A winter of dominance came to a conclusion with yet another big performance by Kris Selanis on Friday. The Athol High School senior traveled to the Armory in New York City to compete in the New Balance Indoor Track & Field National Championship, and he showed well against the top shot putters in the country.
Selanis earned a podium finish, taking sixth place overall out of 29 competitors in the Emerging Elite Division. His top heave of 54 feet, 4¾ inches was the best of any New England athlete. His best throw came on his final attempt of the competition.
Elian Ahmar of Glen Burnie, Md. was the shot put winner at 59-10½.
It was quite a conclusion to the indoor season for Selanis, who won the MIAA All-State meet and finished second at the New England Championship this winter. He set the school record in the shot put with a throw of 56-1¾.
Mohawk Trail Regional High School junior Meghan Davis was the other local athlete to compete in Friday’s opening day. Davis took 12th in the 2-mile run, posting a time of 11 minutes, 16.59 seconds. Julia Smith of Issaquah, Wash. was the winner in 10:41.47.
NMH falls in National Championship
Top-seeded Putnam Science Academy built a quick five-point lead in overtime and held on, defeating Northfield Mount Hermon School, 74-66, in the Prep School National Championship Thursday night at Connecticut College.
The Hoggers finish the season as the National runners-up with a 31-4 overall record. It was the second consecutive championship game appearance for the program and the fourth all-time.
NMH got off to a quick start, storming to a 33-19 lead at halftime, before hitting a cold spell in the second half. The game went back and forth for the final stretch and was tied at 60 with five seconds left. The Hoggers had the ball and got a good look at a 3, but the shot was blocked as time expired.
Putnam took control in the extra session and captured its first-ever National Championship.
NMH had a record-breaking season. Calvin Whipple and Chuck Hannah closed their careers with the most wins in program history (113), while Nate Laszewski finished with records for 3’s in a season and a career. Max Lorca set records for blocks in a season and a career. The 2017-2018 set the season record for wins in a season with 31, and the program won the third New England Championship in its history.
Pioneer Suburban falls
Visiting Pioneer got as close as six points late, but undefeated Easthampton held on for a 58-44 win in a Suburban League boys’ basketball grades 5 and 6 playoff game Thursday in Easthampton.
Jake Brook led a balanced attack for Pioneer with 11 points, while Josh Wood and Brayden Thayer joined him in double figures with 10 points each. Kurt Redeker added 8 for Pioneer, which finished its season with a record of 18-4.
GML registration
Greenfield Minor League baseball is holding its final two registration days for the 2018 season today at next Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at the Field House on Kenwood Street in Greenfield.
The league is open to any boy or girl in Franklin County ages 7 to 12. You must be 7 years old prior to Aug. 1 to be eligible to play. There are four divisions: Rookie, AA, AAA, Majors (advanced baseball 50/70).
Registration fee is $75 per player and information and registration forms are available at www.gmlb.org. For other questions please contact league president Bobby Campbell at 834-4222.
Babe Ruth meeting
The Franklin County Babe Ruth Baseball League will hold a general membership meeting Monday night at 6 on the second floor of St. Kazimeirz Society in Turners Falls.
The meeting will include registration dates and locations, voting on new rules for 2018, updates for new batting cages at Abercrombie Field, player draft and skills evaluation dates and other new business. Parents are encouraged to attend.
For more information contact Tina Crocker (648-0124 or Joe Mignault (774-3876).