Triton Defeats Shawsheen Tech In State Division 2 Boys Soccer

Triton's Ed Hargreaves heads the ball toward the Shawsheen Tech goal

(Byfield) I was on hand for the Triton (14th seed) boys easy soccer win over visiting Shawsheen Tech (19th seed) on Saturday afternoon in the Division 2 state tournament preliminary round.

The Vikings now advance to the D2 North First Round on Monday against North Andover at NA at 4PM.  The Scarlet Knights haven’t lost since September 16th but Triton competed well against them in a 4-3 loss at NA on October 14th.

Triton scored three times in the first half and spent most of the rest of the time threatening to score. 

Perched near the Shasheen goal I was in a position to see most of the action.  I saw Collin Smith tally the first goal after a corner kick gave him a direct shot from in close.

This first half shot shows the kind of pressure the Vikings put on the the Shasheen goalkeeper.

A near-miss by Justin Paquette. He did connect on the second Triton goal.

This was a Pat Martin shot on goal.

This was Eric Peterson  preparing for a corner kick in the second half.

Here is Gabe Marcolini and Matt McWeeney in action.  Matt is heading the ball toward the Shasheen net.

This is a look downfield at Pat Martin, Dan Ford, and goalie Dan Norton.

Here is Max Nichou kicking toward the Shawsheen goal.

Corey Burgess assisted on the 3rd Triton score by Andrew Fitzgerald.

This is Triton Coach Brad Smith at halftime.

Neal Lojek  heads toward the Shawsheen Ram net.  Neal set up the 4th Triton goal headed in by Andrew Fitzgerald.

 

Mike Capuano Brings US Senate Seat Campaign to Newburyport

Mike Capuano talks to Democrat supporters in Newburyport

Mike Capuano was in Newburyport this Sunday AM (at the Caffe Di Siena) to seek and solidify support for his bid for the Massachusetts US Senate.  He’s trying to win the Senate seat that belonged to Ted Kennedy.

First, he needs to win the Democrat primary on December 8th and opponent Attorney General Martha Coakley may have a lot to say about that.  She is well ahead in the polls so far.  The actual election will be on January 19th and the Democrat primary winner will almost certainly be our next US Senator.

I attended, not to solidify Mike’s support, but rather to see what he looked like and what he had to say.  There was also talk of an open mike and questions being fielded.  It was amusing for me to try to anticipate what questions I might have for someone as unashamedly liberal as Mr. Capuano. 

Mike has been in the US House since 1998 representing the “Harvard” district.  Talk about a haven for liberal elites!

Amesbury’s mayor (Ted Kezer) and the area state rep (Mike Costello) introduced him. 

The candidate explained that he had experience at numerous levels of government and that this separated him from the other US Senate aspirants.  He talked of the benefits of being a Washington insider. 

He said that he fully supported the public option in the Healthcare bill.  He said that not only was he reading the bill but also making sure, he understood it as he went along.  That second part would separate him from other reps, he claimed.

He bragged about being opposed to the Iraq War and added that we should pull our troops out of Afghanistan.  He claimed that there were only about 100 Al Qaeda terrorists around and that they were moving into various countries.  I wondered if he cared what the Taliban would do in Afghanistan after we left.

I concluded that he was keen on interventionist policies at home but not abroad.  He seemed very convinced that government had the answers to this country’s domestic issues.  A person, like Mike, who has never had a non-government job, could easily think this. 

I wanted to tell him that according to actual polls, a higher percentage of people believe in UFOs than approve of the job Congress is doing.  Folks want less government not more. 

He talked about his early years in politics as mayor of Somerville and how he had wanted to be available to make sure that he could help his constituents in any way.  He mentioned getting an unplowed street plowed after he had received a late phone call.  I wanted to ask him, “Since you have swallowed Al Gore’s global warming fantasies, wouldn’t hot air likely be a bigger threat than snow?”

I came away thinking that the nanny staters in his seventh Congressional district could easily elect someone with Mike Capuano’s views forever.  Taking those views statewide might not work so well.  His views do not differ one degree from Teddy’s but he clearly lacks the notoriety that carried Senator Kennedy into power and kept him there. 

I believe that the wave that rolled Obama and numerous liberals into office has now hit the shore.  The country has seen what those pleasantly presented sound bites look like in real life and many don’t like what they’ve seen.  A stimulus plan that takes money from one group and gives it to another is on thin ice.  A group that punishes folks who choose not to carry health insurance is out of control. 

I guess I should be thrilled that Mike Capuano shook my hand.  I guess I should also be thrilled to have been in a room with so many of the Democrat big shots of this area.  Alas, I did not get the “Chris Matthews thrill” up or down the leg over either of those. 

The Democrats are in trouble nationally.  President Obama has figured this out and now is shifting from having all the sound-bite answers, to searching for real-life answers. By shifting away from his original message, the President alienates the likes of Mike Capuano and his supporters. 

Can Mike run successfully by running against Obama’s most recent waverings?  I’m guessing he tries and loses the primary to Martha Coakley on December 8th as a result.

Cape Ann League Cross Country Winners are Hamilton-Wenham (Girls) and Newburyport (Boys)

Newburyport runners listen for the starter's gun as Coach Hennigar watches from behind

A perfect afternoon at Bradley Palmer State Park on Saturday afternoon for the Cape Ann League cross country championships.  Perfect, that is, for the spectators.  I doubt that the runners were thrilled with the mid-60s, sun, and gusty winds they encountered.

The regular season champions both delivered as the Hamilton-Wenham girls swept both JV and varsity events while the Newburyport boys also had a pair of team championships.

Neither team had the winner in the varsity events but that fact didn’t keep the winners from posting convincing victory margins.

The Clipper depth carried them to the CAL championship.  Sean Hickman finished seventh and was followed in short order by Chris Suprin (9th), Greg Englehart (10th), Keith Conway (11th) and Brian Morse (12th). 

The next cross country event is the state championships on November 14th at Franklin Park.  Class enrollment becomes a factor in this one, and Newburyport will move away from some of it’s CAL competitors and drop to Division 4.  Two NHS teams won state championships last school year – girls’ soccer and boys’ hockey.  Maybe it’s the cross country boys’ turn?  Their depth might be the ticket to the title.

Rachel Rikeman got 10th in the JV meet to pace Newburyport girls while  John Stancel and Matt Getz finishing one-two in the JV race.  The other top-five members for the winning Clipper’s JV team were Owen Williams, Ian Wood, and Ryan Kell from right to left.

Alanna Poretta of Pentucket owned the varsity race.  No one was near her when she came past the starting line and at the finish; she was nearly a minute better than the second place HW girl was.

In the boys varsity meet, Ipswich’s Greg Krathwohl trailed a North Andover runner on the trip past the starting line but later was the first to come out of the woods.  Greg had plenty left at the end and ended up 30 seconds ahead.

Steve Sawyer was named coach-of-the-year for both of his HW teams.  My wife and I traveled with him in Europe in 1968 and he will not deny it.

Newburyport Boys’ Cross Country Team Undefeated In Regular Season

October 27th (Tuesday) – At Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, I saw the Newburyport boys’ cross country team complete an undefeated (12-0) season in the Cape Ann League.

Host Amesbury provided little opposition, in fact the way the Clipper runners were grouped together; it looked like a training exercise especially at the front. 

Senior Matt Getz leads eight Newburyport runners across the finish line

The local paper, which I suspect viewed the race from Liberty Street, had all the runners finishing in first in some sort of blanket finish.  My photo, taken at the finish line, would suggest otherwise.  The winner was clearly Senior Matt Getz.

The local paper also listed the eight tied for first as; Matt Getz, Brian Morse, Sean Hickman, Ryan Clark, Greg Englehart, Chris Suprin, Chris Jayne, and Keith Conway.  Again referencing my photo from the finish line, I see Matt Getz (who clearly was the winner) and EIGHT runners behind him.  Someone was left off the local paper’s list.  I wonder whom?  I’ll post it here if someone sends the info to my email address – 85peterjulie17 at gmail dot com. 

Matt Tolley raced off to the early lead.

Coach Don Hennigar told me at NHS on Thursday that he thought that this was the first undefeated boys team he’s had since 2003. 

left to right - Maddie Cutrone, Merri Adsit, Kiley Knowlton, and Renee Angelo finish first together at Amesbury

The Clipper girls were just as dominating versus Amesbury.  Four Clipper runners took the lead together early and ran that way (training workout style) the entire way.  I wouldn’t attempt to pick a winner even using my photo of the finish. 

The big event for these teams is Saturday (October 31st) afternoon at Bradley Palmer Park.  This would be the Cape Ann League championships.  The varsity teams run at 2PM (girls) and 2:30PM (boys). 

I expect that the boys will be severely tested by both Masco (11-1) and Hamilton-Wenham (10-2). 

The young Clipper girls completed the regular season at 5-7 and may surprise some folks at Bradley Palmer. 

Look for pictures and a recap to show up on this blog on Saturday (October 31st) in the evening.

Tom McLaughlin Rocks

I happen to enjoy Tom McLaughlin’s weekly column in The Bridgton News.  Wow, that’s a novelty, or at least it seems so based on the regular letters-to-the-editor the BN lists.

When I read what his critics have to say I cannot help but wonder if these folks aren’t also the same ones regularly preaching “tolerance.”  Maybe their “tolerance” is only for those they agree with.

President Obama seems to have a similar problem.  He doesn’t like Fox News.  Why?  I think it’s because Fox News raises aggravating questions and presents information that puts the current administration in a bad light.

Tom doesn’t hesitate to do the same.  In the October 22^nd edition, he belittled the Harvard educations of Al Gore and Barack Obama. That’s not what folks want to read if they’re convinced that a Harvard education exempts a person from scrutiny from the rest of us.  

Some call Tom’s writings, “right wing rants,” minus any explanation or knowledge of what that might mean.  They’re a bit like the elementary school student who hears a word on the bus, drops it into the family conversation at supper, and wonders why his mom returns with a bar of soap. 

Some of Tom’s critics in the BN readership do know what they’re writing about, so reasoned opinions differing from Tom’s are found very regularly among the letters-to-the-editor.  Thus to suggest that the BN is one-sided means that the critic either doesn’t read the letters-to-the-editor or else doesn’t know what a left wing point of view sounds like.

Tom McLaughlin is entitled to his opinion and thankfully the BN provides him with a weekly forum to do just that. 

On another note, I’m not at all surprised that the BN receives awards for their photos – they are excellent. 

I am also pleased to see that the BN is developing an online website that will enable folks from afar to keep up-to-date on Bridgton and its surrounding towns.  Keep up the good work!

( Sent as a letter-to-the-editor to The Bridgton News )

Obama Wins the Prize

Wins the 2009 Nobel Peace prize

An area National Football League fan would have perspective on President Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize.

How, you ask?  Try to picture The Five Norwegians (AKA – Nobel Peace Prize committee members) being in the New England Patriots locker room before a New England Patriots game.  The visitors listen as Coach Bill Belichick goes over strategy for the game and hear his pep talk at the end.  They watch the staff and players, and see and hear how confident they become as the coach’s words echo throughout the locker room.  They see the team leave for the field all seemingly convinced that they will succeed.

The Five Norwegians observe all this and conclude that instead of playing the game the team should give Coach Belichick the game ball right now.  His words were clearly inspiring and those on the team were sure to win the game as a result. 

Ridiculous!  Who gives out the game ball before the game is played?  The pre-game talk may lead to success, but who is to know until the game is actually played whether the coach’s words led to a victory.

The Five Norwegians thought that Obama had accomplished enough in his first two weeks as President to deserve the prize.  They obviously relied heavily on Obama’s pre-election rhetoric when making their choice.  Did they have anything beyond words to go on?

In another NFL connection, think about the red hanky each coach gets for an NFL game.  If something does not seem right during the game, the coach tosses the red hanky onto the field and this leads to the referees looking at a video replay and attempting to make necessary corrections.

Imagine that each of us gets a red hanky. If something goes on that we do not think is right, we can toss that red hanky into the air as a way of showing our disapproval.

Now imagine that the announcement is made that President Obama is the winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.  Would it be accurate to suggest that: (1) most of us would be reaching for the red hanky and (2) the resulting color display would put an end to “The Hunt for Red October?”

Two other questions – Is the current buying frenzy of scrapers the result of; (1) the sudden need some folks have to remove Obama/Biden stickers from their vehicles or (2) the realization that a severe winter is fast approaching and not global warming, as Al Gore and the easily led seem to believe.

( Appeared in the Newburyport Current on October 16, 2009  and the Newburyport Daily News on October 20,2009 )

A video called, “The Gospel of John”

A wonderful way to see and hear what the Gospel of John is all about.

“The Gospel of John” video is terrific.

I came upon it recently when I caught a part of it on TBN. My interest was piqued and a Google search followed.

I discovered via Google that someone had taken the time to put the 129-minute video into nineteen (ten-minute) installments on the internet.

With a little bit of work I was able to figure out what sections of the book of John are in each of the 19 installments and create a coordinated list.

Once I had the list created, I could read/study a particular portion of John and then view the video version of that passage. 

Along the way, I discovered that the “Gospel of John” video follows the New International Version almost word for word.  That was refreshing since most books and movies aren’t like that.

Seeing the video after studying the portion of John it presented, gave me insights that I wasn’t getting from just reading/studying the selection. 

There was no attempt in the video to supply answers to “What does He mean?” verses and sections.  You just get the Scripture as it is. 

I found the video to be informative, enlightening, and inspiring. 

I came away with a much clearer idea of the relationship Jesus had with the Pharisees.  He never stopped calling them out for full exposure.  That they plotted to kill Him comes as no surprise after watching His collection of encounters with them in this video. 

The toughest part to watch was the crucifixion. It wasn’t because of what they showed rather it was what you heard and knew was going on that was troubling ………. but in a necessary way. 

The most moving part, for me, was the coverage of John 17 in which Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, and for us believers.

Philip Saville is the director of “The Gospel of John” and the actor portraying Jesus is Henry Ian Cusick.  There is plenty of narration and Christopher Plummer is extraordinary in that capacity.

I recommend the following nineteen-day devotional: first read the portion of John covered in the video and then watch the video itself that covers that section. 

Those having doubts about the videos should try one out.  Do a Google search on – “Gospel of John video part whatever (choose a number 1-19)”.  View the video with the appropriate Scripture handy and I suspect you will see the same possibilities I did.

Here are the video part numbers and the sections of John they represent:
 1  – 1:1-1:42
 2  – 1:43-2:25
 3  – 3:1-4:34
 4  – 4:35-5:27
 5  – 5:28-6:14
 6  – 6:15-6:67
 7  – 6:68-8:6
 8  – 8:7-8:59
 9  – 9:1-10:6
10 – 10:7-11:23
11 – 11:24-11:57
12 – 12:1-12:47
13 – 12:48-13-38
14 – 14:1-16:4
15 – 16:5-18:5
16 – 18:6-19:7
17 – 19:8-19:37
18 – 19:38-21:8
19 – 21:9-21:25

I would certainly be interested in any feedback that you might offer – 85peterjulie17 at gmail.com

Hear, See, Speak No Evil of President Obama

Criticism offends his defenders

I guess the point of the Newburyport Current’s editorial, “Another anti-Obama overreaction,” and John Burciaga’s, “Goodbye to town hall meetings from hell,” is that those of us in disagreement with Mr. Obama are fair game for any cheap shot that comes to mind.

The editorial “only” describes us as, “hysterical,”  while Mr. Burciaga chooses; “politically unwashed, naïve, reliant on bloggers of low mentality, nonreaders, yahoos, clingers to idiocy like a crucifix, rejecters of Jesus Christ, and thugs.”

I think that what escapes these writers is that Barack Obama received only 53% of the popular vote in the past election.  So even back in November (2008) 47% of the voters did not want Barack Obama to be the President. 

Bringing things up-to-date, the September 12th daily Presidential Tracking Poll by Rasmussen has, “33% strongly approving of the way Barack Obama is performing in his role as President.”

Both written pieces seem to assume that the President won by a landslide and is still held in high regard.  The facts indicate otherwise.  53% bought into Barack Obama’s campaign rhetoric but far less are still on board as the reality of implementing his ideas kicks in. 

Mr. Burciaga’s cheap shots made perfect sense to the winners early on but now they sound like they belong to an extreme lefty who is not paying attention to what has gone on since Barack Obama took over.

A person strongly approved by only 33% of the voting public should have expected some opposition when he tried to get the schoolchildren of the voters to consider: (1) What they could do to help the president, and (2) What is President Obama inspiring you to do.  For the President even to think that such questions are appropriate reminds me of Brian’s line in The Breakfast Club – “Claire, you’re so full of yourself.”

It interested me that GHW Bush addressed the nation’s schoolchildren in 1991.  His efforts were not received any better than Obama’s were.  If the Current editorial had stated that the Democrats’ negative reactions to President Bush were, “anti-Bush overreactions,” I would have conceded that the editorial was evenhanded…….but it did not happen.

Mr. Burciaga writes as one who is tolerant of only those who agree with him.  I wonder if he realizes that it was Obama’s ideas that turned some of the town hall meetings into sideshows not the elected officials attempting to defend them.  Congressman John Tierney was very wise to defend Obama’s ideas from long distance rather than from before a live audience. 

Looking ahead, I wonder how Mr. Burciaga will handle the compromises that the increasingly unpopular President will have to make to salvage any of his increasingly unpopular plans. 

Nonetheless, one thing remains certain, no matter what Barack Obama says or does, Mr. Burciaga will be available to demean all critics in The Newburyport Current.

( Appeared as a letter-to-the-editor in The Newburyport Current on September 18, 2009. )

Eddie MacDonald of Rowley Wins TD Banknorth 250

Eddie MacDonald with checkered flag in victory lane

(Oxford ME) Well, at least part of his wish came true.

Before the qualifying races at Oxford Plains Speedway for the TD Banknorth 250 on Sunday afternoon (July 19th), Eddie MacDonald of Rowley told me, “It would be neat to have the two of us over there in victory lane when the day ends.”

Eddie (29) was referring to fellow racer Mike Johnson (42) from Salisbury.

But it wasn’t meant to be, as Mike had as much bad luck as Eddie had good luck.

Mike ended the day not qualifying for the TD Banknorth 250 despite three tries. “We had a bad transmission and could only get one practice in,” he said.  Mike’s best chance was in his first qualifying attempt when he started in the pole position. 

On the other hand, Eddie practiced, qualified and later ended up on victory lane as the winner of arguably the most important annual sporting event in Maine.

Eddie described the victory as, “the biggest win I’ve ever had.”  He collected $25,000 for first place plus an additional $10,300 for keeping #17 in the lead for 103 laps.

During the race, the Triton graduate held the lead when he went in for a pit stop on Lap 129.  He returned to action and thirty-eight laps later he had made up the time lost and was back in front and never trailed the rest of the way.  A year ago, Eddie made a similar pit stop and got new tires only to find the car going slower after the tire change and had to settle for a frustrating 6th place finish. 

Eddie was quick to praise his crew afterwards particularly for the work they did during nearly six hours of practice.  “I’d come in about every few practice laps for adjustments including tire changes.”  The frequent stops were partly for practice for the race itself and partly to make sure the car, and specifically the tires, were right unlike the previous year.

You put a tightly spaced field of 41 race cars on a small track (three eighth of a mile) for 250 laps and the likelihood of situations leading to cautions is great.  In this one, there were ten cautions.  The last caution, on Lap 212, was the closest Eddie came to being knocked out of the race entirely.  Right in front of the crowded grandstand a driver spun around right into Eddie’s path but Eddie was able to swerve and avoid contact and drive on from there to the win when racing resumed.

Eddie laughed when he told me that he had “cautions” on his mind as the race wound down.  “I figured that there would be a caution at twenty, ten, and even on the last lap.  I was praying that the caution flag didn’t come out and luckily it didn’t.”

Mike and Eddie are part of the Camping World East Tour.  Ahead for them are scheduled races in New York and Connecticut followed by a September 18th race at nearby (1 ½ hours) Loudon, New Hampshire.
Eddie won twice at Loudon in 2008.

Well-known driver Rusty Wallace was the grand marshal at Oxford while Kenny Wallace and his nephew Steven also took part.  The threesome drew plenty of attention from the crowd.

However, when the race was over it was Rowley’s Eddie MacDonald drawing the biggest cheers of the day.  He summarized the way things went best when he said, “Everything worked just the way we needed it to.”

( This story appeared in The Town Common on July 29, 2009. )

Eddie MacDonald Wins 2009 TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway

Eddie MacDonald with checkered flag in hand and trophy behind him.

 

( Click on the underlined words for pictures. )

(Oxford – Maine) I was at the TD Banknorth 250 held at the Oxford Plains Speedway this evening and saw Eddie MacDonald of Rowley (MA) win the event.

Earlier this week I took an interest in this race because I thought that someone from Rowley had been in it last year.  On the Oxford Plains website, I learned that there were actually two drivers (Mike Johnson and Eddie MacDonald) from the readership towns of The Town Common.

Divinely, The Town Common wanted the story and the media department of OPS put me on the media list. 

I talked to both drivers before they did any racing.  I was taken by how soft-spoken and polite Eddie was.  He had a crew that was busy with a lot of high-tech equipment.  Mike was also easy to talk with.  He had a crew of one working on his car. 

Eddie ran in the third qualifying race.  I got confused, unaware that there were two #17’s in the race, and thought he had not qualified.  Turns out, he had started in sixth and gone on to win the heat and qualify.

Mike was in the fourth qualifying race in the pole position.  His very long day started early.  He quickly lost the lead and before long spun out.  A second try in the consolation round resulted in another spinout.  A third try in the Last Chance round had him starting at the back and staying there.  At least there was no damage to his car.  His difficulties had almost everything to do with a bad transmission that allowed him very little practice.

Eddie, on the other hand, put in hours of practice time and his car was ready.  Winning the third heat, got Eddie placed on the inside in the second row for the TD Banknorth 250.

I had been on the pit side of the track for all the qualifying races.  I opted for the other side and the press box for the big race.  Good choice because the pits were transferred to the infield closer to the grandstand.  The press box was enclosed so the roar of the engines was lessened.  The view was terrific and there was food to be had.  Yes, very good choice!

They had the parade of the cars and all the drivers including Eddie were introduced.  After the national anthems, a howitzer was fired off that put a scare into most of the folks in the grandstand.

Eddie got the lead for the first time in Lap 5 and was in the top five until he pitted on Lap 129.  That pitting was crucial because a year ago he had pitted while in the lead and had come back with a car that didn’t run as well.  He ended up a disappointing sixth.

When he came back this time, I couldn’t figure out what place he was actually in.  On a caution a few laps later, he was 15th in row but some of those cars were a lap behind.  On Lap 147, he was listed fifth.  Twenty laps later, he was in first.  He never gave the lead back.

There was one narrow escape when a car spun out right in front of him in front of the grandstand.  He dodged by it and then just took off on the restart.

From my position in the press box, I was a little tardy getting down onto the track afterwards.  I missed a picture of Eddie getting out of his car and standing on the roof. 

There was a replica of the check that Eddie will receive for the win ($25,000) and the lead laps ($10,300).

I got a picture of Eddie with his crew chief (Rollie LaChance) and with his father (Red).

It was quite the adventure and I thank God for it.