Meczywor, Alfonso Named Athletes of the Week
It may seem like spring has just gotten started, but it is not too soon to start thinking about the spring sports post-seasons.
And this week’s iBerkshires.com/Southwestern Vermont Health Care Athletes of the Week are helping their teams jockey for playoff position.
The MIAA has released its first in-season power rankings based on scores the state association received as of Friday morning.
The Pittsfield softball team was ranked 10th in the state in Division 3 and should only move up after Friday afternoon’s convincing win over city rival Taconic.
Friday ended a week in which the Generals averaged more than 20 runs per game in three outings. Mia Alfonso was right in the middle of that production.
On Tuesday, she was 3-for-3 with a triple and a double. On Wednesday, she was 3-for-5 with a home run.
And against the Thunder, she homered twice in a 4-for-5 afternoon, driving in eight runs in an 18-4 win and ending the game with her second homer to give Pittsfield (6-4) its third straight win via the “mercy rule.”
For the season, Alfonso is hitting .417 with four home runs and 15 RBIs, first on the squad in dingers and second in the runs batted in to teammate Jordynn Bazinet.
Pittsfield has another busy week ahead with three games, including Thursday’s rematch at Minnechaug, a 5-3 winner when the teams met in Pittsfield just before the Generals’ recent offensive surge.
You know that you are one of the most respected scorers in local boys lacrosse when the opposing coach makes a point of saying that his team did a good job defending you moments after you score five goals in a 14-12 win.
Such is the regard opponents have for Hoosac Valley senior Carson Meczywor.
He scored those five goals in the Hurricanes’ biggest test to date, a showdown with fellow unbeaten Lenox on Thursday at BCC. In that game, he also had a key ground ball to help set up the go-ahead goal in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter of a 14-12 win.
For the year, Meczywor is averaging more than four goals per game for Hoosac Valley (7-0), which is outscoring all opponents not named Lenox by an average of 15 goals per game.
Hoosac Valley has three games in three days this week starting with Wednesday’s “home” game against Springfield Central back at BCC.
The Hurricanes could qualify for the state Division 3 tournament by the end of the week. Given their strength of schedule, their 5-0 record (Friday’s power rankings do not reflect the Lenox game or Friday’s win over St. Mary’s) was good for just the 27th seed in the 50-team division.
But don’t count out the ‘Canes. With Oct. 11 Athlete of the Week Meczywor under center, Hoosac Valley went all the way to the state semi-finals in the first statewide football playoffs in November.
The iBerkshires.com Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Southwestern Vermont Health Care.