Sports

Podcast: Paul Ryan Shares Memories of Mike Ryan, Red Sox ‘Impossible Dream’ Season Catcher

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WHAV Sports Director Paul Ryan recently shared family memories of his cousin, Mike Ryan—the Red Sox “Impossible Dream” season catcher who passed away July 7 at age 78. He said his cousin had a “modest start” in baseball. He explains there was no baseball program at St. James High School, but he was asked by Irving “Sheik” Karelis to play for Karelis Jewelers at Cashman Field in Haverhill. When he was 18—as a member of the Northeast League, a semi-pro league—Mike was invited to play in the all-star game at Yankee Stadium.

Education

Northern Essex Community College’s Varsity eSports Expands to 7 Offerings This Fall

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Northern Essex Community College’s varsity esports program is expanding to seven game offerings beginning this fall. Five game titles will be featured for PC play, while Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will continue on Switch and Madden will be added for PS4 play. FIFA is also expected to join the mix during the spring 2021 semester. “We’re excited to be expanding our offerings in esports and increase participation and championship opportunities for students while at the same time returning to competition in other programs as well following the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Northern Essex Athletic Director Dan Blair.

Community Spotlight

Northern Essex Community College Plans 3rd Annual Golf Tournament Aug. 31

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Northern Essex Community College is accepting registrations for its Third Annual Golf Tournament to benefit its 12 varsity athletic programs.

The four-player scramble, best ball tournament includes breakfast and is open to the public. It takes place Monday, Aug. 31, with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m., at Renaissance Golf Club, 377 Kenoza St., Haverhill. Registrations placed before July 31 are $175 per person. After that, registration is $200 per person.

Community Spotlight

Girls’ Lacrosse Presents 12th Annual Comedy Night; Supports Haverhill High School Athletics

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Note: This event has been cancelled. The Girls’ Lacrosse team at Haverhill High School is presenting its 12th annual Haverhill Athletics Comedy Night to benefit the school’s athletic program. The comedy event provides opportunities to bid on Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins memorabilia. Proceeds from the bids, along with ticket sales, go towards the program. The event takes place Friday, March 13, 7 p.m., at DiBurro’s Function Facility, 887 Boston Road, Haverhill.

Sports

Athletics Open House March 10 at Northern Essex Community College

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Athletes considering college can learn about Northern Essex Community College programs, meet coaches and talk to student athletes during an upcoming Athletics Open House. The open house promoting 12 varsity sports includes tours of the campus, a presentation on academic programs, information about student support services, a student athlete panel, a tour of the fitness center and a chance to meet with coaches. The event is Tuesday, March 10, 5-7:30 p.m., at Pentucket Bank Lecture Hall in Spurk Building at the Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St. The college competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association and sponsors intercollegiate sports including baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer and more. For more information about Northern Essex athletics, visit neccknights.com or contact Dan Blair at [email protected] or 978-556-3820.

Education

Haverhill Student Sees a Need at Northern Essex and Jumps On it; Starts Cheerleading Squad

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Northern Essex Community College student Roselly Lassus saw a need and, literally, jumped on it. Lassus, an exercise science major from Haverhill, is starting a Northern Essex cheerleading squad and recruiting students with the support of staff advisor Noelia Figuereo. The graduate of Whittier Regional Technical High School knows something about the subject, having been cheerleading since the fourth grade. She was captain of the varsity cheer team at Whittier Tech her junior and senior year and led them to first place in multiple competitions. College Athletic Director Dan Blair not only endorsed the concept, but gave the squad its first assignment.

Sports

Northern Essex Community College to Induct Rowinski, 2000-2001 Women’s Basketball Team into Hall of Fame

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Northern Essex Community College’s 2000-2001 Women’s Basketball Team and former Haverhill men’s basketball coach Mike Rowinski are to be inducted into the college’s Athletics Hall of Fame in March. One of the most accomplished women’s teams in the college’s history, the 2000-2001 women’s basketball team captured the Region 21 championship and advanced to the national semi-finals with an overall record of 24-10, including a national quarterfinal victory over top seeded Fulton-Montgomery. Coached by Andrew Pittington the team was led by Glenda Cancel, Jessica Hamilton and the Hamblet sisters Lyndsey and Tricia who all averaged double figures in points per game throughout the season. Cancel was named the Region 21 Tournament MVP and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Hamilton and Tricia Hamblet following the team’s 76-47 victory over Springfield Tech in the regional final. A Haverhill High alum and 1981 graduate of the college with a degree in criminal justice and men’s basketball student-athlete, Rowinski went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from St.

Region

Mass. Legislators Plead With MLB to Save Spinners’ Sox Affiliation

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The two U.S. senators from Massachusetts are asking Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred to rethink what they’re calling an “ill-advised” proposal to eliminate or strip the major league affiliation of 42 minor league teams.

One of the teams affected by the move would be the Lowell Spinners, the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Removing the affiliation would be a “slap in the face to Lowell” and do “long-term damage to the game’s ability to keep and grow its fan base,” Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey wrote to Manfred Monday. “The team’s important affiliation with the Red Sox, and its proximity to Boston and New Hampshire, have allowed Red Sox fans from all over the region to enjoy a Spinners game and see players that will move on to play for the Red Sox and other Major League Baseball teams,” the letter said. “The Lowell Spinners provide an affordable family outing and have remained a strong partner for the entire community.” Markey and Warren said the Spinners and their stadium, LeLacheur Park, employ nearly 200 workers and that the team makes up “an important piece of the community’s cultural footprint.”

Congresswoman Lori Trahan, a Democrat who represents Lowell, last week joined with three Republican lawmakers to announce the formation of a bipartisan “Save Minor League Baseball Task Force” that will monitor negotiations and “discuss potential legislative action if and when such a remedy becomes necessary,” according to Trahan’s office.