Ex-Plymouth North star has lofty numbers at Trinity

There is no sophomore jinx for Matt Stafford, the former Plymouth North High School slugger who is one of the top players in the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Stafford knocked home the winning run for Trinity (Conn.) College in a 4-3 victory over NESCAC East rival Colby College in Waterville, Maine, April 7 as the Bantams won two of three games from the White Mules and moved into first place in the standings. (The Bantams have since dropped to third).

The hard-hitting outfielder followed up in the second game of the next day's doubleheader with two homers and a double in a 12-8 rout. He had a three-run homer in the sixth, a two-run shot in the fifth, and an RBI double in the first inning for a total of six runs batted in.

''Matt's a wonderful young student-athlete with a tremendous work ethic," said his coach, Bill Decker. ''He very quietly worked his way into the lineup, and his performance has kept him there. Many kids these days complain when they are not in the lineup on a regular basis; not Matt. He is somewhat of a throwback and his parents should be extremely proud of the mature way he handles himself."

Is he the most talented player? ''That's for others to decide, but what he has done for us is, [he's] given us a spark at a time we definitely needed one," said Decker. ''His hustle and continuous effort are brought to the field each day."

In 22 games, Stafford leads Trinity with a scintillating .384 batting average.

The sophomore, who has four home runs, was selected NESCAC Player of the Week April 10, after going 6 for 13 with seven runs and eight RBIs, while adding four walks for a .588 on-base percentage in four games.

Xenos tops Mt. Ida lineup, and a strong local presence

Junior outfielder Adrienne Xenos did not play high school softball, but she has put together lofty numbers at Mount Ida College. But it was in the cards. A three-year starter, Xenos, better known as ''Ace," is simply an all-around athlete.

She played competitive volleyball and basketball at Brockton High School and today is a three-sport standout at the Newton school.

In softball, she bats leadoff and through 30 games, is hitting .310 with 18 stolen bases in 19 attempts.

Coach Jessica Johnson said Xenos ''has dominating speed. She could probably have any base she wants when she gets on."

Xenos is a two-time North Atlantic Conference volleyball second-team selection and a three-time NAC honorable mention for basketball. Athletics is in Xenos's blood. Her mother, Rhonda Campbell, was a star softball/basketball player at Massasoit Community College in Brockton.

Four of the Mustangs' nine starters are from this area. Besides Xenos, senior outfielder Jessica Foley of Canton, junior catcher Katie Connolly of East Bridgewater, and sophomore first baseman Jennifer Leonard of Plymouth started every game this season.

It has been a tough year for Mount Ida (10-20), which has not put together a winning season. The Mustangs started 1-9 during their season-opening swing through southern Florida.

But it's not how you start, it's how you finish that counts. On Tuesday, the Mustangs begin the NAC playoffs.

Batting, playing there, but he's second to none

Adam Tempesta, who was an outstanding shortstop at Brockton High School, earning All-Scholastic honors last spring, has made an impact on the University of Massachusetts-Amherst baseball team this spring.

The 5-foot-7, 170-pounder infielder has been switched to second base and has made a perfect transition.

It certainly has not bothered him at the plate.

Tempesta is the leading hitter for the Minutemen, batting .347 in 24 games. Hitting out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup, Tempesta has 34 hits in 98 at bats with eight doubles and one home run.

''Adam has done a great job for us as a freshman second baseman," said UMass coach Mike Stone.

''He has adjusted well and quickly to Division 1 baseball on the offensive end as well as defensively. He has real good pop in his hands as he recognizes pitches early, waits, and drives the ball to all fields. He is a real pleasure to have on our ball club."

His first collegiate hit drove in two runs to tie the game against South Florida on March 11, and then he scored a run helping the Minutemen win their first game of the season.

He followed that by going 2 for 4 in back-to-back victories over Rollins College March 21.

Tempesta is one of three brothers who starred at Brockton High School. He finished his career with the Boxers with a .390 average with 42 stolen bases, earning the Big Three Conference MVP honors.

His older brother, Bryon , is an assistant coach at Curry College, and middle brother, Nick , was an All-American at Eastern Connecticut State University and played minor league baseball for three seasons.

For the 18th time, off to the races in Stoughton

Calling all runners. Coming up May 21 is the Striar Jewish Community Center's 18th Road Race in Stoughton. There will be a 1-mile run for children followed by the adult 5-kilometer race. In addition, the community center is organizing running clinics to encourage youngsters to run. Kathy Stern of Sharon and Steve Kramer of Stoughton are working with students, helping youngsters train and build their skills and endurance so they can participate in the race. Preregistration for the adult and children's races is now available by contacting Becky Braidman at the center at 781-341-2016, ext. 128, or online at www.striarjcc.org.

On Suffolk diamonds, two locals are gems

Two local athletes are off to great seasons at Suffolk University. Freshman Mark Pinnette has won a place in the starting lineup for the baseball team, which has a 20-13 mark, including an 11-3 record in the Great Northeast Athletic onference.

The former Stoughton High School standout twice has been named the GNAC's Freshman of the Week this season.

On March 28, he earned the honor after batting .447 with seven doubles. On April 10 he earned the award again after going 6 for 11 with six RBIs in a doubleheader against Wheaton College.

Former East Bridgewater High standout Natalie West, a sophomore at Suffolk, picked up where she left off last year as a freshman. She is one of the top hitters in the GNAC and bats cleanup for the Rams.

When she isn't pitching -- she authored a four-hit shutout over Rivier (N.H.) College April 15 -- she plays first base.

As a freshman, she hit .412, going 47 for 114 at the plate. It earned her a berth on the GNAC All-Star squad.