He gets on base - a lot
Newton North High graduate Ryan Walsh, a sophomore second baseman on the University of Massachusetts at Boston's baseball team, has been an on-base machine for the Beacons.
As of last weekend, Walsh had reached safely in 50 of his last 51 games for UMass, going back to last season, and also had hits in 13 of his last 14 games.
Walsh, who bats second, started in all 30 of the Beacons' games at second base after playing shortstop last year. He had started all but one game in his college career, 71 games. UMass was 13-17 overall, and 5-4 and in third place in the Little East Conference.
"Ryan is a huge piece to our offense and has put up some great numbers. He has great bat speed and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. And he's a very confident player who really steps up in key situations," said UMass coach Brendan Eygabroat.
Walsh was tops on the team with 16 stolen bases in 18 attempts and was among the team leaders in batting (.410), hits (48), runs (34), doubles (12), walks (16), total bases (65), on-base percentage (.497), slugging percentage (.556) and multiple hit (15) and multiple RBI (8) games. With three hitting streaks of nine or more games in his collegiate career, Walsh went 39 straight plate appearances without striking out from April 5-17. He is on the verge of setting several school records and his career batting average (.351) is fifth best in program history.
Walsh earned varsity letters in both football and baseball at Newton North.
Last June, the Medfield High graduate enlisted in the Coast Guard for six years, after spending the fall of his junior year at the Williams College maritime studies program in Mystic, Conn. He was considered to be an All-America-caliber sprinter by his coaches as a Wheaton freshman, but because of injuries, he has specialized in the pole vault in his final season in an effort to provide points for his team.
"Through athletics, residential life and student government at Wheaton, I've grown to seek responsibility. I relish the opportunity to be a leader and leave my mark on projects," said Kiley. "My time in the service will allow me to live and work in many different communities around the country and the world. A few years down the line I would like to take my knowledge and experience on the enlisted side and translate that into a career as an officer."
Kiley recently completed two weeks of Coast Guard training at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps facility in North Carolina. After graduation next month, Kiley will head to Yorktown, Va., for further training.
A former Greater Lowell Golden Gloves boxing champion, Quitt will open the Asian/American Fighting Arts school in Framingham's Trolley Square retail complex on Friday with fellow firefighter Dan Harding. Staff members at the school include Quitt's coaching colleagues at Algonquin, brothers Peter and Jack Connery.
Quitt also made his professional mixed martial arts debut last night at "Thunder in The Dome" in Milford, N.H., and is writing a book about his experiences, with the title "Both Sides of the Track and Back."
He was a member of two undefeated football teams at the Holderness School in New Hampshire, where he was also captain of the hockey team. In 1995, Quitt made the University of Massachusetts at Amherst football team as a walk on, and was a special teams player on the school's Division 1-AA national championship team in 1998.
The Framingham native started boxing in 1992 at the Framingham Boxing Club, and notes, "I had my nose broken many times and saw every star in the galaxy . . . before winning at the Golden Gloves three years ago thanks to the help of my manager, David Sullivan."
Marvin Pave can be reached at 508-820-4223 or marvin.pave@ rcn.com. 
