Beaver Basketball Starts Season With Big Road Win

DANA SPIGELMAN '08

In a season where Beaver returns only one starter and two rotation players from the previous year Beaver answered a lot of questions with a big win on Friday night at Concord Academy. With an 8-0 run right out of the gate Beaver set the tone from what would be an up and down game. Due to a barrage of three pointers from star guards Ephraim Herskovitz and Logan Furr and commanding point guard play from Chris Quinn Beaver jumped out to a 20 point lead early versus Concord. However, the game settled down at the end of the half, with Concord shaving the lead to 15 points.

In the second half the shooting touch went cold and Beaver started to play sloppy, committing six fouls in less than five minutes of play to open the half. The mistakes resulted in foul trouble, forcing backups Cam Bloy, Arian Fararooy and later Jahrad Delossantos into big minutes. With Concord cutting the lead to nine Beaver was never rattled and fought back. Among other big plays Logan Furr was fouled twice beyond the arc, making 5 of 6 free throws to help secure the victory. In a 74-62 victory, Beaver showed a lot on opening night, not only getting 38 points from Ephraim Herskovitz and 19 points from Logan Furr but also getting key contributions from starters Deon Bragg, Justin Conway and Chris Quinn to supplement the two scorers and put away a scrappy Concord Academy team.

Image: Boys Varsity's third game
Image credit: Toph Tucker

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Varsity Soccer: What a Season

TYLER STARR ‘10

Boys Varsity Soccer’s record is not an accurate indication of their season. They finished the season 1-9-5, with several close games that did not go their way. The team enjoyed only nominal luck throughout the entire season. Whether it was injury, poor officiating, or missed opportunities, Boys Varsity had no breaks this term.

The season began with Lamarre Rey’s departure from BCDS. His departure left a hole at keeper. Luckily, senior Chris Rush stepped up and became the new keeper for the team, doing a great job replacing Rey.

The team was plagued by injuries all season long. They started without Oliver Hunt ’11, who was lost for the season due to a knee injury suffered last summer, and Angelo Cabral ’11. Hunt was one of the top scorers at Shady Hill in 2006 and would have been a great addition to the team. Excluding Arian Fararooy ’08, every starting player has been taken out of a game due to some form of injury. Some could call it lucky that only a few starters have had to miss a game due to injury. Angelo Cabral ’11, Oliver Hunt ’11, Tyler Starr ’10, Marco Fabrizio ’09, Gabe Reich ’09, Will Searle ’09, Chris Rush ’08, and Zach Levandov ’08 have all had to sit out at least one game. Injuries varied from a sore groin to a partially torn MCL to a concussion.

The Landmark game may have been the worst game of the season for the team. Despite standing as the team’s only victory, four starters got hurt and three did not play the next two games. Ten minutes into the game, Tyler Starr ’10 suffered a concussion. “[Tyler] and the other player ran into each other then both toppled backward,” Murray Hershkowitz ’10 recalled. Angelo Cabral and Andrew Emmons ‘08 suffered foot injuries and came to practice the next day on crutches. In addition, Chris Rush sustained a mysterious arm injury. Andrew Emmons was able to play with the pain in the next game, and, fortunately, Chris Rush only missed the next two games. Unfortunately for starters Tyler Starr and Angelo Cabral, their injuries were season-ending.

The team also had several close games. They had five ties and three games where they only lost by one goal. While time was running out in their second game against Pingree, five shots were taken that either hit the cross bar or were deflected by a player. In their first game against Landmark, they fought back from a three-goal deficit to make it 3-4 and with one minute left missed a crucial free kick. In their second game against Bancroft, Beaver was winning with ten minutes to go but fell apart at the end and tied the game. Coach Cabral does have an answer for these close games: a month long trip to a soccer academy in Portugal during the summer. Whether or not that is the solution to the team’s problems, it is a start.

Though the team had a losing record, you have to look at all these factors to fully understand the hardships of this long season.
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Another Win for the Golf Team!

ERIK TOBIAS '09

It was a damp, gloomy afternoon when the swirl of yellow and blue hit the soggy turf of Putterham Golf Club. The Beaver Golf Team sported their new overwhelmingly colorful yellow and blue Vineyard Vines uniforms for the first time this year. The team was off to a brilliant start as usual, having seven wins and one loss this year. However on October 10th, Beaver played a newcomer to the league, Portsmouth Abbey. Both teams headed into this match tied for first place. Both teams came out strong, but Portsmouth Abbey stood no chance against Beaver's skilled team. The team claimed five wins and one tie that day. This match moved Beaver into first place. As Max Campion put it, "It was close today, but we really stuck this one out and won the match."

Max is currently one of the best players in the league and is a co-captain of the team. He came in with a whopping one over par, 37. The team's number two player, Adam Buchinder, came in with a level par, 36. Erik Tobias, the team's number three player shot a two over par, 38, while the rest of the team shot scores of 40, 41, or 48. As coach Larry McKinney said, "Not only did the team play well today, but they were the best dressed team in the league." Some say the colors intimated the other the team, but as a co-captain Jamie Beckingham put it, "we simply played our best out there today!" The team has four more matches left this season and if they continue on pace, they will have won their seventh title in the past eight years. Good luck Beaver Golf team!
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Start To a New Soccer Season

TYLER STARR '10

The boys’ varsity soccer team has had a rough start to the season. They started the season off with a come-from-behind one to one tie against Portsmouth Abbey. The team then went 0-3-1 in their next four games. They came from behind in the game with Pingree. They were losing two nothing at the half before a penalty kick goal by Captain Gabe Reich ‘09 and a goal by Will Searle tied the game at two.

Maybe the worst part of those series of games was that Gabe Reich got injured in the Pingree game. Reich says, “I partially tore my ACL before the Pingree game and during the Pingree game I partially tore my MCL.” This was a big loss for the team because Gabe Reich is a starter and a crucial part of the team’s transitional game. Gabe hopes to be back on the field in two weeks.

The team has a lot of new players on it and is missing a few key players from last year. Though the team lost key players, there is still a bevy of players returning from last years team: Avery Hunt ’08, Oliver Katz ’08, Rafael Cabral ’09, Willie Searle ’09, Chris Rush ’08, Arian Fararoy ’08, Zach Levandov ’08, Andrew Emmons ’08, Murry Hershkawitz ’10, Robert Awkward ’10, Marco Fabrizio ’09, and Gabe Reich ’09. The team has seven new players and one new starter: Angelo Cabral ’11, Nate Newmark ’11, Henry Moorhead ’10, Jason Stoll ’10, Jackson Van Raan ‘09, Tyler Starr ’10, and Matt Friedman ’10 . Captains, Avery Hunt ’08 and Oliver Katz ’08, both agree that losing Graham Lloyd ’07, starting sweeper last year, was a big loss. They are also missing their leading scorer from last year, Stratos Saropoulos.

Arguably the biggest loss from last year’s team was Lamarre Rey, who went to Pingree. going to Pingree. Lamarre was the starting keeper on the team for the last three years. “At first it was very devastating knowing that one of the best goalies in the league was leaving,” Oliver Katz says, “but it was resolved by Chris Rush’s performances this season.”

Chris Rush, a “bench warmer” from last year’s team, accepted the challenge of becoming the team’s new keeper. “He has been getting better every practice,” Gabe Reich says. Avery Hunt also agrees that Chris Rush “has been doing well.”

Thanks to the new athletic center, boys’ varsity soccer has been practicing in the gym two times a week. “Going to the weight room helps our team because it helps smaller kids get stronger,” says Oliver Katz.

Their latest game against Chapel Hill was a disaster. In the first half there was a Chapel Hill free kick which was kicked in the air into the goalie box. Rush jumped over a Chapel Hill player to get the ball. A foul was called on Rush for knocking the Chapel Hill striker down while trying to get the ball. Five minutes later the ref ended the game. Coach Cabral had received two yellow cards and a red card, the refs were nowhere to be found, and all BCDS players were outraged. When asked to use one word to describe the game, Reich and Katz answered “ridiculous.”

With eleven more games left, the team looks to step up their game. They are hoping to win their game against Concord on Friday to whom they have not lost to in five years.
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With New Uniforms In Hand, A Golf Championship Is Not Out Of Reach: Interview with Larry McKinney

MARCO FABRIZIO '09

Last year the Beaver golf’s team stunning 14-0 regular season record came to an end when with a devastating loss to Bancroft in the E.I.L golf Championship: “Bancroft had their best match of the year and we did not, it’s as simple as that,” said head golf coach Larry McKinney.

After last year’s championship loss, the team, the school and coach Larry McKinney set out with the high hopes of obtaining a championship. Since the start, the Golf Team has taken the golf course and fashion world by the horns. This year the golf team has decided to sport a new and impressive uniform consisting of a bright yellow button down shirt, baby blue pants and a red belt: “The uniforms this year are kind of crazy, but they are fun,” said coach Larry McKinney. With new uniforms in hand, the golf team was able to win 7 of their first 8 matches placing them at the top of the E.I.L standings. This domination on the golf course is due to Beaver’s stellar lineup of Max Campion, Adam Buchbinder, Erik Tobias, Jamie Beckingham, Evan Winter and Mike Boustany. With E.I.L all-star Max Campion (who has hit an amazing 1 over par last game), leading the way, it seems like the future of the golf team will continue to look up. Larry McKinney closed the interview by commenting on the golf team’s future: “I know that our season can’t be as perfect as last years, but I feel that if we continue to play the way we have, the E.I.L. championship will soon be in Beaver’s possession.”

Quick Interview With Larry McKinney
Best Player? Max Campion
Who would win 1v1 you or Max? Max
What your record thus far? 14-2
Hardest Game Thus Far? Loss against Landmark
Is a championship achievable this year? Definitely
What do you think about the new uniform? It’s awesome
Favorite sport (other thank golf)? Basketball
Favorite sport to watch (other than golf)? Football
Favorite Pro Team? Patriots
Favorite Movie? Shawshank Redemption
Favorite T.V. show? Grey’s Anatomy
Favorite Food? Pizza from Pinos
Favorite Drink? Diet Coke
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Week 8 Fantasy Football Blog

DANA SPIGELMAN '08

*If you don’t have Marvin Harrison go get him. Yes he only has 247 receiving yards but he is still Marvin Harrison. After a poor Monday night game where he was shuttled in and out due to his hip he followed it up with a DNP due to injury. Reggie Wayne is starting to get the attention he deserves as is Dallas Clark. Defenses are hemming up the middle of the field, leaving some big opportunities down the sidelines for Harrison. Harrison will be back and fully healthy at some point in the next three weeks and he is likely to regain his post as Peyton Manning’s favorite receiver and a top 5 fantasy WR.

*If you have Hines Ward, look to capitalize on his big game in the form of a trade. Ward faced a terribly weak pass defense in Cincinnati and is not likely to repeat his performance in yards or touchdowns too often. In his last eight games prior to this he has averaged just 51 yards per game while only recording one touchdown. He is no longer a #2 fantasy wide out and if you can get that value for him or improve another position, that is a deal you should make.

*Michael Bennett looked good scoring a 19 yard touchdown today, but Earnest Graham still carried the ball fourteen times to Bennett’s two. In a deeper league Bennett is worth a flyer but he is not a viable fantasy option yet and that is not likely to change without an injury to Graham.

*Drew Brees threw for 4 touchdowns against a pretty good pass defense that features two fantastic corners. He now has put two good games together and seems to be back as a top 10 fantasy quarterback. If you were lucky enough to hold on to him or trade for him, now would be the time to make him a weekly start.

*Marc Bulger threw for a touchdown and 300 yards against one of the worst pass defenses in football. He’s not back yet. Steven Jackson got hurt again and his status is unknown for week 9. Bulger is worth a roster spot in any format, but he is not a good fantasy starter at this point.

*Adrian Peterson really is not a top 5 fantasy back. If you can get that trade value, take it. That offense is just not consistent enough. On the other hand Ladanian Tomlinson owners may have to be reminded that a game without a touchdown does not mean he is no longer the best fantasy player in the league. Don’t go crazy and trade him for Joseph Addai or Tom Brady.

*Vernon Davis returned to fantasy relevance with a touchdown and 71 yards this week. Although he may not be a top 12 fantasy TE he is worth a roster spot in any format.

*You should not draw any assumptions from the London Bowl. Do not judge Eli Manning, Jesse Chatman, Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Shockey, Cleo Lemon, Derek Hagan, Ted Ginn Jr., Amani Toomer or Brandon Jacobs by that game. The situation was just so bizarre due to the overseas travel, the horrible field condition and the weather. Throw that one out.

*Kevin Jones scored a touchdown and gained 100 total yards. You can now consider him a top 20 running back and a viable #2 RB and good flex option.

*Kellen Clemens is going to get his shot, and based just on what he did against Baltimore he is worth a shot in 2 QB leagues or any 14 team format.

*No, Ryan Grant is not a fantasy starter. He ran wild on a Denver team that cannot tackle when healthy, let alone without John Lynch and with an injured DJ Williams playing. Even if Grant can hold onto the starting spot for the rest of the year, which is a terrific stretch, he is at best a poor flex option in most any league.

*Tony Scheffler should be on your radar in any format as a backup tight end. The Broncos tight end came in as a second round pick last year and developed terrific chemistry with Jay Cutler. He is their only legitimate option in Shanahan’s favorite goal line pass play (in the jumbo package he rolls Cutler to the right, releasing a deep tight end running across the back and a short tight end cutting in front. Scheffler has scored two touchdowns in two weeks off this play) and that alone makes him a threat for a TD every week.

*David Martin, Vishante Shiancoe and almost all other flash in the pan tight ends simply… are awful options. These guys are not legitimate fantasy options. In a deep 12-team league I play in Vishante was not only picked up but is now starting. How in the world does the 5^th option on the worst passing team in football make a fantasy roster? His touchdown and 50 yard performance will be his only of the year and possibly his best career game. Don’t get foolish. You’re far better off with Kyle Brady who we know will get some goal line plays every week.

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When Life Sucks, Turn to Golf

LAURA BULKELEY '08

The Beaver golf team has been a continuous strength of the Beaver athletic system. In the past three years, golf has only lost one match, which was a surprise to everyone. Though golf is among one of the least watched sports teams at Beaver, it is constantly recognized as being one of the best teams, bringing in one of two championship flags to gym last year. Golf is one of the only winning teams at Beaver, and students have come to recognize this and be proud of their golfers. A winning golf team is one of the only things Beaver has to brag about in its athletic program.

Beaver golf is a feared force in the EIL, with Max Campion as the co-captain and number one spot holder, and Jamie Beckingham as the other captain. Even with the loss of graduated athletes, golf still manages to maintain a strong team. The team continues to be promising with an abundance of freshman on the JV team. Even though only six spots can be filled on Varsity, there is a total of fifteen members on the team, displaying promise for future winning seasons. So the next time you come into school on a Thursday morning and hear that the soccer and field hockey teams have lost, ask a golfer how they did, and the answer will most likely be, “We won.”

HIGHLIGHTS:
The Beaver golf team had an intense golf match last Friday against Pingree. The team won 4 out of a possible 6 matches, and improved its record to 4-1. It was tied 2 to 2 with the final group to come in. The number five player was having a tough match, and it was up to number six, Evan Winter, whose match was even going to the final hole. Winter made a solid par and won the hole, giving Beaver a win over Pingree.
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Field Hockey Breaks Through With Dominating Win

EMILY BELOWICH '11

The girls’ varsity field hockey team had their first victory this season with a win against The Cambridge School of Weston. The girls fought hard to defeat their opponents, and it was evident in the score, 10-2. Freshman Ginny Hollingsworth was leading scorer, with a total of three goals. Sarah Gerlin, Sabrina Brown, and Jehane Samaha each added another goal. Honorable mention to captain Sara McDonough with many assists. Goalies Jehane Samaha and Gabby Venuto did an outstanding job in goal with many saves. Many freshmen on the team have never played field hockey before, but have been a great addition to the team, including Julia Cohen. She says, “Our team has a lot of spirit, and we always give our best. Our coaches and captains have given us a lot of support, as well as our fans. We love everyone who comes out to cheer us on. So far it has been a really fun season.”

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Red Sox Surprises and Disappointments: Lowell, Francona pass with flying colors.

DANA SPIGELMAN '08

The Red Sox certainly went through their ups and downs this year, nearly squandering a once 14.5 game lead over the vaunted Evil Empire, only to claim the division crown for the first time since 1995. While some players have more than earned their keep this season, others did not do as much to ingratiate themselves with the sox fans. Those players and front office members are highlighted below.

Surprises:

Hideki Okajima: Okajima was undoubtedly the key to the first half of the season, becoming the only setup man in baseball to make the All-Star team. It is unfathomable to think that prior to the season the Red Sox envisioned Devern Hansack, J.C. Romero and Joel Piniero as the core of their bullpen while Okajima was left to fend off Craig Hansen for a roster spot. Okajima wore down towards the end of the season and saw his once eye-popping Earned Run Average drop to 2.22. However, Okajima still held the bullpen up while the Sox were patiently waiting on Mike Timlin and Manny Delcarmen to play key roles in the bullpen. Okajima led the team in games pitched (66) and was one of the pleasant surprises of the season.

Mike Lowell: Lowell has certainly made a case for an extension with the Red Sox. Playing stellar defense, Lowell set career highs in batting average (.324) and RBI’s (120) to go along with 21 homeruns. Lowell picked up the slack for Manny Ramirez throughout the year and finished the season as the cleanup hitter for the Red Sox. Lowell was originally acquired as a salary dump from the Florida Marlins in the deal that acquired Josh Beckett. This ‘salary dump’ has proved to be one of the most valuable players on the pay role and more than worth his $9 million price tag.

Terry Francona: Francona should be credited with the complete success of this team. Fans were screaming for Alex Cora to start during a rough May stretch where Dustin Pedroia’s batting average dipped south of .200. However, Francona stuck with the rookie second baseman and in the end found the Red Sox sparkplug. Francona also handled the bullpen masterfully, giving the Red Sox a healthy and rested Jonathan Papelbon to go along with Manny Delcarmen, Mike Timlin, Javier Lopez, Hideki Okajima and Eric Gagne as a solid bullpen core for the playoffs. Francona’s positive attitude helped keep the team loose and confident as its lead dwindled and allowed them to regain control and finish the season on top of the AL East.

Young Guns: Home grown Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz, Dustin Pedroia and Manny Delcarmen were all key members of the team by the middle of September and proved that Theo Epstein was right to keep them through trading deadlines’ past. While Buchholz’ no-hit performance may have made him the most captivating rookie, he may have had the least impact of the young quartet. Delcarmen gave the bullpen terrific innings just as Okajima started to tire, Pedroia was the teams’ sparkplug and is on his way to earning rookie of the year while Jacoby Ellsbury gave offense and speed while playing in Manny Ramirez’s spot in left field as the Red Sox were sewing up their AL East title. Without these four, who earn about one third of Erik Hinske’s salary, the Red Sox would truly be lost and maybe even watching the playoffs instead of playing in them.

Disappointments:

Theo Epstein: It should be noted that the Red Sox are still paying for two monumental failures in the form of Edgar Renteria and Matt Clement. Theo has gotten too comfortable within the confines of a high payroll and has wasted millions on mediocre players such as Julio Lugo ($8.25 Million), J.D. Drew ($14.4 Million), Joel Piniero ($4 Million), Eric Hinske ($5.725 Million) and the aforementioned Clement. While spending over $100 million on Lugo and Drew alone, Epstein has developed holes that will be in the lineup for years to come, whereas Manny and Big Papi will not be here to compensate for those holes forever. Theo is truly getting saved by players he did not bring in. The most successful player on the team, Josh Beckett, was acquired while Theo was on his short vacation. While Theo did draft Buchholz, Pedroia, Ellsbury and current prospects Michael Bowdin, Daniel Bard and Jed Lowrie, draft picks are usually the result of systematic success. To justify his cult status in New England, Theo needs to come up with some gems in the near future via free agency or a big time trade.

Manny Ramirez: Whether due to injury or not Manny has simply not performed up to his normal benchmarks. While Manny is still the best RBI man of the last decade and one of the most formidable hitters in baseball, .296 and 20 HR just won’t cut it.

Kevin Youkilis: While Youkilis still finished with a very solid season and managed to contribute even when he was struggling, he has to be seen as a disappointment due to his hot start. With Lowell’s contract coming up this may be a time where the Red Sox have to decide whether to go with Youkilis for the future or not. While he has shown signs of greatness, his inability to put together a consistent season may be a sign that he is not the answer at first or third for the Red Sox.

Hired Guns: J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo were all out failures. Combined they collected $20.65 million while hitting 19 home runs. That’s over one million per home run. They also hit .270 and .237 respectively and failed miserably at filling the holes they were brought into fill. The leadoff position flipped between Coco and Pedroia at the end of the season. Although the fifth spot did go at times to Drew it settled in the hands of Youkilis and Lowell. Daisuke, was expectedly mediocre, although considering the cultural barrier he had to jump along with the major differences in the Japanese and American game he could not have been expected to contribute much more than he did. Eric Gagne, who earned almost $3 million in Red Sox paychecks, certainly did not justify his salary, ending up with as many blown saves as holds in a Red Sox uniform. And I won’t even discuss Hinske and Clement, making over $15 million combined this year.
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Tennis Courts Still Missing

TOPH TUCKER '08

Despite the best efforts of the tennis teams and school administration, the four Beaver tennis courts have yet to be found. Loyal readers may remember that they mysteriously disappeared last year shortly before the new athletic center began construction.

"It's a serious mystery," says Toph Tucker, senior tennis player who has never played a tennis match in his life.

Officials fear that if the tennis courts don't turn up by Spring, the school may need to find court space elsewhere.

"We're still holding out hope," said Tucker, "but I'm not sure any tennis court can survive in the wild this long. However tragic, at some point we're going to have to just close this case."

Correction 31/3/08: Four tennis courts, not three.
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