Flyers ready for post-season action

Framingham’s spring sports teams are looking ahead to a critical week of action as the regular season comes to an end. For some teams, the playoffs mean more contests while other squads will put away their equipment until next year.

VOLLEYBALL Framingham moves into quarterfinals

The third-seeded Flyers take on Wachusett Tuesday, May 24 at 7 p.m., in the quarterfinal round of the Central Division 1 state playoffs. Wachusett knocked the Flyers out of the tournament last year.

The semifinals are scheduled June 3, 4 or 6 at sites to be determined. The state finals are June 8, 9 or 10.

Framingham cruised into the quarterfinal game with a convincing 3-0 win over 14th seeded Douglas, Thursday, in first round action. It was the 17th win for Framingham this season against two losses.

Andre Fernandes had 18 kills and four aces while Tarzan Nascimento had 14 kills as Framingham easily won its games, 25-14, 25-11, 25-15. Jesse Wing helped the Flyers’ cause with eight kills and four blocks.

Last Monday, the Flyers claimed a third of the Bay State Conference regular season championship with a 3-0 win over Wellesley. The Flyers will share this year’s league championship with Natick and Newton North.

Framingham finished 14-2 in the Conference.

TRACK: Athletes prepare for state competition

“The Flyers had an amazing day in sunny Hingham,” said Framingham track coach Chris Collins. The Flyers’ combined score (boys and girls) was 75 points, good enough for fifth place overall, in the Last Chance to Qualify invitational meet at Notre Dame of Hingham High. The Framingham girls fielded a young team and finished 17th while the boys finished first.

“The girls went light and only placed in two events with really young kids running to get some state level experience,” said Collins. The meet is run on the final weekend of the regular season to give athletes a final opportunity to qualify for the post-season state meets.

Jake Devlin won the high jump with a leap of 6-feet, 2-inches. Julian Kilicarslan won the shot put at 42-10.5. The Flyers received second place finishes from Ben Groleau in the 800 (1:58.79) and Bo Lewis in the 200 (23.55), as well as third place finishes from Andrew Vincuilla in the 400-meter hurdles (1:02), Emmanuel Kalamu in the 110-meter hurdles (17.0) and D'Amani Daniel in the 100-meters (11.55).

“The boys used the meet as a speed day and almost everyone ran outside of their normal event and did very well,” said Collins.

Framingham will send a number of athletes to Saturday’s Division 1 state meet at Andover High. The athletes and their events: Groleau (mile), Devlin (high jump), Sarah Bowhill (mile), Maria Grandoni (800-meters), Jenny Wagner (400-meters), Kelly Rusch (110-meter hurdles), boys 4x400 relay (currently ranked 4th in the state), boys 4x100 relay, girls 4x100 relay and girls 4x400 relay

On Wednesday, Aales Solomon was second in the 400-meters (50.81) in the Bay State Conference Track and Field Meet at Weymouth High. Bo Lewis was fourth (51.59) and Lawrence Serugo fifth (51.99).

Framingham's 4x800 relay was third in 9:16 with a team of Chris Day, Dan Fitzpatrick, Brian Gilligan and Travis Cohen. Groleau was fifth in the mile in 4:30 while Gilligan was sixth in the 2-mile in 10:39. Serugo took a fifth in the long jump (20-3) and Devlin was fourth in the high jump at 6-0.

The 4x100 relay was fifth in 4:18 with Genarro MacNanee, Luke Halbertadt, Brandon Johnson and Devlin doing the running. Rob Coukos was fourth in javelin with a throw of 132-4.

For the girls, the 4x400 relay team was third and Courtney Mryglot was fifth in the discus with a 69-9 toss.

TENNIS: Framingham flying into state tournament play

The Flyers take a 9-2 record, 8-2 in the Conference, into the final week of play before the post season begins.

Framingham easily won its seventh straight match, beating conference rival Walpole, 5-0, Friday. Max Greb and Jonathan Paez both won in singles 6-3, 6-0.  Phil Clarke won 6-2, 6-4 at third singles and the doubles teams of Jeff Davidson -- Jake Levine and Guy Neer -- Najib Jafari also won.

Flyer girls tune up for tournament play

Framingham defeated conference rival Walpole, 4-1, Friday, behind wins from Alex Hadlock, Lauren Taylor and Meg Wright. The win gives Framingham a 7-5 record with a match Tuesday against Brookline.

LACROSSE: Boys look ahead to tournament berth

Framingham’s boys lacrosse team will be anticipating a favorable seeding Friday when the MIAA announces its pairings for the state lacrosse playoffs. Framingham has a 12-4 record going into its final game this week, which will allow the Flyers to be in the upper echelon of teams competing in the playoffs.

Last Saturday, Walpole beat Framingham, 12-6. Sawyer Hulme also scored twice and goal tender Brendan Moran had nine saves for the Flyers. The Flyers are 12-4 overall, 7-3 in the Bay State Conference.

On Tuesday, Framingham defeated Norwood 14-4. Mike Stearns had four goals and four assists while Moran recorded 12 saves.

Girls close to qualifying for playoffs

Framingham won its eighth game of the season Saturday to run its record to 8-8-1. With two games this week, Brookline today and Concord-Carlisle Tuesday, the defending state champions are poised to make the playoffs. Pairings will be announced Thursday.

On Saturday, the Flyers defeated Walpole, 15-5, in Bay State Conference play. Rachel Igoe had four goals and added an assist, while Sophia Agostinelli also scored four goals.

Maya Szymanski scored three goals and an assist, Hannah Cronan scored twice, Leigh Nicholl recorded a goal and an assist, and Casey Curran made 13 saves in net for Framingham. The Flyers have an 8-2 record in the BSC.

On Wednesday, Framingham beat Norwood, 15-8. Igoe again had four goals and an assist while Julia Reedy added three goals and Jessica Podoloff added two goals. Curran and Aileen Kelly combined for seven saves in net.

Monday, the Flyers lost to Needham, 16-7, in a conference contest. Kelly had eight saves and Curran five for the Flyers.

BASEBALL: Flyers split a pair of league games

Framingham will have three opportunities to improve on its 6-11 record this week. The Flyers play conference  rivals Newton North today, May 23, Brookline on Wednesday and Needham on Thursday.

Last Friday Rob Averill banged out four hits and drove in two runs to lead the Flyers to a 7-4 win over Bay State Conference Carey Division leader Braintree. Kevin Lacy threw a nine-inning complete game, allowed two earned runs and struck out five. Colin Tougas had two hits and two RBI and Tyler Scacca had two hits and three RBI for the Flyers. Framingham is 6-11 overall, 4-9 in the BSC.

Earlier in the week, Framingham lost to conference foe Walpole 9-1. Kevin Murphy scored Framingham’s only run and Lacy had a double.

SOFTBALL: Framingham drops two conference contests

The Flyers have three games this week: today against Newton North, Wednesday at Brookline and Thursday at Lincoln-Sudbury. Framingham is 6-10 overall, 4-9 in the Bay State Conference.

This past weekend, Framingham lost to Walpole, 3-0 on Saturday. Jess Proia had four strike outs in the conference game. Friday, the Flyers fell to Braintree, 10-4, even though Jenna Levesque had two hits and scored a run.