After watching the news and talking about the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, 10-year olds Sarah Alexander and Samantha Clapp knew they wanted to do something to help.  “My sister was doing it at the middle school so I decided to do it too,” said Samantha, who, along with her sister Brittney Clapp, and five other friends -- Caitlin Cavanaugh, Sarah Leger, Kayla Lozzi, Anna Vidoni  and Grace Weintrob -- held a bake sale outside the Village Toy Shop last Saturday.  The girls spent two days baking whoopee pies, brownies, Italian cookies, cupcakes and other treats that sold …

Midway through the 2010-11 season, the Oliver Ames girls’ basketball team was still trying to find its identity. By the end of the year, the Lady Tigers had completed another tournament run before falling to Scituate in the Division 2 South semifinals, one year after head coach Elaine Clement-Holbrook captured her second state championship. “If we thought [today] that we were going to be in the semifinals two months ago, I don’t think anyone would have believed me if I had told them that where I expected them to be,” Holbrook said after the loss to Scituate last Tuesday at Massasoit. After …

Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. Each week, Easton Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual  kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.  Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to Patrick.Maguire@Patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information: ●      Nominator's Name ●      …

Heading into the 2010-2011 Division 2 Girls' Basketball State Tournament Wednesday night at home against Somerset, the sixth seeded Oliver Ames girls' basketball team is streaking. Having won eight straight games, including wins against undefeated Mansfield and 20-1 Medfield in the last three games, the defending champion Tigers are poised to make a run at another state title. This year's squad has been defined by its hustle, gutsy play and defense - a style that won't succeed without a high energy, passionate group of players. And, for their inspiration, the Tigers don't need to look far. …