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American Legion

Fitchburg students win essay awards from American Legion

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FITCHBURG – The American Legion Post 10 Pensive Patriot Essay Awards took place last month at Longsjo Middle School, where several students were recognized at the June 15 event for their writing talents.

This is the fourth year the essay contest was open to 8th grade students, an effort that started at McKay Elementary School during the pandemic. Post 10 provides three award levels – Gold $75, Silver $50, and Bronze $25, with two students chosen for each level.

Forty-eight essays were generated this year and the prompt question was “What are three top attributes of our Democracy?” The VFW Patriot’s Pen judging rubric was used and completed by former Fitchburg High School (FHS) graduates in the area and beyond including from California, New York, Thailand, and Illinois.

Of the eight the award-winning Fitchburg students, this year’s Gold awards went to Prudence Dicato and Hnuchi Moua, Silver was awarded to Carlos Rodriguez Jr. and Derick Nartey, Kennisa Rotasayne and Madelyn Elkins took home Bronze and Honorable Mentions went to Hunter Raboin and Evan Buteau.

“This year’s prompt provided civic education and development of critical thinking skills,” Post 10 Youth Chair Richard Vaughn conveyed. “The judges were impressed with the prompt and thoughtful results.”

To date the essay contest has generated more than 160 essays with many students earning part of the $1,200 total awarded for their citizen efforts. According to a Post 10 press release “essay writing is valuable as part of a TEAMS educational program, and civic education is important to the future of America. American Legion Fitchburg Post 10 supports students.”

In addition, Post 10 supports the Massachusetts American Legion’s Boys and Girls State program, which has developed leaders and promoted the country’s democratic system for more than 70 years. Post 10 and other American Legion posts around the state select students to be a part of the prestigious program and offer scholarships to participants as part of the post’s STAR Mentoring program.

“There has been an increase in the success of the participants regarding college and scholarship applications and informal mentoring as part of the program,” Vaughn shared.

Rachel Lanni Poirier, a member of Girls State 2013, FHS 2014 graduate, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute 2018 graduate posted she passed the state bar exam in February and Simmons University graduate Alaina Valcourt Filiau, also a 2013 Girls State citizen, celebrated earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

Vaughn, who has been mentoring youth locally for 20 years, said this is the 15th year he has promoted the STAR Mentoring Program “and the results have been amazing,” a way “to try and get positive student accomplishments recognized.”

Baseball notebook: Arms race is on for Post 151

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If the clichés are true and strong pitcher trumps good hitting, the Leominster American Legion Post 151 baseball team is hoping that a few of its arms step up as it enters the stretch run of the Zone 4 season.

Post 151 (7-4) has pulled to within half a game of Division A-leading Northboro (7-3), but with games scheduled almost daily for the next two weeks, the depth of Leominster’s pitching staff and the stamina of its hurlers will be put to the test.

Anyone who follows baseball locally knows what Ryan Garner, Angel Baez and Tyler Godin are capable on the hill. They were key cogs in the success of Leominster High this spring and have shown flashes of brilliance this summer as well.

Look no further than Garner’s start on Tuesday. The Husson-bound southpaw kept Framingham off balance all afternoon, striking out eight and allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk. A shutdown reliever for LHS this year, Garner often pitched for long stretches out of the bullpen and had no problem taking the ball for Tuesday’s start.

Recent Fitchburg High grad and UNH-bound lefty Henry Bruun has been solid in his starts for Post 151 this season and Leominster High rising sophomore Mark Garner has shown that’s he’s fully capable of dealing at the Legion level.

Trevor Robichaud, a member of Nashoba Regional’s class of 2023 who is heading to Colby Sawyer in the fall, has also seen time on the bump this summer and will be needed down the stretch. Limited by a minor lower-body injury, Robichaud tossed one inning of relief on Tuesday, striking out a pair while walking two and allowing an unearned run.

Leominster has 10 games — and the completion of another — scheduled between now and July 11. Post 151 begins the run with the completion of a suspended game against Northboro Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. before kicking off a scheduled game against the same team to follow at Pin Cannavino Field.

Roller coaster ride for Phillies

A dozen games into the season, the Lunenburg Phillies sit in sixth place with a 6-6 mark, but aren’t out of the hunt for a high playoff seeding just yet. Outside of first-place Shrewsbury (11-3), no team in the CNEBA has more than eight wins, meaning a Lunenburg ascent up the standings isn’t much of a reach. Tyngsboro (8-6), Ronnie’s of Worcester (7-5), Oxford (7-6) and Worcester (7-7) are all within immediate striking distance.

It’s been an up-and-down ride for the Phillies, with wins and losses alternating nearly every time Lunenburg takes to the diamond. The Phillies haven’t lost more than two in row, but haven’t strung together more than back-to-back victories either.

Veteran Lunenburg Phillies infielder Steve LaJoie is leading the CNEBA in hits and batting average this summer. (Courtesy Lunenburg Phillies)
Veteran Lunenburg Phillies infielder Steve LaJoie is leading the CNEBA in hits and batting average this summer. (Courtesy Lunenburg Phillies)

Offense hasn’t been much of an issue for the Phils this season. Lunenburg has scored 99 runs scored entering Wednesday, with 51 coming in a pair of doubleheader splits against the last-place Auburn Rockets.

The team is also allowing an average of over 5.5 runs a game, giving up 67 in its 12 contests.

Longtime Lunenburg standout Steve LaJoie leads the CNEBA in batting at the moment with a .533 average (16-for-30), having driven in 10 runs. Fellow veteran Jonathan Belliard is first in the league in RBI (12) and doubles (eight), posting a .451 average at the dish.

Former Leominster High star Tyler Smith is showcasing his power with the Phillies, leading the CNEBA in runs scored (14) and tied for the league lead in homers with two. The Worcester State backstop is hitting .357.

Garner, offense lift Post 151

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LEOMINSTER — In a season marred by inconsistency, it’s been one thing after another spelling defeat for the Leominster American Legion Post 151.

The bats go quiet. The pitching isn’t sharp. It’s been a struggle for Post 151 to put together a solid effort in all aspects of the game for a full seven-inning span.

On Tuesday night, it was the defense that was shoddy as Leominster committed three errors in the field.

The miscues made things interesting, but Post 151’s offense and the pitching of starter Ryan Garner were enough to lift the hosts to a 6-4 win over Framingham Post 74 at Pin Cannavino Field with a short bench.

“The hitting is coming a little bit. I’m proud of the guys who were here today and stepped up,” said Post 151 head coach Jeff Dedeian. “There were a couple big spots when we did things we hadn’t done all year, putting the ball in play or going the other way with it. We had a couple hits that mattered and a couple guys who don’t often get to play coming through with some big hits.”

Leominster American Legion Post 151's Ryan Garner delivers a pitch during Tuesday's win over Framingham. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Nick Mallard)
Leominster American Legion Post 151’s Ryan Garner delivers a pitch during Tuesday’s win over Framingham. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Nick Mallard)

Husson-bound Garner pitched five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, a walk and a hit batter, striking out eight. Framingham (4-4) scored on an errors in the third and sixth innings.

“Ryan got the groundballs he need, but we didn’t make the plays behind him,” Dedeian lamented. “It made him throw more pitches than we wanted to. Every time he throws, he’s good, but I don’t even think Ryan was the typical Ryan today and he still was pretty good.”

Recent Nashoba Regional grad Trevor Robichaud picked up an inning of relief for Post 151, allowing a run on two walks and an error, striking out a pair. Anna Maria-bound hurler Tyler Godin picked up the save, tossing the final inning and allowing just one run.

Leominster (7-4) got on the board immediately as Godin ripped a two-run single off Framingham starter Brady Levensohn in the bottom of the first.

After Framingham got one back in the third, Post 151 struck for three in the bottom of the frame. Ashton Malzahn, Tony Salvatelli and Adam Bessette (2-for-3) all drove in runs as the hosts pushed the lead to 5-1.

Daniel Wright singled to lead off the fourth and later came in on a wild pitch from reliever Pat Chapin to cap Leominster’s scoring.

Post 151 returns to action Thursday against Northboro at Pin Cannavino Field. The teams will complete a suspended game starting at 5 p.m., with the scheduled game slated for a 5:30 start.

Commentary: Garner a big-time gamer for Post 151

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If there’s a stage that’s too big for Mark Garner to perform on, he hasn’t found it just yet.

After a sensational freshman season at Leominster High, Garner is continuing to shine in his limited time with the Leominster American Legion Post 151 baseball team. One of the Blue Devils’ best hitters down the stretch, Garner is pounding out hit after hit with Post 151 through the team’s first eight games.

If he was a full-time player, he’d be gaining attention across Zone 4 as a player not to toy with at the dish. Obligations to travel ball keeps Garner limited to about half of Post 151’s games, but he’s making an impact whenever he steps on the diamond for an American Legion contest.

Take Thursday night’s game against Nashua, a 3-0 loss that saw Leominster struggle to get the offensive wheels turning. Garner went 2-for-3 on a night when Post 151 recorded just a half dozen hits, driving singles up the middle both times he reached base. His final at-bat saw him put a good swing on a ball that resulted in a flyout to center.

Print the shirts. Mark Garner: Professional Hitter.

It would be fitting if he weren’t so much more than that.

Thursday evening’s contest also saw Garner put on a relief clinic similar to those exhibited by older brother Ryan throughout his recently completed senior season at Leominster High. The younger Garner didn’t allow a hit in 3.1 innings of work, issuing two walks and hitting a batter while striking out four.

Leominster American Legion Post 151's Mark Garner strikes out Nashua's Jayce Martinez during Thursday's game. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Nick Mallard)
Leominster American Legion Post 151’s Mark Garner strikes out Nashua’s Jayce Martinez during Thursday’s game. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Nick Mallard)

The rising sophomore never buckled, even with runners on base. In the fifth, Luke Anderson stood on second with one out as Nashua threatened to add to its lead, but Garner calmly got a flyball to right and then struck out Devin Sawyer looking to end the threat.

His sixth and seventh innings saw one runner reach in each, but neither moved past first base.

He’s doing exactly what Post 151 manager Jeff Dedeian wants his hurlers to do: throw strikes and trust the Leominster defense. The occasional strikeout certainly doesn’t hurt, either.

It’s a lot like when big brother Ryan stepped on the mound for the Blue Devils. The Husson University-bound southpaw’s nickname of “Nails” was earned and his focus was unshakable.

Apparently, that competitiveness runs in the Garner genes.

Having seen their father, Chad, compete, it’s not shocking how determined the Garner boys are to compete at the highest level possible. As head coach of the Fitchburg High baseball team for the last few seasons, Chad Garner has turned the Red Raiders into a postseason contender after several rough years prior to his arrival.

And I’ve stepped foot on the dek hockey rink with the patriarch of the Garner family and saw firsthand how intense he can get. There were times I was quite glad Mr. Garner and I were wearing the same jersey.

There’s something about those Garner guys.

And Mark Garner is definitely cut from the same competitive cloth as his brother and father.

With three more years of high school ball and more seasoning at the American Legion level, there’s no telling just how much of a big-game player he’ll turn out to be.

Post 151 struggles to notch big hit

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LEOMINSTER — The rollercoaster ride that has been the 2023 season continued for the Leominster American Legion baseball team on Thursday evening.

Post 151 came back down to .500 on the summer, falling to Nashua Post 3, 3-0, in a non-league contest at Pin Cannavino Field.

Seeking its third win in a row, Leominster’s bats couldn’t muster a timely hit, which combined with a rough first inning spelled defeat for the hosts. Post 151 (4-4) had a half dozen hits and saw eight batters reach base, but hits in succession or with runners in scoring position never came.

“We haven’t done that all season yet and I don’t know when it’s going to come. We have a lot of good hitters on this team and right now we’re struggling to put hits together,” Post 151 manager Jeff Dedeian said. “We get one good hit, but it’s with two outs or we put the leadoff man on and can’t capitalize. Today, we never got anything going.

“We have to be better with our swings, but I’m confident we’ll find it.”

Post 3 scored all of its runs in the opening frame, taking advantage of early control issues from Post 151 starter Tyler Godin and a costly error in the outfield. A dropped flyball allowed two runs to score before Ryan Haskell drove in a third Nashua run with a sac fly to right.

In the frame, Godin allowed just one hit, but walked three before getting out of the inning. He recovered in the second, striking out a pair and sitting Nashua down in order and worked out of a jam with two on and two out in the third.

“Tyler found himself in the second inning, which is good,” Dedeian said. “He needs that. We need pitchers to throw strikes and we need to make plays behind them. If we get pitchers who are confident and can pound the zone, we’ll be OK.”

On the evening, Godin went 3.2 innings, leaving the game after delivering his 80th pitch. He allowed three runs on two hits and four walks, striking out five.

Leominster American Legion Post 151's Cam Marshall singles during Thursday's game against Nashua. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Nick Mallard)
Leominster American Legion Post 151’s Cam Marshall singles during Thursday’s game against Nashua. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Nick Mallard)

Mark Garner, who just wrapped up his freshman year at Leominster High, was fantastic in relief, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings. Garner allowed no hits, walking a pair and hitting a batter while striking out four.

“Mark was awesome. He just grabbed the ball and threw strikes,” Dedeian said. “If the ball gets put into play, he’s confident the defense will take care of it.”

Garner was also solid at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles after starting the game as the designated hitter. One of the younger players on the roster, Garner is a part-time player for Post 151 with obligations to a travel team.

“He’s been really good when he’s been here. He’s not one of our regular players because of his schedule, but right now, he’s one of our better hitters,” Dedeian said of Garner. “It’s a shame he can’t be here all the time.”

Cam Marshall added a pair of hits for Post 151, lacing two singles in his three at-bats. Dylan Adamson reached base twice in the game, recording a single and getting on courtesy of an error in the second inning.

But Post 151 never advanced a runner to third and couldn’t come through with a hit in any of its six chances with a player on second.

Local notebook: Plenty to see as summer kicks off

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With high school sports wrapped up on Sunday, it might seem as though a quiet and calm summer awaits.

But there’s no shortage of sporting events to take in, especially in terms of local athletics. Forget the Red Sox; there’s plenty to see nearby.

Take the local American Legion baseball teams, for example. Leominster Post 151 and North County Post 129 feature a ton of local ballplayers, hailing from schools all over North Central Mass. The two programs squared off Tuesday night at Doyle Field, with Post 151 claiming a 5-2 victory to improve to 4-3 on the young season.

Leominster’s roster features a handful of Leominster High players — and recent graduates — as well as players from Fitchburg, North Middlesex Regional, Lunenburg High, Ayer-Shirley and Nashoba Regional. Blue Devil standouts Angel Baez, Tony Salvatelli, Tyler Godin, Ryan Garner and Mark Garner are all suiting up for Post 151 this summer.

North County has no shortage of talent either, including Isaiah Smith, Colby Gouldrup and Jayden Downing of recently crowned Division 3 champion Oakmont Regional. Post 129 is also coached by Gregg Picucci, who was an assistant on the title-winning Spartan team, and still riding high off the victory. His smile when the championship was mentioned Tuesday night drew a huge smile.

North County Post 129's Golby Gouldrup hits an RBI single during Tuesday night's game against Leominster Post 151. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Nick Mallard)
North County Post 129’s Golby Gouldrup hits an RBI single during Tuesday night’s game against Leominster Post 151. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Nick Mallard)

Having taken in a good chunk of Tuesday’s game, two things stuck out. The first is the aforementioned talent.

The second is how odd it is to see Leominster High players emerging from the first base dugout at Doyle Field as guests. Post 151 plays its home games at Pin Cannavino Field at McLaughlin Park and were the visitors on Tuesday evening.

I wasn’t the only feeling a bit off with the arrangements.

“It’s a little weird. Not used to this dugout at all,” Salvatelli admitted pregame, noting that he had last played as a visitor at Doyle two years ago with the Leominster American Legion crew.

If baseball isn’t your thing, there’s a fairly prominent ball hockey tournament going on this week in Fitchburg The Fitchburg Street Hockey League is hosting the ninth annual Raider Cup with 46 youth teams coming to the city from as far away as New York and New Jersey.

Games kicked off Wednesday evening and run through Sunday, with teams playing round robin games before entering a playoff format on the final day in Chipmunk, Penguin, Beaver and Cadet divisions.

For those looking to take in the action, Saturday will be packed from morning to night. Games kick off at 7 a.m., with the final contest of the day starting at 8 p.m.