Page 8 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2024 Lady Pats softball aims for the top of the GBL By Dom Nicastro T he Revere High School Patriots softball team is hungry to get back to the postseason this year after fi nishing 7-14 and missing The Dance a year ago. The Patriots opened up with a 10-7 win over Lynn English and a 10-4 loss to Medford. Third-year coach Megan O’Donnell thinks her team will be right in the mix in the Greater Boston League and one of the teams to watch. “Medford was a strong team last year, but I believe after playing them … we gave them a game,” O’Donnell said. “Everett, Classical should be good this year along with us. We should be up at the top. That’s my belief. … People can say that I’m cocky, but I just have that much faith in my kids, because they can defi nitely play with the best.” Revere wants to tighten up its fi elding after some errors against Medford. The Patriots outhit Medford in that recent loss, 8-6. Isabella Qualtieri led the way for Revere with two hits. She brings solid defense out of center fi eld. Danni Randall, who picked up the win over Lynn English, took the mound again against Medford and had fi ve strikeouts while walking six. She allowed six hits and just four earned runs over seven innings. “The last few games it’s her positive attitude,” O’Donnell said when asked what Randall brings to the team. “I know pitching is not the easiest position because all eyes are on you and you feel like you’re alone out there sometimes. But Danni throws strikes. The better she gets the more strikes she throws, so it’s been good. Danni consistently throws hard every pitch. She throws the right pitch, and her teammates make the good plays. She’s always positive.” Freshman Caleigh Joyce, a catcher, pitcher and DH, had an RBI against Medford. Junior Jordan Martelli, an outfi elder, also drove in a run against the Mustangs. Lea Doucette, a junior first baseman and incoming all-star, and senior Qualtieri, stole multiple bases. Revere had seven stolen bases in the game. “We started off the game with an error,” O’Donnell said. “We just couldn’t come back after we gave up three runs in the fi rst. We ship this year in the form of Qualtieri, Riley Straccia, a middle infi elder, twin sister Ally Straccia, also a middle infi elder, and Louisa Santos, a third baseman who brings positivity. Sophomore catcher Shayna Smith, junior Doucette, sophomore infi elder Frankie Reed and the freshmen trio of Joyce, Anna Doucette and Gianna Chiadi will all contribute on the diamond this spring. Juniors Brianna Miranda and Martelli are expected to contribute as well. “We’re defi nitely a solid batRHS softball Head Coach Megan O’Donnell is shown discussing strategy with a Pats player during last year’s game against Somerville. couldn’t fi ght back. But Danni pitched well.” Revere brings senior leaderting team,” O’Donnell said. “But I think if we come together and just play with confi dence, and not get nervous, we’ll defi nitely be able to pull it together toward the end of the year.” Revere volleyball takes opener, drops two The Revere boys’ volleyball team blanked Lynn English, 3-0, to open the season. Ruben Rodriguez had 11 kills, and Larry Claudio added 19 assists. “We’ve got lots of areas for Lady Patriot pitcher Danni Hope Randall goes into her wind-up during last year’s matchup against Somerville. (Advocate fi le photos) growth,” Revere coach Lianne O’Hara Mimmo said. “We’re working on increasing our energy/spirit stamina.” Brookline, a state powerhouse, topped Revere, 3-0, in the other game. “Each set we improved and competed better,” O’Hara Mimmo said. Revere lost a league match to Medford. Rodriguez had 17 kills, and Claudio had 25 assists. “We are currently down one junior middle hitter making all of our matches more challenging,” Lianne O’Hara Mimmo said. Revere and beyond: Murphy wraps up successful Endicott football career By Dom Nicastro he Endicott College football team out of Beverly has been ranked nationally and having historic seasons recently. And a few Revere former standouts dot the Gulls’ roster: Jonathan Murphy, Max Doucette and Augusto Goncalves. The Revere Advocate caught up with one of them, senior defensive back Murphy, for a Q&A. Murphy was on the roster the past four seasons and this past fall played in fi ve games, racking up two tackles and three assists. Name: Jonathan Murphy. Grade: Senior. Age: 22. T Major/minor: Double major in business management and entrepreneurship. Jonathan Murphy Advocate: Endicott has been amazing the last two seasons. What has it been like being part of a nationally ranked team? Murphy: The team has been something special all four years that I’ve been here, and to see where the program was when our class of 2020 came in during the Covid season and to see where we are now when we are leaving the program as players has been a huge step for the program and school as a whole. Watching the team and the guys grow each year and seeing how passionate everyone is to play that next game is something that everyone bought into and wanted to be there, which always makes it easier. Advocate: What particularly made this year’s team so strong? Murphy: The bond that we all had with each other personally was one of the reasons we were so strong. Being in the playoff s three years straight and seeing how much we wanted to keep going really showed how much this team cared and loved being together. When it all came to an end you were able to tell the seniors that have been here from the start the effect this program has had on them, and it goes to show how much hard work has been put into this over the years. Advocate: What was the atmosphere like getting that huge win over that nationally ranked Hardin-Simmons Texas team (37-10 on Sept. 22)? Murphy: Beating a nationally ranked team was a huge step for us and the program. The win fi nally gave us the chance to get the national exposure that we deserved. We all knew as a team what level we could play at, and hearing everyone doubt us … this was something we wanted to prove. Advocate: Looking back at your time at Revere, what and who shaped you into the collegiate athlete you are today? Murphy: Mainly I want to thank my parents for always being the ones driving me to every practice and game whether it was football, baseball or basketball. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be the man I am today. It’s not easy having to give up weekends and even weekdays to get me to these games/ practices, which meant they had to sacrifi ce their time they could’ve been spending with family/friends or even working. Next, I would like to thank my brothers (Brian and Daniel). They have always taught me right from wrong whether it was in life or on the fi eld and have helped lead me down a successful path. Also, they were the two who have always been there for me when I needed someone to talk to and also the ones who always kept me company when I needed it — whether it was going to play catch outside or play video games in the house or even just going to get a coff ee together once in a while. Lastly, I would like to thank all my coaches who have coached me along the way no matter what sport it was. To my high school football coaches — Lou Cicatelli, Paul Norton, Vin Degregorio, Jose Escobar and Kyle West — thank you so much for paving the way throughout high school football and helping me become the man and player I am today. If it wasn’t for these coaches, I’m not sure if I would be the man I am today. One thing my dad always instilled in me was “Once you start something, you finish it.” This quote has stayed with me from when I was younger to now. The meaning of this quote to me is even if something isn’t going your way or you don’t want to do something, you started it, so go fi nish it. There are people out there who would love to be able to do the things we do every day, and some aren’t as fortunate so you can’t take it for granted.
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