AHS BASEBALL, SOFTBALL WIN OPENERS
The Spy Ponders teams started the 2015 season on the right foot, each emerging victorious in its first regular season action.
The baseball team has evaded the unplayable conditions that have hindered many high school fields around the state, and has already played two games. Arlington won both of those games, defeating Watertown 7-3 in its opener and topping Melrose, 5-2.
Softball took care of business in its season opener as well. The team also played Melrose, but won much more comfortably behind the arm of Melanie DeAlmeida. The Ponders shut out the Red Raiders, 12-0.
Both teams are in action today against Winchester High School.
Â
NFL: AARON HERNANDEZ GUILTY OF MURDER
On Monday morning, the jury found former New England Patriots’ tight end Aaron Hernandez guilty of first-degree murder.
As a result, Hernandez will now spend the rest of his life behind bars with no possibility of parole for his actions in the 2013 shooting of his former friend, Odin Lloyd.
The trial began over three months ago and the jury deliberated for over 30 hours before reaching a verdict. A murder weapon was never found, but surveillance video from Hernandez’ home showed what appeared to be a gun in his hands.
As it is, the former tight end is unlikely to ever walk free again, but his legal situation is far from over. He faces a pair of murder charges stemming from a 2012 drive-by shooting in Boston.
Hernandez’ next trial will begin this fall.
Â
NHL: BRUINS FIRE GENERAL MANAGER
Just four days after the Boston Bruins’ season was ended early, the team fired General Manager Peter Chiarelli.
The move came this morning after the Bruins missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-’07 season, which was Chiarelli’s first as GM.
In his nine seasons with Boston, the team went 386-233-85 and won its first Stanley Cup since 1971-’72. The Bruins played in another Stanley Cup Final, but lost the series to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.
There haven’t been any other moves in the front office, but the search for a new General Manager is underway.
Â
NBA: CELTICS TAKE SEVENTH, FACE CAVS
Once thought to be a lottery team, the Boston Celtics have surprised basketball fans and taken the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
A 95-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night, the team’s fifth in a row, guaranteed a first-round matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This marks the third time in the last eight seasons that the Celtics have squared off against Cleveland.
The Celtics have had some success against the team that was dubbed the preseason favorite to win the NBA title. In four games this season, Boston split the series. The season series is a tough measuring stick, as the Celtics won the last two games within the past week. In the first of those, Cleveland sat its starters for the fourth quarter in a 99-90 Celtic win. Two days later, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and J.R. Smith watched from afar as the Celtics handed the star-less Cavs a 117-78 drubbing.
The Celtics are currently 39-42 and will play their final regular season game tonight in Milwaukee.
The playoffs begin April 18, but the date and time for Game 1 is yet to be determined.
Â
MLB: RED SOX ROLLING AFTER COMEBACK WIN
The Boston Red Sox had some lofty expectations heading into the season, and are living up to the hype thus far.
The Red Sox got a little help from the Washington Nationals in an 8-7 comeback victory on Tuesday night. The Sox erased a 7-5 deficit in the seventh inning without getting a hit, thanks to three Nationals’ errors. Edward Mujica and Koji Uehara protected the one-run lead and gave Boston its third series win in as many tries.
Hitting was supposed to be what carried the team this season, but the pitching has also contributed to a 6-2 start. Boston’s staff has the fifth-most quality starts to begin the season and is holding opponents to the sixth-lowest batting average in the Majors.
The Red Sox look to sweep their first home series of the season tonight, as they wrap up against the Nationals.
