Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 24, 2020 SPORTS | FROM PAGE 9 March 17 through May 4, but he reassessed the situation in the state in present-day “real time.” After consulting with mayors, school superintendents and school committees, he came to the conclusion that schools would not reopen this year. Though school buildings are closed, it does not mean an early start to summer vacation, as all three school systems in Malden – the Malden Public Schools, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School and Malden Catholic Codivisional High School – are in the midst of respective Remote Learning Programs, which they will now continue through the remainder of the school year. InJ& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. terscholastic athletics, however, will not be held this spring as a result of the pandemic. Already, cancellations reigned in organized sports nationwide with winter season championships canceled at high school and college levels, collegiate spring seasons ended and all major professional sports seasons suspended indefi nitely. S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping Malden High School thirdyear Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Charlie Conefrey said he and his staff feel for the players both locally and nationwide due to the circumstances. “It is very unfortunate that our student-athletes will not have the opportunity to compete this spring, but their safety and well-being is always our highest priority,” Conefrey told The Advocate. “That was the thinking behind Governor Baker's decision to close school buildings for the remainder of the year.” Conefrey said Malden High School had been planning a big spring, with good numbers signed up for high school and middle school sports teams. “We had over 250 student-athletes ready to compete this spring before the pandemic,” he said. “We were looking forward to our fi rst spring season in the new Greater Boston League [GBL] as well.” A familiar refrain across the region has been sympathy for the members of the senior Class of 2020, who would have been competing for the last time for their schools. “I feel badly for all of our seniors and those in other communities who were very excited about leading their teams in their last sports this spring, and now will not get that chance,” Conefrey said. Malden High head baseball coach Steve Freker said he was also really looking forward to this spring, which would have been his 35th season coaching high school baseball, his 18th on the Golden Tornadoes’ sideline. “We were as ready to go as we could have been and had a really good schedule between our GBL games and our non-league opponents,” the Malden coach said, whose team would have been hosting the 7th Annual Christie Serino Memorial Tournament and facing defending champ East Boston today, had the season been played. “Our senior class players were our strength. This would have been one of deepest teams, pitching-wise, with two excellent senior lefties – Ezra Kruckenberg and Devin Killoren – and righty Tommy Curran.” Kruckenberg, Killoren and Curran were captains of this year’s Malden High team along with senior catcher Makai Patterson. Adam Faulkner and Brendan Rooney were Malden’s other two senior players. “It’s a tough call that was made, but the right one,” the Malden coach said. “Our seniors were all great kids and we will miss them very much. I know they were really excited about this season, and they just can’t get it back now.”
11 Publizr Home