The Melrose offense exploded in a 42-13 win over Watertown on Friday night.

The Watertown High field hockey team had nine days between its regular-season finale and its state tournament opener to find a solution for its sudden scoring struggles. In the Division 2 North quarterfinals yesterday, 10th-seeded Wilmington was the unlucky witness to how much a talented team can figure out in just over a week when its season is on the line.

The night was both exhilarating and excruciating. As draining as the 28-25 loss to Acton-Boxboro was last Friday for the Waltham High football team, however, the Hawks showed up at practice Monday afternoon knowing they still have two more Dual County League Large Division games to play this season. Two meaningful DCL Large games - starting with tomorrow's trip across the border to Newton South (Winkler Stadium, 2 p.m.).


 

In today's sports world, playing at the college level isn't necessarily something a high school athlete can start thinking about at the end of senior year, when the graduation invitations are being sent out. Athletes who wait may find the roster full at their schools of choice, or a freshman teammate already getting calls from a college coach. Boston College graduate Stalin Colinet says high school athletes interested in college athletics need to start learning about the recruitment process early.
 

After a long and very successful season on the gridiron, the Waltham Pop Warner `A' Team got its much deserved shot at the bigtime last night. The Devil Dogs had the marquee game of the night under the bright lights of Waltham High's varsity Leary Field. A few of the varsity Hawks even showed up to cheer on the Middlesex League champions as they took on Revere in the rare home playoff game.

 

Eight years ago, Nico Gargaro was punishing defenses in the Bay State Conference as the star senior running back of the Newton North football team. Now he is punishing boxers all over New England as the 2009 Rocky Marciano novice class middleweight champion.


 

Waltham's Jr. Midget (B Team) beat playoff-bound Watertown 41-12 in Waltham Pop Warner football action last week.
 

The Waltham Track Club's youth cross country team had another strong showing at the 20th Annual Boston Mayor's Cup last weekend at Franklin Park. The team won three team titles and two individual races as well as breaking 20 personal records.
 

No. 2 seed Lasell College fell in the semifinals of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference men's soccer tournament 2-1 to sixth-seeded Emerson College yesterday.
 

Newton South's Celia Kaufer's goal from Martha Schnee gave the Lions a 1-0 lead early, but Newton North rallied for three unanswered goals in a non-league season finale for both teams.