Sports Roundup: Girls Lax Remains Undefeated, Boys Lax Picks Up Big Road Win

This sports roundup includes updates on the girls lacrosse team following their convincing home victory over Nauset, the boys lacrosse team after they went on the road and beat Nauset for a major road win, and the baseball team who found themselves in yet another competitive pitcher's duel.

Girls Lax Overcomes Slow Start To Beat Nauset 17-6

The box score of Monday’s girls lacrosse game between Nantucket and Nauset shows Whaler senior midfielders Bailey Lower (nine goals and three assists) and Emerson Pekarcik (eight goals) as the drivers of Nantucket’s convincing 17-6 win over the Warriors, but head coach Jami Lower said after the game there were no passengers on Monday and felt she received strong performances up and down the lineup.

"Everyone contributed," she said. "Defense with the ground balls. One thing we're really working on is emphasizing transition and the ride. Sophia Sullivan stepped up; Brooke (Damian) stepped up. Sam (Zadroga) stepped up. Suz (Peraner) had great ground balls. Mayson (Lower) is of course, as usual, all over the field defending, creating the opportunities. There is what the scoresheet reflects but it's not indicative of the way that they played (Monday). Everybody worked their butt off, and everyone contributed and played awesome.”

Nantucket only led 5-4 with about six minutes left in the second quarter – prompting Lower to call a timeout to address her team. She said she wanted to see them score three goals before halftime and walk into the locker room leading 8-4, which they did.

"They were just letting (Nauset) beat them and then they did it. It was 8-4 at half,” Lower said. “Then they just kind of ran away with it.”

Evy Stahl had a pair of excellent assists. Cydney Mosscrop also recorded an assist.

“Evy had two absolutely beautiful, high-lax IQ assists and Cyd had a high-lax IQ assist too,” Lower said.

The Whalers are now 5-0 and will attempt to extend their win streak to six games when they travel to Cape Cod Academy on Thursday, April 25 for a 3 p.m. matchup.

Boys Lax Picks Up Key Win Against Nauset

The Whaler boys lacrosse team was 3-1 entering their road matchup with the Nauset Warriors on Tuesday, but they were still searching for their first signature win three weeks into the season. They earned it against Nauset in the form of a 7-5 win to improve to 4-1 this season and head coach Sam Aloisi said his defense led the way along with sophomore goalie Jeremy Jenkinson, who made 20 saves.

“He could have a broken shin and I wouldn't even know about it," Aloisi said. "He doesn't complain. He had a great game. There was only one I'd say that he kind of didn't see but other than that, he was really seeing everything and a lot of good play from Jeremy. They missed some good looks towards the end of the second half, but I think that was largely part because he wasn't letting anything in, so they were really trying to locate their shots and they were just missing a few times.”

The Whalers led 1-0 after one quarter and 2-1 at halftime. Sophomore Arann Hanlon had three goals for Nantucket, and they were the first three goals scored by the Whalers. Nolen Mosscrop, Colby O’Keefe, Paddy Carroll, and Canton Jenkinson each recorded one goal. The depth up front was on full display on Tuesday but Aloisi couldn’t get over how well his defense played.

“The team defense was just awesome,” Aloisi said. “Basically every offensive possession we had come off of a defensive stand that we made. We didn't get the ball for free ever so that just goes back to how well the whole team defense played. They all played together. It was great.”

The Whalers will try to improve their record to 5-1 this season on Saturday, April 27 when they travel to face Bishop Stang at 2 p.m.

Baseball Loses Another Tight Matchup

The Nantucket baseball team remains winless through their first six games of the season, but they continue to find themselves in close competitive games that should help a very young team develop as the season progresses and they get more innings under their belt.

Nantucket hosted Cape Cod Regional Tech High School on Monday and lost 3-2. Sophomore Ronald Del Rosario Gomez was fantastic on the mound and did not allow any earned runs while striking out seven batters.

“Ronnie is only a sophomore, he’s getting stronger, and he’s hitting the cover off of the ball (2-for-2 with a walk),” Nantucket head coach Jack Pearson said.

Senior Shea Dwyer had a couple of key at-bats and drove in both of Nantucket’s runs. The first was an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to cut Cape Tech’s lead to 2-1. Then when Cape Tech extended their lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth, Dwyer immediately got Nantucket that run back in the bottom half of inning to make it 3-2.

"I love seeing Shea get those hits there," Pearson said. "He has got a knack for driving them in. But overall, we are right there. I can't wait to play these guys again.”

A pair of base running errors ultimately cost Nantucket as well. Freshman Eli MacIver was caught trying to go from first to third on a base hit to left field by Gomez in the sixth. Pearson said that was on him, not MacIver.

"I got to own that one," Pearson said. "I signaled late to hold him up at second and I think he just committed to it. He did what he was supposed to do, and that's on coach.”

Then after Dwyer drove Gomez in, freshman Luis Souza pinch-ran for Dwyer and after reaching second base, attempted to steal third but was called out by the umpire on a bang/bang play. After being thrown out, the Whalers suddenly had no runners on base with two outs instead of the speedy freshman on third with one out.

I think Luis was safe at third base," Pearson said. “I guess the video will tell the truth when we see that. That was frustrating."

Nantucket will try to win that elusive first game on Friday, April 26 on the road against Monomoy at 4 p.m.

SCHEDULE AHEAD:

Wednesday, April 24:

The boys tennis team will be at home facing Cape Cod Academy at 4 p.m.

The girls tennis team will be on the road facing Cape Cod Academy at 4 p.m.

Thursday, April 25:

The sailing team will be at home facing Dartmouth at a time to be determined.

The girls lacrosse team will be on the road facing Cape Cod Academy at 3 p.m.

The softball team will travel to face Mashpee at 4 p.m.

For more coverage of all the Nantucket spring sports teams, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or X (Twitter). You can follow photographer Chris Tran by clicking here.