The Hampshire League South was expected to be a tightly-contested race throughout the season and thus far, that indeed looks like it will be the case. 

Pioneer (5-0 overall, 2-0 league), Greenfield (4-2, 2-1), Mahar (2-2, 0-2), Frontier (4-1, 2-1) and Drury (4-2, 1-1) make the Hampshire League South one of the deepest leagues in Western Mass., considering what each team accomplished last season combined with what they brought back. 

So far Pioneer has looked like a team hellbent on returning to the MIAA Div. 5 semifinals, already picking up a huge victory over defending HL South champion Greenfield as well as Lenox in the league, while adding an independent victory over Hoosac Valley, which reached the Div. 5 finals last winter.

While the Wave suffered the loss to Pioneer, Greenfield has shown it’ll be in the mix to repeat as league champs. The Green Wave hold wins over Drury and Frontier in the league and have faced a tough non-league slate to date, capturing a win over Commerce and a close loss to Wahconah. 

How about Frontier? Josh Morse’s squad opened the season with wins over Easthampton, Hampshire, Mahar and Lenox before suffering a tightly-contested loss to the Green Wave. 

With losses to Drury and Frontier, it would be easy to count Mahar out in the league title race. However, the Sens started slow a season ago with big losses to Pioneer and Greenfield before hitting their stride down the stretch, capturing a Western Mass. Class C title and making a run to the Div. 5 Final Four.

Count on many more competitive games within the league moving forward.

Greenfield hockey fairing well in Berry Division

After being the class of the Wright Division the last few years, the Greenfield hockey team was ready for a new challenge. 

That meant making the jump up to the Berry Division which features the likes of West Springfield, Longmeadow, Minnechaug, East Longmeadow, Westfield and Ludlow. The Wave are the lone Div. 4 school of the group, but you wouldn’t know it based on how they have played thus far. 

Greenfield is 5-2 on the season so far and 2-1 in league play, with both Berry wins coming against Longmeadow. 

There’s been no shortage of offense from the Green Wave this season. In those seven games Greenfield has scored 32 goals, nine coming off the stick of senior Jake Jurek. 

Frontier girls off to red hot start

There’s dominant, and then there’s what the Frontier girls basketball team has done this year. 

Through seven games, the Redhawks have outscored their opponents 433-157. That’s a staggering average margin of victory of nearly 40 points, with Frontier averaging 61.8 PPG to 22.4 PPG allowed. 

The Redhawks have the fortune of a deep roster, as coach Dave Machon has numerous players at his disposal who are able to step up and carry the scoring load on any given night. Addie Harrington leads the team with 12.1 PPG while Skyler Steele (9.6), Harper Modestow (7.9), Jazzy Hayes (7.4), Olivia Machon (6.7) and Claire Kirkendall (6.7) are all capable of leading the way offensively, showcasing the number of threats opposing defenses have to account for. 

What’s really separated Frontier so far though is its defense. Just three teams have been able to break the 20 point mark against the Redhawks while none of their opponents have eclipsed 40 points. Combining that defense with an offense that has scored 70-plus in three games so far and it’s no wonder Frontier looks like a team not to be messed with this winter. 

Scoring leaders

Who will lead the Recorder area in scoring this year? It’s still early, but here’s how it’s shaping up so far. 

On the boys side, Frontier’s Max Millette is leading the way with 23.8 PPG through five games. Pioneer has a pair of players not far behind him, as seniors Brayden Thayer (23.2) and Kurt Redeker (20.6) are off to strong starts. Greenfield freshman Grayson Thomas is the fourth Recorder area player over 20 per game thus far, as he’s putting up 20.3 PPG. 

Turners Falls’ Jackson Cogswell went off against Mount Greylock to the tune of 35 points and on the season, Cogswell is averaging 19.5 per game. 

Mahar’s Hayden Comeau is leading the way on the girls side, as she’s averaging 16.9 PPG through three games. Harrington and Mahar’s Julia Hatch (12 PPG) are the lone other Recorder Area players currently averaging over 10 PPG during the early portion of the season. 

Fellow senior Matt Garvin has tallied seven goals, defenseman Jack Laurie has potted four goals, Shawn Beckwith has scored three goals while Shawn Baumann, Brady Poreda, Luca Siano and freshman Chase Zraunig each have two goals on the season, as the Wave’s depth of scoring has been a strength thus far.