UMass women’s lacrosse clinches Atlantic 10 regular season title with comeback

By MATT VAUTOUR

AMHERST — In the 52 previous victories in UMass’ record conference winning streak, there haven’t been many where the Minutewomen fell as far behind as they did Sunday against George Mason.But, in what could be a preview of the Atlantic 10 championship...

SEC Comissioner Greg Sankey refuses to step down in UNC case

By AARON BEARD

RALEIGH, N.C. — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey has denied a request seeking his removal as head of the NCAA infractions panel handling North Carolina’s ongoing academic case because of a conflict of interest.Sankey stated in an April...

UMass basketball coach Matt McCall not worried by transfers

By MATT VAUTOUR

New UMass coach Matt McCall said he knew when he was hired that there was a good possibility players would transfer, so he said he wasn’t fazed by the five players who have already departed.“Anytime there’s change and there’s turnover. 99.9 percent of...

Wednesday’s colleges: UMass beats Northeastern at Fenway Park

Staff reports

The UMass baseball team scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to beat Northeastern, 6-5, in the Beanpot consolation game, Wednesday at Fenway Park in Boston.Mike Geannelis had two hits and three RBIs.Jon Avallone added two hits.Casey...

Belchertown swimmers Dennis Lelic, Haley Synan announce college commitments

By KYLE GRABOWSKI

BELCHERTOWN — Riley Synan should get a finder’s fee.Both directly and indirectly, she helped two Belchertown swimmers find their fits on college swim teams in central New York.Senior Dennis Lelic will be joining her at SUNY Oswego, while her younger...

Bulls beat top-seeded Celtics 111-97 to take 2-0 series lead

By KYLE HIGHTOWER

BOSTON — The Chicago Bulls talked often during the regular season about believing they had the personnel to play as a physically imposing team.Their output has caught up to those desires so far during the postseason.Jimmy Butler scored 22 points,...

Tuesday’s high schools: Gewanters boost Frontier baseball in extra innings

Staff reports

Kade Gewanter singled home Connor Waitkus to give the Frontier Regional baseball a 7-6 win over host Palmer in 11 innings on Tuesday.Seth Gewanter pitched four innings of relief for the victory. He gave up four hits, struck out one and didn’t allow a...

Amherst girls lacrosse holds off Belchertown rally to pick up first win

By MOLLY CLANCY

BELCHERTOWN — The Amherst Regional girls lacrosse team held on to defeat league rival Belchertown, 8-5 Tuesday night, for its first win of the season.“It’s good. I’m excited, finally. We worked hard for it,” Amherst junior Nicole Gerena said.The...

Former UMass coach Derek Kellogg excited about new start at LIU

By MATT VAUTOUR

After a day of meeting with media, administrators, his players and fans, new Long Island coach Derek Kellogg and his wife Nicole were about to get on the subway to go to a celebratory dinner.The transportation was a reminder of how different their...

Former Red Sox Clay Buchholz could miss rest of season after surgery

By SCOTT ORGERA

NEW YORK — Phillies right-hander Clay Buchholz had surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm Tuesday, and could miss the rest of the season.The 32-year-old was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to April 15 prior to the...

Boston Marathon retires Bib 261 for women’s pioneer Switzer

By JIMMY GOLEN

BOSTON — A line stretched the length of the block outside the Boston Marathon store on Boylston Street as runners waited to embroider their finishing times onto the jackets they bought to celebrate their achievement.Inside, another line of runners was...

Kate Sarnacki returns with five goals, but Granby girls lacrosse falls to Comp late

By GAGE NUTTER

CHICOPEE — The Granby girls lacrosse team lost in the waning seconds to Chicopee Comp when Amelia Gibson leaped in front of the net and put her shot past goalie Mya Fillion stick side Friday.The Colts won the ensuing faceoff and ran out the clock for...

Jon Morrison, Noah Scanlon-Dean no-hit St. Mary’s in 2-0 loss for Hopkins Academy

By ADAM HARGRAVES

HADLEY — In his second start of the season, Jon Morrison did not allow a hit in six innings for the Hopkins Academy baseball team.Morrison also struck out nine and gave up only one earned run.It did not lead to a win for the Golden Hawks. Despite a...

Pioneer Valley runners prepare for 121st Boston Marathon

By JAMIE CUSHMAN

The Boston Red Sox will host the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park Monday morning, while at night the Bruins will battle the Senators in Game 3 of their first-round NHL playoff series at TD Garden.Prior to those games, all eyes in Boston that day will be...

Fairfield transfer Curtis Cobb chooses UMass

By MATT VAUTOUR

Curtis Cobb wanted a chance to play at a higher level and wanted to use his year sitting out as a transfer to get better. The former Fairfield guard liked the combination new UMass coach Matt McCall offered.“The coach talked a lot about helping me...

NBA star Isaiah Thomas’ sister killed in car accident

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. (AP) — NBA star Isaiah Thomas’ sister has died in a one-car accident.The Washington State Patrol said Saturday that 22-year-old Chyna J. Thomas died at the scene on Interstate 5 in Federal Way after the accident about 5 a.m. The...

Ex-NFL star Hernandez, serving life, acquitted in 2 slayings

By DENISE LAVOIE

BOSTON (AP) — Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez, already serving a life sentence for a 2013 murder, was acquitted Friday in a 2012 double slaying prosecutors said was fueled by his anger over a drink spilled at a nightclub.The former New England...

Rays hit 4 HRs off Porcello; Archer ends long skid vs Bosox

By KEN POWTAK

BOSTON — Logan Morrison hit a grand slam and Shane Peterson homered in his first big league at-bat since 2015, two of the career-high four homers allowed by Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello in the Tampa Bay Rays’ 10-5 victory over the Boston Red...

UMass receivers Sadiq Palmer, Brennon Dingle confident with spring performances

By MATT VAUTOUR

AMHERST — UMass wide receiver Sadiq Palmer didn’t have a lot of chances to flash his potential in the fall.The freshman was behind older players on the depth chart and battled injuries. But his leaping touchdown catch at the sideline late to keep...

Leila Kouakou scores 4 goals for Mount Holyoke lacrosse in win over Coast Guard Academy

Staff reports

Northampton’s Leila Kouakou scored four goals with an assist for the Mount Holyoke lacrosse team in a 11-6 win over Coast Guard Academy on Wednesday in New London, Conn.Kaitlin Braz and Mary Lavigne each added two goals for the Lyons (2-10).Mia...