The Haverhill High spring teams got off to a strong start in the opening week of the 2012 season. The Hillie teams combined for nine wins and six losses through the first seven days of the season.
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The boys lacrosse team is off to a 2-0 start. The Hillies opened with an 8-2 victory over Tewksbury, and then came out on top in an 8-7 overtime thriller against league rival Lowell. The girls squad edged Tewksbury 17-14 in their opener on the road (see photo, page 10). Both teams will be home on Saturday for an afternoon doubleheader at Trinity Stadium against Shawsheen. The girls will play at 2 p.m., followed by the boys at 4 p.m.
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The girls tennis team has reeled off two straight wins, after an season-opening loss to Andover. The Hillies have downed Lawrence and Methuen in league play. The boys tennis team record stands at 1-2, with the lone victory coming over Lawrence. Both teams will face Pentucket on Thursday.
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The bats came alive for the softball team, which has won two straight games. The Hillies pulled out a 9-6 win at Pentucket before pounding Lawrence 21-6 on Monday. They are 2-2 heading into games against Notre Dame and Chelmsford this week. The baseball team will travel to Lawrence on Friday and then return home for games against Masconomet on April 16 and Lowell on April 17.
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The boys volleyball team won its season opener against Chelmsford 3-0. The squad will travel to Lowell and Greater Lowell for its next two matches before returning home on April 19 to host Billerica.
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The Haverhill High track program will host the 35th annual John Ottaviani Invitational this Saturday, April 14. For the first time, this will be a co-ed event. Thirty-five of the top track programs from Massachusetts and New Hampshire will travel to the Haverhill High track. Field events are slated to start at 9:30 a.m., followed by running events at 11 a.m.
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Another Hillie football player will be playing at the next level in 2012-2013. Senior Aaron Moisan has committed to play football at Plymouth State in the fall.
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For all of the current spring schedules and information on Haverhill Athletics, please visit www.hillies.org and click on "Athletics.''
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The Athletic Department will host its second Haverhill High Athletics Golf Tournament on May 21st at the Renaissance Golf Club. The entry fee of $175 per player includes golf, lunch, dinner and gifts. Participants will play one of the premier golf courses in New England while also helping the student-athletes of Haverhill. More information is available at www.hillie.org. Please contact Tom O'Brien at tobrien@haverhill-ps.org or (978) 374-5732 to reserve your spot today.
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Tom O'Brien is the athletic director at Haverhill High School. He contributes this regular column to the Gazette.
