H.S. Roundup: Veritas Prep overpowers Athol boys volleyball

SPRINGFIELD — The Athol boys volleyball team ran into stiff competition on Tuesday night as the Bears lost, 3-0, to Veritas Prep Charter School.

The Vipers (2-0, 2-0 West) were a strong and athletic West league opponent and made quick work of Athol. On top of the competition, the Bears (3-2, 1-1) did not have their best offensive weapon in Aiden Desreuisseau. The outside hitter missed the match with an illness.

Athol has 10 players on its roster. Two starters are completely new to the sport. Both Caunor Mason and Desreuisseau return with varsity experience.

“We are very young,” Athol coach Jen Mason said. “This is our fifth match. Everybody is learning. We have two returning players on varsity. We are all just coming together and trying to get our drive.”

Set scores against the Vipers were 25-10, 25-14 and 25-12. Veritas Prep is a relatively new volleyball program, with its first season coming in 2023. Benjamin Lantigua-Torress had nine kills for the Vipers. Daniel Langone played set up with 25 assists for Veritas Prep.

“It’s been an adjustment,” Mason said. “We knew we’d feel some growing pains and today was one of them. But I think we are looking great honestly. When someone is not here it kind of throws off the whole team.”

Offense was certainly missing for the Bears. The power of the strikes from Veritas Prep often them in compromised positions.

“We are not really strong with the hitting,” Mason said. “But we’ll get there.”

Mason had five kills for the Bears. Erick Brito led the defense with eight digs and added five assists. Athol is back in action on April 14 with a trip to play Hampden Charter School of Science at 6:15 p.m.

Softball

Frontier 6, Franklin Tech 1 — The Eagles had an early lead, but the Redhawks pulled away with a three run third inning to capture the Franklin East win in South Deerfield.

Frontier has now won five straight (5-0, 2-0 Franklin East). Skyler Steele connected on three-run home run for Frontier, collecting two hits with three RBI on the night. Addie Ehle added two hits for the Redhawks with an RBI. Raine Wonsey won in the circle with seven strikeouts in six innings.

Franklin Tech (0-3, 0-1) collected eight hits in the game. Brayleigh Burgh, Lyla Mickiewicz (RBI) and Emma Petersen each had two hits for the Eagles. Burgh had eight strikeouts in the circle for Franklin Tech.

Turners Falls 8, South Hadley 7 — The Thunder walked it off against the Tigers at home in a Franklin East contest. Autumn Thornton provided the game-winning RBI for the Thunder. Madisyn Dietz’s hit in the bottom of the seventh drove in the run that tied the game for Turners Falls.

Thornton threw six innings with five strikeouts and 11 walks with an additional triple at the plate. Dietz picked up the win in the circle, pitching a scoreless seventh for Turners Falls. Janelle Massey ripped a solo homer run in the first inning for the Thunder (2-1, 2-0). Kaiya Adams added a triple for Turners Falls. Addison Talbot went 2-for-4 in the game with a run scored.

Baseball

Franklin Tech 13, Easthampton 3 — The Eagles cruised past Easthampton in Turners Falls in an independent contest. Brody Hicks had three hits and an RBI for Franklin Tech (2-0).

Caleb Begos picked up the win on the mound, giving up four hits and one earned run in three innings of relief. Nick Prasol, Levi Clark and Cody Yetter had doubles. Hunter Donahue stayed hot with a triple.

Late Monday results

Boys Track & Field

Frontier 109, Franklin Tech 29 — The Redhawks got past the Eagles in an Intercounty match up in South Deerfield. Ezra Rich won the shot (39-1.25) and the discus (122-11) for Frontier. Adrien Pazmandy was a winner in the pole vault (11-0), the 400-hurdles (53.9) and the 100-meter (11.4). Luke Howard won the mile (4:40.4) and the 800-meter (2:19.1).

Max Brunette won in the long jump (19-1) for the Eagles. Sam Bodenstein was a winner in the 200-meter (24.3).