Hammer time for two local strongmen

UNH senior Jeff Kaste of Atkinson was named to the America East Men's Outdoor Track & Field all-academic team. Kaste, a history major with a 3.41 grade-point average, qualified for this weekend's NCAA East Regional at North Carolina A&T.

Kaste, whose father, Bill, is a veteran volleyball coach at Haverhill High, qualified in the hammer throw with a throw of 192-11 3/4 at the IC4A Championships.

The versatile throwers other personal bests are 53-10 1/2 in the shot put, 140-0 in the discus and a school record 63-8 1/2 in the weight throw.

Bates junior Rich McNeil of Lawrence finished eighth in the hammer (172-11) at the Division 3 NCAAs to earn All-America honors for the second straight year.

McNeil, who missed the indoor season with a foot injury, moved up to eighth (the final spot for All-American) on his last throw of the day. His season best was 181-2.

McNeil was one of five Bobcat captains. In the fall, the 6-2, 235-pounder led Bates with 2.5 sacks.

Senior catcher David Wendt of Methuen helped lead Dowling (N.Y.) College to its first Division 2 College World Series.

He put up impressive numbers for the 35-18 Golden Lions, who were ousted in the Elite 8: .299 average (fourth on team), 27 runs (second), 28 RBIs (third) and showed surprising speed for a catcher, stealing a team high 21 bases in 28 tries. Defensively, he displayed a cannon of an arm by throwing out 24 of 58 would-be base-stealers.

The ex-Methuen high baseball/basketball standout was named to the East Coast Conference second team for the second year in a row.

Senior Patrick Shannon of Andover was named team MVP and won the Martin Award for the MIT senior lacrosse player who exhibits dedication, determination and spirit. The Phillips Academy graduate is a four-year letterman who is studying aero/astro engineering. The short-stick midfielder had six goals this spring and was second on the team with 57 ground balls in 15 games.

Central Catholic defensive back John DiBitetto of Haverhill and offensive lineman Walter Gillis of Andover will continue their careers at Bentley. ... Tufts freshman Kayley Pettoruto of Andover helped the Jumbos finish fifth in the 4x400 (4:05.49) at Division 3 New Englands. Pettoruto had a top time of 2:19.99 in the 800.

Hillsborough Community College of Tampa pitcher Mike Hashem of North Andover is hoping to get drafted. The UConn transfer led the Hawks with a 6-4 record and 61 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings. The sophomore finished with a 4.59 ERA. ... Junior Pierre Hage of Andover ran on the Johns Hopkins 4x400 team which placed fourth in 3:24.75 at the Centennial Conference meet. ... Sophomore Jamie Callahan of North Andover helped the Trinity College rowers qualify for the Division 3 NCAAs. ... Sophomore Doug Andiorio of North Andover made two relief appearances this spring for Point Park.

Colby junior shortstop Christine Gillespie of North Andover made the NESCAC All-Academic team. To make it, athletes need a GPA of at least 3.35.

Gillespie, who was the Moynihan Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a senior in high school, batted. .267 this spring, with 14 runs and 8 RBIs for 18-11 White Mules.

Another junior from North Andover doing big things at Colby is Amy Campbell. She was named to the Division 3 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-American third team and the womenslacrosse.com second team. Campbell, who is also a field hockey standout, scored 40 goals this spring.

In addition to Gillespie, other locals on the NESCAC All-Academic team were Bates senior Jen Marino of Methuen (track), Bates senior Chris Murray of North Andover (track), Connecticut College junior Dan Doherty of North Andover (lacrosse), Trinity junior Joseph Malarney of Andover (rowing), Tufts senior James Bradley of Atkinson (track) and Wesleyan junior Jon Killeen of Derry (lacrosse),

The Commonwealth Coast Conference academic all-conference team included: University of New England sophomore Greg Hanseler of Bradford (cross country), Endicott senior Nicole Duchesne of Plaistow (basketball), Endicott senior Nick Cosco of Londonderry (lacrosse), Endicott senior Michael Eagan of North Andover (lacrosse), Wentworth sophomore Chris Guilherme of Derry (lacrosse) and Endicott senior Casey Moran of Bradford (soccer).

Bucknell freshman Christina Muccio was a triple-placer at the Patriot League championship with a fifth in the 100 (12.41), a fifth in the 200 (25.94) and a third in the 4x100 (48.19). She posted career bests of 12.39 and 25.74 this spring.

Photos

Bates junior Rich McNeil of Lawrence has had plenty to shout about. He recently made All-American for the second time in the hammer throw. Courtesy photo

Atkinson’s Jeff Kaste prepares to throw the shot as a schoolboy at Timberlane Regional. Now a senior at UNH, Kaste is one of the most accomplished throwers in Wildcat history. Staff Photographer