Knights ousted in College World Series

  By: Mark Behan – June, 2013 The Northern Essex Community College baseball express was derailed in Tyler, Texas, at the National Junior College World Series. The Knights were eliminated by Brookhaven Community College of Texas, 9-2. The loss, coupled with an opening-round defeat to Nassau Community College, 2-1, capped off the 2013 season. “Our […]

Mayhew makes history with all-time best

Mayhew makes history with all-time best

By:  Mark Behan – June, 2013 Alex Mayhew is worth cheering about. If you are not familiar with Alex Mayhew, it may be because you blinked. At 5-7, 150 pounds he is not particularly imposing.  But it’s not his slight build that may have caused you to miss him.  It’s his speed. Alex Mayhew is […]

McVeigh and Tildsley retire; Dunham leads Striders

McVeigh and Tildsley retire; Dunham leads Striders

By: Mark Behan – May 2013 After a combined 70 years of coaching and 875 wins between them, two Lions of the Winter have retired. Longtime Andover High School girls’ basketball head coach Jim Tildsley has stepped down.  Tildsley coached for 39 years, including the last 18 at Andover, where he shepherded the Golden Warriors […]

Moving forward after marathon bombings

By: Mark Behan – April 24, 2013 Chances are you’ve seen him in the video that played over and over again – an endless loop shown on the news and all-sports stations, and all over the Internet. Or perhaps you’ve seen his picture.  It’s been plastered everywhere, including on the cover of Sports Illustrated. If […]

Ward commits to St. Lawrence, keeps NHL dream alive

By Mark Behan – March 28, 2013 Moments into his high school hockey debut, then-Haverhill High freshman Brian Ward wasted little time scoring his first goal.  The goal brought the Hillies’ student-body section to its feet in celebration.  And soon a boisterous chant reverberated throughout Haverhill’s Veterans Memorial Rink. ‘He’s a freshman!’ ‘He’s a freshman!’ […]

Red Sox Start with Low Expectations

By Mark Behan – February 23, 2013 “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” ― Alexander Pope From 1959 to 1966 the Boston Red Sox were, um, losers – as they did not post a winning record during that eight-year span.  In fact the 1965 team lost a league-worst 100 […]

Northern Essex Hoops Team Winning On and Off the Court

  By: Mark Behan – February 15, 2013  Wilfredo Andujar is married with four children. He works the night shift at Joe’s Crab Shack in Methuen. He attends Northern Essex Community College. The 30-year-old Lawrence resident also plays forward on the men’s basketball team.  In the season finale, an 83-59 win over Holyoke, Andujar was […]

Rafferty Fired, Rehired as North Andover Football Coach

By: Mark Behan – High School Sports Reporter – February 15, 2013 He’s back! And we are not talking Arnold Schwarzenegger and his next Terminator movie. John Rafferty is back as North Andover High’s head football coach – nearly two weeks after being fired by Principal Dr. Carla Scuzzarella and Athletic Director Jon Longley on […]