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www.salemnews.com the Salem news Monday, April 12, 2010 11

IN THIS SECTION Obituaries, 14 For the Record, 15 Abby & Puzzles, 16 Classifieds, 17-20 Comics, 21 Weather, 22

sports Editor phil stacey • 978-338-2663; [email protected]

`` College hockey Kreider, BC are kings of Team for the ages the rink Boxford native scores in Frozen Four final

By Ma t t Wi l l i a m s staff writer

The NCAA hockey national championship trophy found a comfortable home late Satur- day night — the hands of Boxford native Chris Bobby Dean Matt small Kreider. danvers ipswich The 18-year-old Boston College winger fin- ished his freshman season in storybook style, helping the Eagles drop Wisconsin 5-0 in the NCAA title game played at Detroit’s Ford Field. “It was absolutely unreal. I was actually the North Shore’s best baseball last person off the ice and I carried the trophy off. I didn’t want to let go of it,” Kreider said last night after he and the Eagles returned to players for the last decade The Heights with the school’s fourth NCAA hockey title. Around the Horn Bryan Garrity, Peabody: “(I’m) unbeliev- The 2004 Peabody graduate ably excited. Just Matt Williams qualifies as perhaps the best WHAT A YEAR an amazing feel- backstop of the decade in terms ing,” BC coach of handling an all-star pitching Chris Kreider’s time line Jerry York said It warrants repeating that staff. He caught back-to-back between his 18th and 19th in the postgame high school baseball bears the Gatorade Play- birthdays is nothing short of press conference. most talented fruit on the North ers of the Year in Jeff Allison incredible York has made Shore. and Ryan Moorer and helped „„ April 2009: Evaluated as the Eagles college There are twice as many engineer multiple no-hitters. the best high school player in hockey’s premier young men who call this area Garrity hit at a .400 clip and led the country and ranked 14th program, winning home getting paid to play base- Peabody to the Division 1 North among North American skaters NCAA titles in ball than any other game. Log title as a senior. He was a four- in the NHL draft’s final rankings 2001, 2008 and 2010 on to the athletic Web site of year starter behind the plate at „„ June 2009: Selected 19th while advancing to any nearby college, and you’ll UMass-Amherst. overall by the the title game in likely find at least one local on in the NHL draft four of the last five its baseball roster. Infielders „„ July 2009: Attends New seasons and earn- This cornucopia of talent York Rangers prospect camp ing a Frozen Four made picking an All-Decade Matt Antonelli, St. „„ January 2010: Aids Team berth in five of the diamond squad for the Salem John’s Prep: A hitting savant, USA in winning a World Junior last seven. News’ coverage area a difficult this Peabody native’s sweet Championship gold medal The Eagles (29- task. There are some very good stroke led to a .454 career av- „„ January 2010: Skates 10-3) were cling- ballplayers that were difficult erage at the Prep as well as a against BU at Fenway Park ing to a 1-0 lead to leave off, and we welcome school record 28-game hitting „„ February 2010: Scores high- over the Badgers debate. streak that stretched from his light reel goal as BC wins the before blowing it For our money, these are the sophomore to senior campaigns. open to start the best 20 ballplayers that played In 2003 he set single-season „„ March 2010: Named to the third period. Just the bulk of their careers from Eagles’ records for hits, runs All-Rookie team 1:18 into the final the spring of 2000 through and doubles and was chosen by and helps BC win the league stanza Cam Atkin- 2009. The only qualifier is that the Los Angeles Dodgers in the title son finished an they graduated from an MIAA 19th round of the Major League „„ April 2010: Scores a goal as BC end-to-end rush to school in our coverage area. Baseball draft. Antonelli opted wins the NCAA title at Ford Field make it 2-0. to attend college at Wake Forest, Shortly thereaf- Catchers where he had a dynamite career ter, Kreider put a that led to a first round selection serious clamp on Wisconsin’s title hopes when Larry Day, St. John’s by the San Diego Padres. he potted his 15th goal of the season and put Prep: This Amesbury native Antonelli remains in the Padres BC in control, 3-0. graduated from the Prep in 2003 system, having been optioned to “Coaches always say a two goal lead is the and was everything you want Triple-A Portland (Ore.) after a worst in hockey,” said Kreider, who starred from a backstop: great defen- strong spring training with the at Masconomet and Phillips Andover and was sively, a solid bat and a fierce big club. Salem News Player of the Year in 2006-07. “We leader. Day helped St. John’s Tim Bransfield, Mascono- needed to keep pushing.” win the Catholic Conference as met: One of the Chieftains’ all- That’s exactly what Kreider’s line did. Defen- a senior and was later an All-Big time best, Bransfield hit .540 as seman Philip Samuelsson found Kreider’s East selection at Connecticut. He a senior in 2002 with six homers linemate, Jimmy Hayes, moving down the had a cup of coffee in the New and 39 RBI. Bransfield was MVP wing. Hayes centered the puck and Kreider jeff allison York Yankees organization be- of the Cape Ann League in 2001 got a stick on it to beat Badger goalie Scott peabody fore hanging up the cleats in Gudmanson. 2008. Please see horn, Page 12 “Jimmy has great wheels and great range. He basically blew by his defender and put it on the tape for me. He created the play,” said Kreider, who wrapped up his first collegiate season with 15 goals and 23 points including 4-3-7 totals in eight playoff games. The 2010 title game set a world record for attendance at an indoor hockey game at 37,592. The unique setting of playing where National Football League games are held was enjoyable for Kreider, who also skated in front of 35,000- plus at Fenway Park in January. “The way they set up the rink was really well done. The crowd was right on top of us and the

Please see kreider, Page 16

Inside Sports

Sophomore slugs Crusaders to victory with walk-off bomb Bishop Fenwick tops Wakefield on a walk off two-run home run by sophomore Abby Curran. Page 12.

Karate Kids Mark Warner’s Professional Martial Arts Academy recently graduated 21 of its students to Black Belt ranking. J.B. Macdonald Brendan fullerton hunter gordon Page 15. danvers beverly swampscott The Hit Zone APRILAPRIL SCHOOLSCHOOL VAVACACATIONTION Mike Giardi’s Professional Baseball Academy 16th Year 3 Day Softball Pitching Clinic at The Hit Zone Fundamental instruction 2010 April Session Veteran’s Fieldhouse 3 Day Softball Pitching Clinic – 3 Different Sessions for boys and girls April 19th-23rd Salem High School April School Vacation – Monday thru Wednesday ages 8 through 13 8:30am - 12:30pm Applications and specific information may be obtained atThe Hit Zone,online at www.the-hit-zone.com or via phone 781-592-4487. For Softball Players ages 8-13 www.the-hit-zone.com / 781.592.HITS (4487) 171 Essex Street, Swampscott, MA Applications and specific information may be obtained at the Hit APRILAPRIL SCHOOLSCHOOL VAVACACATIONTIONZone,online at www.the-hit-zone.com or via phone 781-592-4487

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