RADIO: The End of the Spring Sports Season

On this week's episode of "The Local Sports Lunchbox" on WPKZ, I chat with Sean Sweeney of the Sentinel & Enterprise, and Tom Flanagan of the Telegram & Gazette to close the book on an exciting spring sports season in Central Mass.

From baseball and softball to boys' and girls' lacrosse, we cover it all, and I rant a bit about the Celtics and the NBA Draft toward the end.

We may also discuss the new Han Solo movie, but you'll just have to listen in below to know for sure.

RADIO: St. John's Wins the Super 8, Grafton Lax Headed Back to BU

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

On this week's episode of "The Local Sports Lunchbox" on WPKZ, a pair of SuiteSports reporters called in to discuss the biggest Central Mass high school games of the week.

First, our Connor Evans phones in to break down Grafton's thrilling triple-overtime win over Dover-Sherborn, and look ahead to the Indians' Division 3 state final against Ipswich. What to expect from that game, including Connor's "X-factor" player for Saturday.

Then, former Monty Tech lacrosse coach Jonathan Shea joined us to talk about building a lacrosse program at a Voke school, with all the unique challenges presented there. Which players helped him guide Monty Tech to back-to-back state tournament appearances, and the program's first playoff win this season. Plus, coach Shea offers his thoughts on the state of Central Mass lacrosse in general.

Finally, our Tom Joyce joins me to re-live St. John's (Shrewsbury)'s historic Super 8 baseball win against St. John's Prep. How did the Pioneers live up to their lofty pre-season expectations, and what was the mood after St. John's finally won the big one?

You can hear all that, and much more, on this week's show below.

St. John's (Shrewsbury) Baseball Pulls Away from Leominster

By John McGuirk (@Patsfan1313)

LEOMINSTER - For all that went right for Leominster through much of the regular season, things have turned drastically wrong in just one week's time. The Blue Devils will scrounge up all the walking canes they can get their hands on as they limp towards the postseason in a fashion nobody here wants to see.

Following Saturday's 9-2 defeat against St. John's (Shrewsbury) at Doyle Field in Leominster, the Blue Devils are now losers of four of their last five, and drop to 13-6. Prior to this recent tailspin, Leominster had rolled off seven straight victories. Leominster has one regular season contest remaining before the start of next week's Division 1 Central Mass. tournament in the hopes of righting the ship. The Blue Devils host powerful St. Peter-Marian on Monday.

St. John's (Shrewsbury) Baseball Sends Message against BC High

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

BOSTON - Ian Seymour made sure St. John’s (Shrewsbury) left its contest against BC High on Tuesday with a firm hold on the state’s number one ranking.

Behind five innings of one-run ball from Seymour, along with three hits and three RBIs from the aforementioned Pioneer’s ace, St. John’s cruised past the Eagles, 12-1, on a cool Tuesday afternoon at Monan Park at Boston College High School.

The Central Mass power was the aggressor all afternoon long, pounding out 13 hits while scoring multiple runs in four of the seven innings.

P.J. Barry Pitches St. Peter-Marian Past Grafton

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

WORCESTER - St. Peter-Marian's P.J. Barry is a highly-regarded centerfielder, widely considered one of best at his trade state-wide. But perhaps the St. Leo's University-bound senior may want to give a thought or two about trying to convince the Lions coaching staff to let him toil on the mound some come next season.

Handed the ball to start Friday's contest against Grafton, the right-hander was exceptional as he hurled a complete game gem, allowing just two hits in helping lead the Guardians to a 6-0 shutout over the Indians.

"I'm just trying to go out there and make my pitches," said Barry. "I know my defense behind me has my back, so I'm just trying to let them make the plays."

With the victory, St. Peter-Marian improves to 10-5, while Grafton drops to 14-3.

RADIO: Tantasqua Lax, Leominster Baseball & New St. Peter-Marian Football Coach Justin McKay

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

It was a jam-packed show this week on WPKZ, as we had three very special guests on "The Local Sports Lunchbox." First, the legendary Voice of Doyle Field, Dick Tucker joined us in the studio to disuss Leominster baseball's magical run to a Mid-Wach A title, and the Blue Devils' postseason prospects. Then, we were joined on the phone by the stars of Tantasqua lacrosse, who are once again tournament-bound.

Finally, new St. Peter-Marian football coach Justin McKay called in to tell us why he took the Guardian job after five years coaching Algonquin (he still teaches at Algonquin), and offer his thoughts on one of his former players, Wachusett alum Tyler Catalina, who recently signed with the Washington Redskins.

For all that, and much, much more, continue below.

St. John's (Shrewsbury) Baseball Runs Away from Exhausted Pope Francis

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

SPRINGFIELD - With the beginning of the spring season starting out in less than favorable weather conditions, many teams had no choice but to postpone some games, while left scrambling to find suitable make-up dates.

Which brings us to Pope Francis. Fair or unfair, the Cardinals were thrown into the fire this week. Beginning on Monday, a bit of re-shuffling of the schedule had them playing four games in four days.

Apparently Pope Francis athletic director John Goda must think Cardinals coach Pat Moriarty has enough arms within his pitching rotation to pile this many games on top of one another, instead of spreading them out over the next few weeks.  Pope Francis has just three pitchers that it can honesty rely on, and all were used heavily earlier in the week.

Facing St. John's (Shrewsbury) on Thursday marked Pope Francis' fourth game of this span.  It also marked a meeting between two Super 8 clubs from a year ago.

Fresh off a heart-breaking walk-off loss at Minnechaug late Wednesday night, the turnaround for the Cardinals would  no doubt be brief.

Moriarty had no choice but to dip into his thin well of back end hurlers, and it showed as the Pioneers rouged up four of them, en route to an easy 11-0 victory at Forest Park.

RADIO: Hopedale Lacrosse, Sean Sweeney, Adam Jones at Fenway, and Star Wars

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

We had a great many things to discuss on this week's episode of "The Local Sports Lunchbox" on WPKZ. First, our buddy Sean Sweeney from the Sentinel & Enterprise called in to discuss the local baseball scene, and then we were joined by the stars of Hopedale lacrosse. The Blue Raiders are just one win away from the program's first ever tournament berth, as they prepare to play Blackstone Valley Tech.

Of course, I also had to pepper everyone with inane Star Wars questions since it is May 4th (May the Fourth Be With You!), and go off on a tangent about Adam Jones and the alleged racial slurs hurled at him earlier this week at Fenway Park. That's the end of the show, so if you don't want any non-high school stuff, just listen until the final few minutes.

Anyways, continue below for all that, and more, on this week's show.

RADIO: Nipmuc Lacrosse, Baseball with Tom Flanagan & ESPN Layoffs

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

We were all over the place this week on "The Local Sports Lunchbox" on WPKZ. First, Nipmuc lacrosse stars Brandon Lefebvre, Ryan Richards and Pat Donelan joined me to discuss their early success, and the potential for a Mid-Mass. title.

Then, the Telegram & Gazette's Tom Flanagan called in to break down the Central Mass baseball scene, and I close the show with my thoughts on ESPN's recent brand-wide layoffs (spoiler, ESPN is doing it wrong).

For all that, and more, listen in below.

St. John's (Shrewsbury) Baseball Shuts Out Holy Name in Battle of CMass Powers

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

SHREWSBURY - St. John’s (Shrewsbury) is often known for its offense, but on Thursday evening Sean Burke showed why, this year, the Pioneers' success begins on the mound.

Behind five innings of shutout ball from Burke, and a multi-hit game out of Christian Jordan, the Pioneers coasted to a 10-0 win over Holy Name at St. John’s High School.

Burke, a University of Maryland commit, surrendered just one hit over five frames, while walking two hitters and striking out five.