There's A Lot to Be Excited About in Foxborough as Spring Sports Begin

You might not be able to tell from the fresh coat of snow around town but the spring sports season officially began at Foxborough High School Monday as teams could begin practicing in Massachusetts.

After a successful winter season that saw five programs participate in the postseason, Foxborough High School Athletic Director Caitlin Brown is expecting great things from the Warriors this spring.

“I have high expectations for all of our spring programs,” Brown said.

Brown’s expectations begin with the Warriors boys’ and girls’ lacrosse programs. The boys’ are returning Hockomock League champions after a 16-4 campaign in 2012.

“I look at both the boys and girls lacrosse programs – both are returning Hockomock League champions,” Brown said. “I think we have a seasoned [boys’ lacrosse] coach in Matt Noone, who has been here awhile and has established a tradition of winning and looking at their schedule, they are playing tough teams, they are not backing down.”

Foxborough lost to Concord-Carlisle – the eventual sectional champion - in the quarterfinal round of the MIAA East Division 2 quarterfinals last season. The team opens the 2013 season against rival Mansfield on April 2.

The girls’ lacrosse team enjoyed a storybook season that began with first-year head coach Britney Jamison returning to a program she helped start at Foxborough High. Jamison’s team won the program’s first ever Hockomock League Davenport Division title in 2012 following a 12-9 win over Canton.

“Second-year coach, Britney Jamison, who also came from Foxborough … part of the original lacrosse program here … and in just one year was able to win a Hockomock League championship,” Brown said. “She really set the expectations and clear goals for the program. … I’m looking forward to success with those [programs].”

The girls’ lacrosse team finished the season 10-8 after falling to Sandwich in the first round of the MIAA Division 2 South Sectional State Tournament. The team will open the 2013 season on April 1 at home against Norwood.

Brown is also excited for the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams to return to the court this spring after successful 2012 campaigns.

“There are a lot of kids who are interested in tennis now that want to play,” Brown said. “We have some great returning talent.”

The boys’ tennis team went from a two-win season in 2011 to a state tournament team in 2012 with the foundation of young talent in place to improve in 2013. In the 2012 tournament, Foxborough knocked off Dedham in the Division 2 South Sectional preliminary round, 5-0, before being eliminated by the bracket’s number two seed, Hingham, 5-0 in the first round. The win over Dedham was Foxborough’s first tournament victory in recent memory. The Warriors finished the year with a 10-9 record.

The girls’ tennis team is losing a star in Alana Prinos but expects to be right back in contention for a state title. A year ago, Foxborough nearly captured a perfect season, winning 21 straight matches before falling to Hopkinton, 3-2, in the MIAA Division 2 South Sectional finals. The boys’ and girls’ tennis teams take the court against Mansfield in the season opener on April 2.

The spring track teams appear to be poised for a successful 2013 season with returnees Kiivone Howard, Jalen Reed, Jason Vogel and Zachary Downs on a boys’ team that placed 28th out of 36 teams in MIAA Eastern Mass D3 Boys Outdoor Track Championships last year. The girls’ team will be led by Andrea Marcotte, Liz Holmes and Haley Sykes in 2013. The Lady Warriors placed third in the MIAA Eastern Mass D3 Girls Outdoor Track Championships last season. The track teams begin the season on April 3 against Canton.

Both the Foxborough baseball and softball programs have new head coaches this spring.

“I think [new Foxborough baseball coach Chris Sullivan] brings an enthusiasm and an excitement for baseball where I feel like Foxborough was known for its baseball for a long time and we would like to get back to those winning traditions and winning ways and I think he is the type of leader for those student athletes to do that,” Brown said.

Sullivan has a lengthy and impressive baseball resume both as a player and a coach. The longtime RBI Baseball Academy employee most recently coached the RBI Hawks 15U team.

Sullivan, according to his biography on RBI Academy’s website was captain of the FHS baseball team in 2002.

During that season he was named team defensive MVP as a catcher and was the starting pitcher in the Hockomock League All-Star game.

He led the Warriors in at-bats, hits, doubles, runs, RBI, walks stolen bases, ERA and opponents’ batting average. Sullivan’s ended his FHS career with a 2.32 ERA. He hit .370 with the Foxborough American Legion baseball team in 2001, leading Post 93 to 17 straight wins, a district title and a sectional finals appearance.

Sullivan continued his playing career at Framingham State College as a pitcher and a catcher from 2003-04.

Sullivan has previous coaching experience at both Foxborough High School as an assistant and Bishop Feehan High School. He also led the RBI Hawks 15U and 16U teams to two tournament finals in 2011.

The Foxborough baseball team finished 2012 with a 5-14 record and missed the postseason. They will open 2013 on April 2 against Mansfield.

Taking over the softball program this spring is former JV head coach Mark Maguire, who takes over for Lauren Cucinotta, who announced she would not be returning to the team for personal reasons.

Maguire takes over a Warriors team that finished 2012 with a 7-15 record and MIAA state tournament berth. Foxborough defeated No. 13 Hanover before falling to No. 4 Hopkinton, 5-1 in the MIAA Division 2 South Sectional State Tournament.

“Our softball program is continuing to grow and finally our track programs, which we continue to keep getting more and more participants, which is wonderful,” Brown said. “Hopefully with more and more participants we will be successful.”

The softball team opens play against Mansfield on April 2.

Brown, who is as ready for the snow to be gone as anyone, says there’s plenty for the community to watch for this spring season.

“There’s a lot of things to look forward to and get excited about,” Brown said.