HOLYOKE — The undefeated Franklin Tech golf team clinched a share of the Bi-County East league championship with a 167-177 win over Smith Vocational at Wyckoff Country Club on Thursday afternoon.
The Eagles (15-0, 14-0 Bi-County East) need just one more victory to secure an outright championship. A consistent top four group managed to play well all season for the Eagles.
Jack Day of Franklin Tech watches his drive against Smith Voc, Thursday in Holyoke. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Jack Day of Franklin Tech watches a birdie putt against Smith Voc, Thursday in Holyoke. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Braeden Talbot of Franklin Tech chips for the green against Smith Voc, Thursday in Holyoke. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Grady Deery of Franklin Tech lets go of a drive against Smith Voc, Thursday in Holyoke. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Braeden Talbot of Franklin Tech chips from the fringe against Smith Voc, Thursday in Holyoke. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Brady Wood of Franklin Tech lets takes a shot against Smith Voc, Thursday in Holyoke. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo
“You witnessed it today,” Franklin Tech coach Michael Duclos said. “It’s not always the same guy every day. Our low medal can be Jack (Day), Braeden (Talbot), Brady (Wood), Grady (Deery). Every day someone is getting picked up, even when someone has a bad day.”
Jack Day shot a 40 for the Eagles. Day shared medalist honors with Smith Voc’s Andrew Persaud. Always a perfectionist, Day was not happy with his performance.
“No good,” Day said. “Probably the worst round all year. I couldn’t putt. I three-putted about four times. Couldn’t hit my driver that great.”
The team put in a lot of work to perform on the course this season. It started in the summer. After the season, the Eagles have their sights set on the Western Mass. tournament.
“Practicing every day over the summer and just grinding,” Day said. “It’s not always as easy as you think it is.”
Day’s round included a birdie on the fifth hole. Braeden Talbot carded a 41 for the Eagles. Even if one player has a bad day for the Eagles, the team can make up for it with consistency in the top four.
“The round was good, the greens were pretty quick,” Talbot said. “Good tee shots definitely helped me out. Nothing I can complain about. It was a solid round. Team did good. The consistency comes from being good teammates to each other. Picking each other up after bad hole.
Grady Deery had some moments of frustration but recovered with a solid 42 for the Eagles. Brady Wood finished with a 44, while Everett Eichorn (48) and Colton Kingsbury (48) rounded out the Franklin Tech performance.
Amherst 163, Frontier 171 — The Hurricanes outlasted the Redhawks at Amherst Golf Course. Addy Wood and Braiden Dion both shot a 42 for the Redhawks. Christian Powell followed with a 44, while Teddy McCarthy finished with a 44.
Turners Falls 172, Mohawk 179 — Cam Cogswell and Jameson Betters both shot a 37 for the Thunder in the win over the Warriors at Thomas Memorial. Chayton Massa finished with a 42 for Mohawk. Conner Bergeron carded a 43.
Pioneer 172, Athol 190 — The Panthers got the better of the Bears at Northfield Golf Course. Weston Jones and Parker Gerry both finished with a 42 for the Panthers. Carter Gerry carded a 43. Owen Stoddard finished with a 40 for the Bears.
Volleyball
Franklin Tech 3, Mahar 0 — Sarah Beckwith had 10 kills and seven digs for the Eagles (10-2, 8-0 Western) in the sweep of the Senators in Orange. Set scores were 25-10, 25-15 and 25-11. Charley Knight led the offense with 16 assists in the Western matchup. Janiylah Wan added four aces and three digs. Annabelle Esparza had six digs, while Kamryn Hart led the hitting effort with four kills.
Minnechaug 3, Frontier 0 — The Falcons swept the Redhawks at Goodnow Gymnasium. Set scores were 25-11, 25-28 and 25-16. Aimee Talbot had nine kills for the Redhawks. Karinna Kostov had 19 assists and seven digs.
Athol 3, Greenfield 0 — The Bears swept the Green Wave at Nichols Gymnasium. Set scores were 25-19, 25-19 and 25-20. Amy Mihailiceno had two digs, two aces and five kills for Greenfield.
Boys soccer
Drury 3, Pioneer 0 — The Panthers couldn’t stay with the Blue Devils in an independent matchup in the Berkshires.
Monson 1, Mahar 0 — The Mustangs shut out the Senators at home in a Schmid contest. Lucas Hart made 11 saves for the Senators.
Girls soccer
Franklin Tech 1, St. Mary’s 0 — Sofia Melnik’s header off a corner kick from Faythe Sobieski netted what turned out to be the game-winning goal for the Eagles on Senior Night in Turners Falls. The goal came with just seconds left in the first half.
Seniors Kaelyn Mclean, Layla Hammond, Cayleigh Aldrich and Kim Ramirez-Martin all played well for Franklin Tech. Sheyenne Ballentine made three saves to record the shutout.
Field hockey
Minnechaug 3, Greenfield 0 — The Falcons handled the Green Wave in a Suburban league matchup at Woodcock Field. Hailey Sadler made five saves for Greenfield.
Mohawk 3, Mahar 0 — Jayda Waters, Hailey Martin and Molly Ross scored for the Warriors in the win over the Senators in Buckland. Emily Gilmore and Heidi Helenek had assists for Mohawk. In net, Brynlee Purington made nine saves to secure the shutout.
Late Wednesday results
Athol 6, Mohawk 3 —Lucas L’Ecuyer scored twice for the Bears in the win over the Warriors at O’Brien Field. Dillon Boudreau, Adam Rodriguez, Drake Wing and Andrew Botti also scored for Athol. Ralle Anderson added an assist. Jed Amstein scored twice for the Warriors. Wing made six saves in net for Athol, while Simon Helenek stopped 12 shots for the Warriors.
