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Marc Crowley went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs, including an RBI double, to lead Central Catholic in a 12-4 win over Tewksbury.

Central Catholic scored three sixth-inning runs without a ball leaving the infield, turning the tide on an upset-minded Chelmsford squad for a come-from-behind 7-5 victory. In the midst of 3 2/3 innings of scoreless, no-hit relief, Pat Noone iced the victory with a two-run single as part of a 3 for 4 day at the plate, scoring twice.

Brendan Walsh pitched six strong innings to improve to 1-2 on the season in Central Catholic's 8-3 win over Billerica. Marc Crowley cracked a two-run homer in the first to set the tone for the Raiders, and Tim Wheeler was a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate.

Northeastern-bound Matt Novak fell just short of a no-hitter, settling for a one-hit gem as Central Catholic downed Dracut 3-1. Darren Infante's RBI double sparked the offense.

Central Catholic had to switch out their usual aluminum bats for wood because they were facing Bay State foe Neeham, but it clearly didn't have a negative effect on Tim Wheeler's performance. Wheeler had a two-run infield double thanks to some nasty wind and also cracked a sacrifice fly for an insurance run in the Raiders' 5-2 win.

Central Catholic had to switch out their usual aluminum bats for wood because they were facing Bay State foe Neeham, but it clearly didn't have a negative effect on Tim Wheeler's performance. Wheeler had a two-run infield double thanks to some nasty wind and also cracked a sacrifice fly for an insurance run in the Raiders' 5-2 win.

ANDOVER - Big-time pitching eases growing pains. So does clutch hitting. A day after getting blindsided, 15-1, by Dracut, the Andover High baseball team got both and took its frustration out on Central Catholic, 11-4, yesterday at Aumais Park. "Dracut destroyed us," said Warrior righty Shawn Carlson, who spent his five innings of work pounding the strike zone and lighting up the radar guns with an 88-91 mph fastball. "Today we came back with a little anger. This one was truly important. This is the best team we've seen so far." A two-game hole in the MVC large would have been the price exacted for an Andover loss. Instead, the Warriors move to 1-1 in the league, just like defending champion Central. Carlson, now 2-0, personified power on the hill, registering 13 of his 15 outs via the strikeout. "I'm used to the guns by now," said Carlson, who walked two and gave up six hits. "I thought I was throwing hard but my slider really helped me today." Central did touch him up for four runs on six hits, including a spectacular broken-bat two-run homer off the scoreboard in left by Tim Wheeler, but Carlson got some help, too. Twice, Alex Patti drew bases-loaded walks. Andrew Ruiz-Henriquez chipped in a two-out RBI hit as the Warriors took advantage of 11 free passes (9 walks, 2 hit batters) on the day. Leadoff man Jake Ponti was all over the basepaths with two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored. Ruiz-Henriquez had a pair of hits, and Patti reached safely in all four trips to the plate. After Carlson left, William & Mary-bound John Farrell got his turn, working the final two scoreless frames, adding three more strikeouts, 16 on the day.

HAVERHILL - Homelessness, for a high school baseball team, comes with one fringe benefit.
"Without a practice field for most of the spring, we've been inside for the most part," said Central Catholic senior Tim Wheeler. "We're taking thousands of swings a week, and it's absolutely paying off."
Yesterday, Central, now 2-1, pounded 10 more hits, allowing sidewinder Matt Novak to spin his mound magic in a 6-2 win over Haverhill.
No Raider has started quicker than the southpaw-swinging Wheeler, who went 2 for 4 with an RBI to see his average tumble down to .667 (8 for 12). He kicked the offense in gear with a first-inning single to plate Brendan Walsh, who had doubled.
"As a team, when we're getting runners on, we're scoring them," said Wheeler.
Marc Crowley tripled in a run in the third, and the Raiders got another when Matt Pelletier's sac fly to left was botched.
That was more than enough for the herky-jerk Novak, who threw sliders like Frisbees, worked low in the zone to get ahead of the Hillies and had his own fielders chuckling at times, trembling at others.
"Thank God, I've never had to try and hit off him. He'd probably make me look silly," joked Wheeler. "You can see it from first base. His ball tails all over the place and goes down like crazy."
Novak went five strong, allowing five hits and striking out five.
Twice, he put multiple runners on. Both times, he induced grounders back at him, which he and his strong-armed backstop Pelletier wheeled into 1-2-3 double plays.
For the second straight game, Raider coach Marc Pelletier summoned lefty reliever Brian Wolfendale, and the senior sealed the deal with two strong frames.
Haverhill ends its five-game homestand at 3-2, 0-2 in the MVC.
Taylor Robinson singled in one run then tripled and came home on Trevor Behrendt's RBI hit in the seventh. Losing pitcher Chad Kimball and catcher Ronnie Rosario had two hits apiece.

HAVERHILL - Homelessness, for a high school baseball team, comes with one fringe benefit.
"Without a practice field for most of the spring, we've been inside for the most part," said Central Catholic senior Tim Wheeler. "We're taking thousands of swings a week, and it's absolutely paying off."
Yesterday, Central, now 2-1, pounded 10 more hits, allowing sidewinder Matt Novak to spin his mound magic in a 6-2 win over Haverhill.
No Raider has started quicker than the southpaw-swinging Wheeler, who went 2 for 4 with an RBI to see his average tumble down to .667 (8 for 12). He kicked the offense in gear with a first-inning single to plate Brendan Walsh, who had doubled.
"As a team, when we're getting runners on, we're scoring them," said Wheeler.
Marc Crowley tripled in a run in the third, and the Raiders got another when Matt Pelletier's sac fly to left was botched.
That was more than enough for the herky-jerk Novak, who threw sliders like Frisbees, worked low in the zone to get ahead of the Hillies and had his own fielders chuckling at times, trembling at others.
"Thank God, I've never had to try and hit off him. He'd probably make me look silly," joked Wheeler. "You can see it from first base. His ball tails all over the place and goes down like crazy."
Novak went five strong, allowing five hits and striking out five.
Twice, he put multiple runners on. Both times, he induced grounders back at him, which he and his strong-armed backstop Pelletier wheeled into 1-2-3 double plays.
For the second straight game, Raider coach Marc Pelletier summoned lefty reliever Brian Wolfendale, and the senior sealed the deal with two strong frames.
Haverhill ends its five-game homestand at 3-2, 0-2 in the MVC.
Taylor Robinson singled in one run then tripled and came home on Trevor Behrendt's RBI hit in the seventh. Losing pitcher Chad Kimball and catcher Ronnie Rosario had two hits apiece.

HAVERHILL - Homelessness, for a high school baseball team, comes with one fringe benefit. "Without a practice field for most of the spring, we've been inside for the most part," said Central Catholic senior Tim Wheeler. "We're taking thousands of swings a week, and it's absolutely paying off." Yesterday, Central, now 2-1, pounded 10 more hits, allowing sidewinder Matt Novak to spin his mound magic in a 6-2 win over Haverhill. No Raider has started quicker than the southpaw-swinging Wheeler, who went 2 for 4 with an RBI to see his average tumble down to .667 (8 for 12). He kicked the offense in gear with a first-inning single to plate Brendan Walsh, who had doubled. "As a team, when we're getting runners on, we're scoring them," said Wheeler. Marc Crowley tripled in a run in the third, and the Raiders got another when Matt Pelletier's sac fly to left was botched. That was more than enough for the herky-jerk Novak, who threw sliders like Frisbees, worked low in the zone to get ahead of the Hillies and had his own fielders chuckling at times, trembling at others. "Thank God, I've never had to try and hit off him. He'd probably make me look silly," joked Wheeler. "You can see it from first base. His ball tails all over the place and goes down like crazy." Novak went five strong, allowing five hits and striking out five. Twice, he put multiple runners on. Both times, he induced grounders back at him, which he and his strong-armed backstop Pelletier wheeled into 1-2-3 double plays. For the second straight game, Central coach Marc Pelletier summoned lefty reliever Brian Wolfendale, and the senior sealed the deal with two strong frames. Haverhill ends its five-game homestand at 3-2, 0-2 in the MVC. Taylor Robinson singled in one run then tripled and came home on Trevor Behrendt's RBI hit in the seventh. Losing pitcher Chad Kimball and catcher Ronnie Rosario had two hits apiece.