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.

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.
 

The Watertown Post 99 American Legion baseball team's hopes of pulling off its biggest victory of the season came up 90 feet short last night at Victory Field.
 

The Newton Post 440 American Legion baseball team suffered its second straight loss with a 5-3 defeat at Arlington last night.
 

When Waltham High alumni Patrick Ferdinand and Matt Ryan took over the Wildcats AAU girls basketball team last year they found a collection of players eager to learn, but struggling against older, more experienced competition. A year later, the Waltham-based Under-12 Wildcats are state champions heading down to the Division 2 Nationals in Ft. Myers, Fla. this weekend.
 

The Waltham Track Club's Youth Track and Field Team had another record-breaking competition at the Region 1 Junior Olympic Championships this past weekend at Fitchburg State College.
 

The Watertown American Legion Post 99 baseball team's bid for three straight victories came up short in Cambridge last night as it dropped a 6-2 decision at Buckingham Browne & Nichols.
 

While the NBA season concluded a month ago in disappointment for the Boston Celtics, a different band of 20 ballplaying Celtics took to the Newton North gymnasium for a clinic to refine their skills Sunday afternoon. As part of their inaugural two-week tour of America, the Irish Under-18 national basketball team participated in a three-hour clinic under the watchful eyes of Newton North basketball coach Paul Connolly and Newton South coach Joe Killilea.