past week in...
Schwartz the answer for Needham MIBL

Nico Schwartz (11) fires home a pitch during his complete-game victory against Norwood on Saturday afternoon in Quincy. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Throughout the summer, scoring runs has not been an issue for Needham MIBL. Led by NHS...
Walpole MIBL has eye on future

Rising senior Sam Donovan (pictured) fires home a pitch during his victorious five and a third-inning performance against Hyde Park on Friday in the MIBL playoffs. Photo by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Walpole MIBL's roster is extremely young compared to...
River Rats advance to final four

Matt Donahue (26) fires home a pitch in the top of the fifth inning during Medfield MIBL's quad-clinching 7-2 victory against Franklin on Saturday night. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Medfield/DS MIBL had itself a more than impressive weekend.
Braintree rallies to down Needham MIBL

Sam Gage (pictured) fires home a pitch during the top of the second inning on Friday night against Braintree. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Needham MIBL (3-10) returned home to face a powerful Braintree (10-3) squad on Friday night,...
Sheehan, River Rats walk it off

Max Goodman (pictured) fires home a pitch in the top of the fifth inning on Thursday against Milton. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The River Rats continued their hot summer on Thursday night as Medfield/DS (12-2) hosted Milton (9-5)...
Westwood MIBL outlasted by Canton

Second baseman Will DiBattista (pictured) fires a ball to first base. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Westwood MIBL (2-10) returned home to Westwood High School last Wednesday to host Canton (6-7). Despite playing on their home field, Westwood served...
Leonard, Folan homers lift River Rats

Drew Baacke (pictured) fires home a pitch in the top of the second inning. Photo by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The River Rats' dominant start to the inaugural 2020 Major Independent Baseball League season continued on Monday night...
Natick outlasts Westwood MIBL

Jack Rufo (pictured) and fires home a pitch in the bottom of the second inning. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
My Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Westwood MIBL (2-7-1) traveled to Natick on Sunday evening looking to get back on track with playoffs about a...
Late Canton rally halts Needham MIBL

Hunter Anderson (pictured) turns on a ball and drives a base hit into right field. Photo by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
There’s a reason why baseball does not have a time limit. Things can change from inning to inning, and...
Walpole boys hockey presented with trophy

The Walpole High School varsity boys hockey team poses together with their state championship trophy on the steps of Walpole High School on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Neal Fisher.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
It was the first good news that Walpole High...
Medfield/DS MIBL stuns Walpole

Ryan Donohue (17) fires home a pitch during his complete-game performance in Medfield MIBL's 8-2 win at Walpole on Wednesday.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The cancellation of the 2020 MIAA spring athletic season left behind many unknowns.
In...