Ball bounces back: Torn ACL doesn't slow down SNHU star

Our College Stars

Mike McMahon

It's a year later than he expected, but Salem's Mike Ball is one of the deadliest attackers in Division 2 lacrosse.

After two years at Herkimer County (N.Y.) Community College, Ball transferred to Southern New Hampshire last season to join his brother, Sean Ball.

In the first game last season, Mike blew out his left ACL, abruptly ending season as quickly as it had started.

After months of rehab, Ball took the field for the Penmen on March 15, opening day, this spring. In the last two months he's gone from relative unknown to a household name on the Manchester campus.

"It was tough last year," said Ball, who exploded this season with 55 goals for the 5-7 Penmen to lead the Northeast-10. "The doctors told me it would be six months before I had full clearance. I just hung around the guys as much as I could and turned into another assistant coach of sorts. I grabbed my stick and messed around as much as I could, and just kept myself involved.

"The toughest part was not playing. You work so hard to get to that point, and in the first game my season ended. I had come here, was going to get to play with my brother again, and it was just gone for another year. But, I couldn't change it. I only concentrated on what I could control, and all I could control was working hard in rehab and making sure I was ready for this year."

May 30 last year, Ball underwent surgery to repair the ligament. The recovery, while vigorous, went better than even he could have expected.

"Rehab started right away," said Ball, a 5-10, 200-pounder. "The doctors kept telling me six months, and it was six months of nonstop rehab. I bounced back pretty quickly and felt pretty good. Even though I wasn't supposed to be, a month after the surgery I was up at my lake on a wake board. I figured, I might as well test it. Looking back, it probably wasn't the smartest thing, but I didn't want it to slow me down."

After winning a national title at Herkimer, Ball was eager to prove he belonged.

It didn't take long for the rest of the league to realize he was healthy, and was a force to be reckoned with.

He was named SNHU's Male Athlete of the Year at the University's annual athletics awards ceremony on Monday night.

Mike and his brother, 6-1, 230-pound Sean, played together at Lawrence Academy, where Mike was also a terrific quarterback and Sean starred at running back.

Once they were able to take the lacrosse field together again, Mike, a sophomore attacker, and Sean, a junior midfielder, felt the chemistry instantly. Mike scored 15 goals this spring.

"Really, the whole reason I decided to come here was to play with him," said Ball, who ranks fourth nationally in Division 2 in scoring. "We have complementing styles. I am an inside player, while Sean is more of an outside player who has just a deadly shot. Sean feeds me a lot for my goals, and of course from playing together and growing up together, we know each other really well.

Added Ball, "When I was going over which schools I wanted to transfer to, I knew I only had so much time to play this game, and I wanted to finish my college career with Sean."

With the transfer, Ball will have one more year of eligibility next season.

McCarthy tabbed as BU captain

Andover's John McCarthy has been named a co-captain of Boston University's hockey team. The senior-to-be has been mainly a defensive center for the Terriers since arriving three seasons ago. The former San Jose Sharks' seventh-round draft pick will captain the team with fellow senior Matt Gilroy.

At the Friends of BU Hockey Dinner to wrap up the season, coach Jack Parker told the St. John's Prep grad that he wanted to talk to him.

"That's when coach informed me about the captaincy," McCarthy said.

"Truthfully, it's not something I was counting on. But, I was sure that Gilroy would be one. He wore the 'A' this season. It's huge to be captain, especially when you see the names of former captains like Mike Eruzione, Jay Pandolfo, Chris Drury, Brad Zancanaro, and Sean Sullivan ... the list (of great captains) goes on and on."

Merrimack recruit Joe Cannata is ranked as the top college (or incoming freshman) goaltender by the NHL Central Scouting for June's NHL Draft. It's tough to predict the NHL Draft, especially with the influx of European players, but he appears to be slated to go somewhere in the third to fifth rounds.

Ritchie shines on Senior Night

North Andover's Katie Ritchie certainly kept her best for last. In her final collegiate game, the senior defender netted her first collegiate goal in a 17-1 rout over AIC. ... Hampstead's Rachel Romanowsky, a freshman midfielder, notched a goal and three assists in Trinity's 9-8 over Bowdoin.

Cosco takes top honors

Nick Cosco has been named the Commonwealth Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year. The junior attacker from Londonderry has been a big reason why Endicott College is undefeated (9-0) in TCCC play this season. He topped all conference players with 27 goals in the league, and finished in a tie for fifth in assists with 12. ... The Gulls' Kellie Cunningham, a Pinkerton grad, was named to the TCCC women's first team.

Merrick makes a splash at Wheaton

Central Catholic grad Rachel Merrick finished a fine freshman season at Wheaton. The shortstop batted .318 with a homer and 21 RBIs, starting 38 of the Lyons' 43 games. The highlight of her season was April 3 against Babson, when she belted a grand slam in the eighth inning to break open what had been a 2-2 game, leading Wheaton to an 8-2 win. ... Andover's Paul Malaguti, a sophomore at Wheaton, was named second-team All-NEWMAC.

Salem's Sammi Letizio was named All-Conference at Simmons. The sophomore finished the season with a stellar 20-4 record.

Federico loads the bases

Meghan Federico wrapped up her rookie season for UMass Dartmouth. The freshman from Methuen played 19 games, and made 16 starts in left field. She batted .267, with four runs and five RBIs. Limited a bit by an Achilles injury, she managed to start seven games in conference, batting .353 in those contests, with a .421 on-base percentage. ... Bradford's Brittney Birch had two hits in St. Anselm's 10-2 loss to league-leading Le Moyne. ... Methuen's Anthony Gallardo fired a 78 for UMass Lowell at the MIT Jack Barry Invitational.

Everson solidifies starting role

New Haven freshman pitcher Hannah Everson finished the year with a 3-1 record and a 2.75 ERA in 12 appearances. Everson, who re-wrote the record books at Methuen High, hurled 352/3 innings, punching out 24 batters. With the graduation of current standout Meg Brown, she could be one of New Haven's top two starters next season. ... Andover's Anthony Perry went 4 for 7 with an RBI in Fisher's win over Briarcliff College. Bradford's Tom Englehardt went 2 for 6 with two RBIs, and Lawrence's Jarlin Gomez picked up the win, throwing five innings and striking out nine to improve to 6-1 on the year. ... Lawrence's Chris Dion, a reliever at St. Joseph's of Maine, picked up his first career save in the Monks' 6-4 win over Johnson and Wales.

Mike McMahon is an Eagle-Tribune sports writer. If you have information on local college athletes, e-mail him at sports@eagletribune.com

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