Essex Schools Start Spring Strong

Third baseman Neil Westdorp went 4-for-4, hit for the cycle and drove in six runs as baseball team opened its season with a 12-2 victory at Chesapeake-AA.

Eastern Tech led just 5-2 before the Mavericks exploded for seven runs in the top of the fifth inning. The game was halted after the fifth due to the 10-run slaughter rule.

Pitcher Chris Hook picked up the win as he allowed two runs on four hits and struck out five over five innings. Eastern Tech next plays at 3:45 Friday when it hosts Essex rival Mount Carmel.

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Eastern Tech Boys Lacrosse: Junior attack Bobby Walsh scored two goals and dished out four assists as the Mavericks opened their season with a 15-4 win over .

Senior midfielder Sam Jackson scored three goals and had an assist while senior attack Hunter Oleszczuk and Charles Rice had hat tricks of their own for the Mavericks.

Other key contributors for Eastern Tech included Alex Pfannenstein, who scored twice with Tom Burton and junior attack Drew Hess contributing a goal and an assist each.

Eastern Tech next plays at 3:45 p.m. Friday .

Eastern Tech Softball: Senior catcher Ashley Sauerwein drove in five runs as the Mavericks opened the season with a 12-2 win over the Institute of Notre Dame in a game stopped after six innings.

Freshman infielder Brianna Casper drove in two runs for Eastern Tech, which did most of its damage in the third and fourth innings when it scored four runs in each frame.

Eastern Tech next plays at 3:45 p.m. Friday at Franklin.

Kenwood Boys Lacrosse: Attackmen Nick Eliadis and Jordan Boller finished with four goals and two assists each as the Bluebirds opened their season with a 17-0 victory over Western Tech.

Attack Kevin Dellasantos scored four goals and dished out one assist while midfielder Jesse Greifzu went 8-for-8 on faceoffs and dished out an assist in the win for .  Also for the Bluebirds, goalie Ben Runk made five saves in cage while posting his first career shutout.

In addition, attack Travis Simmons scored twice while midfielder Eric Ulrich had a goal and assist for Kenwood, which next plays at 3:45 p.m. Friday at Randallstown.

Kenwood Girls Lacrosse: Freshman Claudia Tonti scored the game-winning goal with less than 30 seconds remaining overtime to lift the Bluebirds to a 6-5 victory over Western Tech.

Kelly Dotterweich had a hat trick in her Kenwood debut with senior Elana Urie contributing two goals in the win. Bluebirds coach Matt Wickman also credited the defensive play of senior Harlee Ellifritz and junior Allison Tarr while junior Cierra Wilson and senior Casey Whitley won the battle at midfield.

Kenwood next plays at 3:45 p.m. Friday at Overlea.

Kenwood Track & Field: The Bluebirds girls team took first place and the boys finished a strong second in its opening meet of the year.

Kenwood’s girls finished with 102.5 points in a four-team meet that also included (47.5 points), (33) and Randallstown (26.5).

Kenwood’s boys finished with 66 points, just 6.5 points behind first-place Overlea (72.5). Randallstown took third with 43 points, followed by New Town at 37.5.

Overall, Kenwood broke six school records at the meet. This included senior Rayven Ray who won the 100 meters in 12.24 seconds, the 200 in a time of 25.7 and the high jump as she cleared 5 feet, 3 inches. Also, juniors Shannon Foster and Shaneara Terry each cleared 7 feet on the pole vault. Foster also won the long jump as she cleared 14-2.

Senior Travis Jenkins led the Kenwood boys as he won the high jump, clearing a school-record 6-2.

Results were compiled from email and interviews with area coaches and athletic directors. Have a score to report, a story idea or other sports news you wish to report? Contact Essex-Middle River Patch Editor Ron Snyder at ronald.snyder@patch.com