TAKING IT HARD TO THE HOOP

The Reds won the 2009 North Waltham Little League Major Division title on Sunday with a 3-2 victory over the Brewers. Pitcher Ricky Manning struck out 16 of the 24 batters he faced and knocked in Kevin Bythewood for the winning run in the sixth inning. Keenan Iuliano lent a brilliant effort for the Brewers, pitching a strong game in addition to plating Nick Callahan and Charlie O'Donnell with a two-run double in the third. Front row (left to right): John Rezendez, Ricky Manning, Matt Kane, Michael DiMascio and Kevin Bythewood. Middle row (l to r): Tyla Considine, Kris Masrof, Ashley Sampson, James Landry, Mark Rossi. Top row (l to r): coaches Rick Manning, Brian Kane, Dino DiMascio. Not pictured: Phil Bucciero.

On the weekend when the country celebrates its independence, 14 youth baseball clubs, including some from Canada, will descend upon Nipper Maher Park to continue a baseball tradition that is now more than 20 years old.

News continues to trickle from TD Banknorth Garden, from where it was announced yesterday that the Bruins had re-signed veteran winger Mark Recchi.

Hal Gill has come to realize that you just never know where this game might take you. "As much as my heart says 'how could I be a Hab'," Gill is indeed a Montreal Canadien.

They may be in the middle of the NBA offseason, but the Boston Celtics put on a full-court press yesterday.

Manny Ramirez will be back in big leagues tonight after a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy. His return should be nothing short of a spectacle.

Coming off arguably the best season in program history on the ice, the Bentley University hockey team also performed well in the classroom this past year as 16 players were named to the annual Atlantic Hockey All-Academic team, the league announced on Wednesday.

Upper Crust responded to its first loss of the season by picking up its third win of the season over Prime Time Sports in what was a back-and-forth game. Michael Crotty led his team to the 69-60 win with a game-high 19 points.
 

While maintaining a hopeful eye toward Middlesex League tiering within the next two years, Watertown High athletic director Michael Lahiff decided he couldn't wait that long to help two sports with dangerously low numbers. Starting this winter, the varsity boys hockey team will play an independent schedule until the Middlesex League splits into six-team large and small school divisions in 2011-2012. The girls soccer program will do the same next year after it was determined it was too late - for scheduling purposes - to pull it out of the league this fall.
 

For a second straight game, Jonathan Papelbon unexpectedly found himself in position to become Boston's career saves leader. Less than 24 hours earlier, Papelbon was victimized by the greatest comeback in Baltimore Orioles history. Yesterday, after the Red Sox staged an improbable rally of their own, Papelbon got his coveted save.