While we were putting the finishing touches on Sunday’s special section, the high school sports world didn’t sleep, so let’s catch up on all the happenings, from significant signings to that ever-rotating coaching carousel.
It’s been quite a week in the big-leagues for former MIAA baseball stars.
There was Cam Schlitter turning the town of Walpole into Yankees fans, if only for a night. The 2017 Globe All-Scholastic and 24-year-old former Northeastern ace delivered a win for New York in his major league debut Wednesday. The 6-foot-6-inch righthander struck out seven in 5⅓ innings.
Also on that 2017 All-Scholastic team? The White Sox’ Mike Vasil (BC High) and the Brewers’ Sal Frelick (Lexington).
Walpole mass native Cam Schlittler goes 5.1 innings. 7 strikeouts giving up 3 earned runs in his first career start at Yankee stadium and his family gives him a standing ovation #wcvb pic.twitter.com/qGB2MqhbT6
— Bobby Souza (@Bobbynewsphotog) July 10, 2025
On Tuesday, former Central Catholic shortstop Cam Devanney (’15) was called up by the Royals. He had yet to get into a game as of Friday afternoon, but the 28-year-old former Merrimack Valley Conference MVP from Amherst, N.H., had been a tear at Triple A Omaha, slashing .272/.366/.565 with 18 home runs and 55 RBIs.
Ryan Jaillet, who graduated last month from Andover High, didn’t get a major league call-up (yet), but he certainly got noticed after his one-hand catch of a three-run Trevor Story home run from atop the Green Monster on Tuesday.
The former Golden Warriors catcher, who will play at Bowdoin, was celebrating his recent graduation with his twin brother Chris — the two made quite the battery for Andover — when he snagged viral fame with a monster memory.
▪ A pair of rising senior defensive ends at Tabor Academy made big proclamations Thursday. Carter Gooden and Marcus Almada both announced they will play together at UCLA.
“We’ve always aspired to play with one another at that next level,” Almada told On3 Sports.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 280-pound Almada, from Cranston, R.I., is rated as a three-star recruit, while the 6-5, 255-pound Gooden is a four-star from Toronto.
▪ Masconomet rising senior Jack Fabiano announced his commitment to Williams. The 5-11, 190-pound running back/linebacker ran for 1,258 yards and 18 touchdowns last year for the Chieftains, while forcing four fumbles on defense.
▪ Darwin Jimenez’s track journey has taken him from Methuen to Hinds Community College in Mississippi to Allen Community College in Kansas, and now to Iowa. The former Rangers star will sprint for the Hawkeyes after finishing second in the 100 (10.38) at the NJCAA Division 1 Championship and sixth in the 200 (20.95).
And the good news keeps on coming…
DARWIN JIMENEZ (23’) IS AN IOWA HAWKEYE 💛🖤💛
The work isn’t over but it’s a great day! Remember to always celebrate the big moments and stay hungry. We are incredibly proud of you Darwin!!! pic.twitter.com/z6yuJVymfx
— Methuen Track (@MHSRangertrack) June 10, 2025
▪ Heading into her senior year, Wellesley’s Tara Battaglino announced she will play women’s lacrosse at Brown. The Bay State Carey Division MVP totaled 102 goals, 40 assists, and 76 draw controls as a junior to earn Globe All-Scholastic honors.
▪ Rising Medfield senior Braeden Sutton announced he will play men’s lacrosse at Tufts, winners of the last two Division 3 national championships. The attack/midfielder won a 2024 Division 3 state championship and also plays ice hockey.
▪ Isabella Camacho, who played for Wayland as a senior and was named Globe girls’ tennis Athlete of the Year on Friday, recently switched her college commitment from Wesleyan to Boston College.
▪ Just a season removed from winning the Division 3 state championship with Marblehead, coach Mark Marfione is leaving to take over the boys’ hockey program at Brookline.
Marfione went 40-18-6 in the regular season and 7-2 in the playoffs over three seasons with the Headers, highlighted by rallying from an 0-6 start to claim the 2024 D3 crown.
The 2024 Globe Coach of the Year takes over a Warriors team that went 7-13-1 last year under Mike Yanovitch and has gone 26-52-4 over the last four seasons.
▪ Walpole hired Sean McInnis as its girls’ basketball coach. The 2011 MIAA Coach of the Year, after leading the King Philip boys to their first tournament appearance in a decade, has also coached the KP girls, and served as athletic director at Norwell, Triton, and Carver.
We are happy to announce that Sean McInnis will be the new girls basketball coach at Walpole High School. Sean brings a lot of experience, a lot of energy and a lot of passion to our program. We are excited for him to get started and continue the success of @WalpoleGBBALL
— Walpole High School Athletics (@WalpolehighADSM) July 9, 2025
▪ Both Westwood and Andover announced the hiring of new boys’ soccer coaches.
Westwood will be led by Joshua Mitchell, who spent last season as the school’s JV coach. A four-year varsity player and senior captain at Stoughton, he played at American International and Bridgewater State before getting his coaching start with the Duxbury freshmen in 2022.
Andover promoted alumnus Lyle Morgan to head coach after two seasons leading the JV squad and four with the freshmen. Morgan played at UMass Lowell and has a decade of youth soccer coaching experience.
“I will work tirelessly to support the character development, athletic performance, and academic achievement of our student-athletes,” Morgan said in a statement.
▪ Lincoln-Sudbury has hired Bishop Fenwick assistant Mike Cipriani as its boys’ hockey coach. Cipriani played at Fenwick before earning degrees from Merrimack and Northeastern. He also served as assistant athletic director at Fenwick and has coached with the Eastern Mass Senators and at Pingree.
5. Swimmers named All-American
Six Massachusetts swimmers were selected to the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association boys’ All American team: Seekonk graduate Nick Cavic (Tampa) in the 200 freestyle, Xaverian graduate Will McGrew (Harvard) in the 500 freestyle, Needham graduate Vann Hotchkiss (Air Force) in diving, and Grafton graduate Breadon Ando (TCU) in the 500 freestyle, Minnechaug sophomore Colin Purcell in diving, and Austin Prep sophomore Alexander Barone in the 500 freestyle. Belmont graduate Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald (Vermont) made the girls’ NISCA All American team in diving.
The NISCA also runs a dual-meet virtual tournament competition based on decathlon scoring for 12 events and the Weston girls won the Class V title with 3,906 points, while the Wayland girls were second with 3,725. On the boys’ side, Wayland was narrowly edged out by Marino High (Calif.), 4,342-4,339, while Weston was third with 4,115.
6. Baseball doubles up on first
Who’s on first? Two bases.
Starting in 2027, the National Federation of State High School Associations will require a double first base in high school games to minimize the risk of collisions. The rule change was one of 10 accepted by the NFHS Board of Directors in June.
As seen on many softball fields — but not required by the NFHS for that sport — the double bases will feature a white side in fair territory and a colored half in foul territory.
“It will immediately address running lane violations, and it will further protect the players from the violent collisions that have occurred at first base,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee.
Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.
