It was somewhere near the middle of the second set in his match against Franklin’s Brian Barker where everything started to click for Bobby O'Donnell. Down 4-1 and giving up the first set, O’Donnell came back after being able to play closer to the net resulted in some valuable points. “That was a big point, especially when I had the wind with me being able to hit deeper shots,” O’Donnell said. With his opponent’s frustration building along side his patience. While OA fell to Franklin 3-2, O’Donnell slowly came back to win game, and then the set, and eventually the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. “He was…

OA baseball pitcher David Holmes stepped in and has helped guide the Oliver Ames baseball team to a 8-1 start thanks to superb performances on the mound. In a 2-1 win over Mansfield on Tuesday at Frothingham Park, Holmes put together another strong performance in a pitchers duel striking out 10 batters in seven innings of work. On top of his pitching performance, Holmes also delivered a clutch hit to spark the OA rally in the bottom of the seventh leading to Brad Flemming’s two RBI double to walk off with the victory. Despite allowing Mansfield’s only run earlier in the inning, Holmes felt …

As a kid growing up in Easton, or any New England town for that matter, hatred for the New York Yankees is just about universal, going hand in hand with a love for the Red Sox.  It is easy to understand, then, Liam Noonan’s original dismay upon being drafted by the Easton Little League Yankees almost a full decade ago. “[At first], I was highly disappointed to be drafted to the Yankees, being the die-hard Red Sox fan that I am,” he admits. As it turned out, the Yankees weren’t all bad, as that team went on to win the Easton Majors World Series and gave Liam his first taste of baseball glory…

From an early age, Nicole Romero has eaten, slept, and breathed all things baseball.  She is a lifelong Red Sox fan and names Ted Williams and Kevin Youkilis as her favorite players.  In grade school, Nicole took to the Little League fields as one of the only girls in Easton Youth Baseball and more than held her own against the boys. In ninth grade, she made the transition from baseball to softball, and since then Romero has become the first player in OA Softball history to play in the state tournament for four consecutive seasons.  Both catching and playing first base over her illustrious …

As the OA baseball team's season came to an end on Saturday with a difficult tournament loss to Milton, it is a time of reflection for the 15-6 Tigers. One of OA's bright spots has undoubtedly been  Jared Bloom. A senior tri-captain, Jared was a key cog in the Tiger machine all year long; hitting .415 with 9 RBI’s out of the second spot in the batting order and patrolling right field with one of the Hockomock League’s most dependable gloves.  A five-tool player, Bloom also stole over 20 bases and uses his speed to cover considerable ground in the field. Perhaps one of the most unique things …

Entering the 2010 Cross Country season, the Oliver Ames Lady Tigers were faced with the daunting task of replacing Jenna Davidner, their number one runner and one of the most dominant in recent memory.  Along with the loss of several other top performers from the 2009 season, the new void had the girls’ future looking uncertain. Enter Shannon Hickey.  After two stellar but fairly under-the-radar years running for OA, the junior stepped up in a big way this fall, taking over the top spot on the team and posting a 19:37 personal best in the 5k.  Her successes have continued through the winter …

 On Thursday, Oliver Ames High School seniors said their first of many good-byes to high school with their final day of classes.  But while the day saw a mix of excitement at summer’s beginning and nostalgia and sadness at the year’s end, the members of the Oliver Ames track and field team were forced to put their feelings on hold.  Just two hours after the final bell, they competed in the Hockomock League championships.  Fortunately, focusing during an emotional overload was no problem for Jon Raduazzo.  During miserable, intermittently rainy conditions, Jon won his second straight league …

At the beginning of the 2010 lacrosse season, Jocelyn Paul netted her 100th career goal.  On its own, that accomplishment is highly impressive, but since reaching the milestone as a junior, her lacrosse resume has only gotten more extraordinary.  Earlier in the season, Paul surpassed Brittany Engle as the leading scorer in Oliver Ames lacrosse history, and last Friday, she recorded her 200th career goal in a thrilling game against Canton. “It felt great to have reached that milestone. I couldn't have asked for a better game to score my 200th in,” she said. Picking up lacrosse her freshman …

Unlike baseball, in which starting pitchers need to rest for multiple days after a hard-fought game on the mound, softball often sees pitchers log unlimited innings through several games in a row.  The underhand motion of softball hurlers is much easier on the arm and shoulder, allowing for a starter to take the hill almost every day if need be.  But for a manager, this can only be done with an effective, reliable workhorse worthy of the responsibility. That’s where junior Elizabeth Batsinelas comes in for the Oliver Ames Lady Tiger softball team.  “I usually throw about 100 pitches in a game…

In all sports, at every level, even the greatest players go through slumps.  As any athlete will tell you, the frustration of having trouble with a skill that has come to be second nature is hard to match.  But, there’s also no better feeling than breaking out of it. David MacKinnon can attest to that from recent experience.  After a slow start to the 2011 season at the plate, he went on a tear this past week, hitting .500 and turning in a 4-hit, 4 RBI clinic on Wednesday against Canton.  Perhaps not by coincidence, Mackinnon’s offensive explosion came on the same day as his defensive switch …

Arguably one of the most difficult maneuvers in all of sports, high jumping requires precise execution of a delicate technique.  When it is performed correctly, the result is graceful and elegant – but one false stride or contortion throws the spectacle completely out of whack.  “When I first started high jumping, I was actually pretty bad. It takes a while to grasp the concept of throwing yourself over a bar backwards,” says Michaela Nichols. It’s hard to believe those words coming from Michaela – she makes it look effortless.  In each of the Oliver Ames Track & Field team’s first three …

Ryan O’Shea adjusted the brim of his hat and looked in for the sign.  With one out in the bottom of thesixth inning, locked in a 1-1 tie, Stoughton runners stood on first and second base, and he was in need of two pivotal outs.  He fired a pitch low and away, inducing a ground ball to short that got both at once with a rally-killing double play. “Usually when I need an out, I like to go to my fastball, but it depends on the situation I’m in,” said O’Shea. Whichever pitch he decides to call on, he tends to get that necessary putout.  Unquestionably one of, if not the best pitcher the Hockomock…