Katie Gingras Named New Girls' Soccer Coach at Leominster High School

Katie Gingras has been named the new girls’ soccer coach at Leominster High School.  Gingras has worked in the Leominster school district since 2014 where she has served as a School Counselor at Johnny Appleseed Elementary School.  

Gingras said she is eager to get started.

“Coaching is in my blood,” Gingras said.  “I have an intense passion for the game and I am a firm believer we can learn many critical life lessons through playing the game.  I have loved being a part of the Leominster community for so many years and I’m excited to make big changes to the Leominster girls’ soccer program.  I am looking forward to changing the culture and reputation of the program.”

Gingras has extensive playing and coaching experience, including two stints as the varsity head coach here at Leominster High  in 2014 and 2016.  Gingras said much has changed since she was last in charge of the Blue Devils.  

“My perspective has changed immensely since the last time I was here mainly because I became a mother to two girls,” Gingras said.  “My philosophy and approach hasn’t changed much, however I now feel a stronger passion for coaching female athletes.  I’m excited to encourage and inspire my players to become the best versions of themselves through dedication, hard work and commitment.  Life is much bigger than sports, however we can learn so much about ourselves and our lives through sports.”

Gingras has been playing soccer since she was five-years-old, growing up in Lunenburg, where she also was a dancer and participated in basketball and track.  She went to play club soccer with the Central Mass. United which eventually became Delta FC before playing for The Scorpions Soccer Club U17-U19. 

Gingras went on to attend UMass-Amherst, where she was a four-year member of the women’s soccer team, where she also made a position change, which she said is helpful to her as a coach now.    

“My entire career up until college I was a forward or outside midfielder, however when I got to college, I made the switch to left back and I am so glad I did,” Gingras said.  “It gave me a different perspective on the tactical side of the game.”

Gingras’ coaching resume includes time at Lunenburg High as a volunteer assistant coach, head coach of the FC Stars, assistant coach at Fitchburg State University, and coaching within the youth ranks in Fitchburg and Lunenburg.  

In the short term, Gingras plans on connecting with all players and their families who might be interested in playing soccer at LHS in the fall of 2021.  From there, Gingras said summer training will be a key.  

“We will begin training together as a team through the summer months to become a stronger and more confident team moving into the fall season,” Gingras said.  “We are in a different league this year which will hopefully build confidence and give our players an opportunity to highlight their skills and work towards a winning record.”

Gingras said she expects her team to be competitive right away, and that all starts with putting in the work now.  

“The next three months are critical in communicating new team values, while improving and adjusting the culture of the program,” Gingras said.  “Players will be expected to get lots of touches on the ball, while working on their cardiovascular endurance as well as their overall strength and agility.  Champions are made in the offseason, so my goal is for players who are ready to put in the work now. “

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Claire Desmarais (Girls' Tennis)

Girls’ tennis player Claire Desmarais is new to the sport, as the junior has only been playing for a little over a month.  She was introduced to the sport during her sophomore year in Mr. Robichaud’s history class, who also happens to be the tennis coach.  

“He was encouraging me to try out, even though I was on the fence at first I thought it was a good opportunity to try something new,” Claire said.

Robichaud said Claire has hit the ground running.  

“Claire has been a welcomed addition to the Blue Devils girls’ tennis team,” Robichaud said.  “Although she has only been a tennis player for the past month, she has quickly acclimated herself to the sport and has transitioned from second doubles to one of our top singles players."

Claire said she has learned a lot during her first month.

“So far this season coach Roby has taught me to not let other people or yourself bring you down,” Claire said.  “Being too harsh on yourself can get in the way of your accomplishments.  It is important to balance the stress and criticism you put on yourself so it doesn’t affect you negatively.”

Robichaud said Claire’s compete-level is off the charts.

“Other players may have better tennis skills at this time due to having had more experience on the court, but no one has been able to match her drive and determination during matches,” Robichaud said.  “She has held her own against older players who have had four or more years of experience on the court as opposed to the four weeks of time that she has been playing tennis.”

Claire also said the tennis team is a tight group.

“My teammates on the tennis team are so supportive and encouraging which makes it so much more enjoyable to play when your teammates are cheering you on,” Claire said.  “If I hadn’t joined the tennis team, I wouldn’t have met the people I’m close friends with today.”

Claire’s feature sport at LHS is soccer where she is the varsity captain, but she has truly enjoyed her tennis experience so far.

Robichaud said Claire’s soccer experiences have helped her in tennis.

“Claire is a natural leader,” Robichaud said.  “Voted a team captain only one week into the season, she has taken on many leadership roles and exposed the team to new skills and drills that she has brought over to us from her time on the soccer pitch." 

“The thing I like most about tennis is even though it is a team sport, there are a lot of individual aspects to the game,” Claire said.  “Since I’ve been playing singles, it has been easier to recognize mistakes made by myself and where I need to improve.”

After high school, Claire is planning on going to college and studying math or science. 

“Specifically I am interested in the different types of engineering and the jobs that they offer,” Claire said.  

Outside of LHS, Claire is constantly working on improving her soccer game.  Her favorite hobby is photography.

“My grandma is the one who introduced me to photography and it has become a passion of mine just as it is hers,” Claire said.  

“My favorite subject in school is math,” Claire added.  “It has been the class I enjoy the most in school for a long time. So far in high school my favorite teachers are Ms. Comeau, Mr. Robichaud, Mrs. Piragis, Mr. Woodward, and Mrs. Anderson.” 

 

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: William Lefebvre (Boys' Tennis)

 

Senior William Lefebvre doesn’t just play on the LHS tennis team, he helped

bring the sport back to life here in Leominster after a team wasn't fielded

during William's freshman year.

“I started the team by asking Athletic Director Dave Palazzi if we could have a boys’ tennis team,” William said.  

That was back during William’s sophomore year.  Prior to that, William hadn’t played the sport competitively, but said he’s enjoyed his three seasons playing the sport here at the school.

“The team bonding and the release of energy is what I like most about the sport of tennis,” William said.  

William will be attending UMass Lowell next year where he will play club tennis and will be majoring in Environmental Science. 

“I plan to work for a consulting firm or for the state of Massachusetts in their Environmental department,” William said.  

Leominster coach Mark Moge remembers when William was a sophomore playing in the third singles spot.  

“Between the 2019 and 2021 season, he worked hard getting stronger physically and worked especially hard on his game and is my number one player this year.”

Moge said William, who is the team captain, has always worked hard recruiting new players to the team.  

“I named Billy captain and right away he led the stretching routine and introduced some new stretches for the team,” Moge said.  “He is always emphasizing a healthy mind and body and has even set up a ‘snap’ so that he could send tennis videos to the team as well as links to websites where they could find gear.”

 “He is kind to everyone on the team and will share tips and tennis knowledge to anyone,” Moge added.  “He also helps me in feeding balls in practice so that players have less time waiting in line.  Billy strives to be the best he can be in every situation and I’m so glad he has been part of the team.” 

 

At LHS, William is a member of the National Honor Society, Social Media Head of STUMP, and part of the Student Council.

 

His favorite class has been Italian III and is favorite teacher is Mr. Noviello who William had for two years.  

 

Outside of school, William enjoys gardening, running and being with friends.

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Trish Scott (Girls' Track)

Senior Trish Scott started running track during her freshman year as a way to stay active during cheerleading off-season.  

“I wanted to play a sport during my off-season of cheer and I tried running track and fell in love with it,” Trish said.  “I like how many different events you could participate in and how supportive the team is while you're running.”

Trish said she has enjoyed being a Blue Devil track athlete.

“Even though we don’t have a real track to run on, we still push our hardest, even when it feels 100 degrees outside,” Trish said.  

Trish said she has learned a lot from her coach, Karen Marino.

“My head coach doesn’t give up on me, even when I don’t want to push my hardest, she makes me and it’s beneficial for me,” Trish said.  “I also like how if you are injured, she doesn’t let you overdo it and makes sure you are okay.”

Trishana is a very versatile and talented athlete,” Marino said.  “She scores points for the team every meet in multiple events.  She is a top notch high jumper and triple jumper finishing first in our meets thus far this year. In her sophomore year she qualified for the triple jump at the state level.”

“She is also an excellent sprinter in both the 100 and 200 meter dash,” Marino added.  “She is always looking for guidance to improve her performance and works very hard at practice to continue getting better.  She is amazing to watch on the track.  It will be a great loss to the team next year to not have Trish.”

Next year, Trish is planning on attending the Catherine Hinds Institute in Woburn where she will study to become an esthetician.  

At LHS, Trish was a member of the cheerleading team and participated in Youth Venture and Advocates for the Invisible.  

Trish said her favorite classes at LHS were Algebra I and II and her favorite teacher was Mr. Sheehan.  

Out of school, Trish enjoys going to the beach with her friends and going to the gym.

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Linda Kim Yeboah (Girls' Tennis)

Born in Ghana, Africa, current LHS girls’ tennis player Linda Kim Yeboah has moved around a bit.

“I lived in Leominster for about four years then I moved back to California for two years,” Linda said. “Since my parents are split, I have lived in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and California.”

Here at LHS, Linda, now a junior, has settled in nicely with the tennis team, starting the sport during her freshman year.  

“I got introduced to this sport by my uncle in Los Angeles when I went and visited him for a couple of days,” Linda said.  “Then we went to the park and we started hitting a couple balls and I fell in love with the sport ever since.”

“What I like most about tennis is that you can use your own style to play and there is no right or wrong way to play and I can add my own style to the game,” Linda added.  

Linda said the LHS tennis team is a great group to be a part of.  

“What I like most about being a part of a team at LHS is that the team always has great bonds,” Linda said.  “There are wonderful people in this world and it's amazing to be able to be friends with them.”

LHS girls’ tennis coach Daryl Robichaud said Linda has been a large part of the early success of the girls’ tennis team in this COVID-shortened season. 

“From the first day of tryouts it was evident that she had dedicated herself throughout the past two years since we had last been on the courts to improving her strength, stamina, athleticism and court presence,” Robichaud said.  

 

“She has now developed the ability to script out points in order to force her opponent to play to her strengths while capitalizing on their weaknesses,” Robichaud added.  “This is a large, yet substantial jump in the development of top-level tennis players.” 

 

Robichaud also said Linda’s enthusiasm is infectious. 

 

“She leads by example without being ostentatious,” Robichaud said.  “She is a feared and respected opponent.”

 

Linda is also one of the leaders of the team.  

 

“Her teammates have obviously recognized the commitment that she has made to the program as selected her to be a tri-captain during the 2021 campaign and did so with the highest percentage of votes on the team,” Robichaud said.

 

Linda said she has learned a lot from coach Robichaud.  

 

“What I have learned from Mr. Robichaud is that throughout life, kindness can get you a long way,” Linda said.  “There is never a day that you need to give someone negative energy and Roby shows that to me everyday for the past three years that I have known him.”  

 

After high school Linda wants to study psychology, and that’s just the beginning.    

 

“I love making people laugh, feel like they are worthy and I want to change the world and make it a better place for everyone,” Linda said. “I also want to be a motivational speaker just like my father Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah.  He won an ESPN award for courage and I want to be able to make him and my mother proud in the future.  I didn't grow up with a lot but I would also love to give back to my community because they helped me to become the person I am today.”

 

She also hopes to play tennis in college.

 

“I hope I can play tennis during college,” Linda said.  “The sport is amazing! I hope I can meet Serena one day she is a role model.”

 

Here at LHS, Linda is the treasurer of the Black Heritage Club and she also has played basketball for three seasons.   

 

“I also volunteer when I can, during the pancake breakfast for freshmen and sophomore year,” Linda said.  “I am also running for class president for senior year.  I want to bring more light into the school.”

 

Linda said a lot of her teachers here at LHS have made a positive impact so far.  

 

“I have a lot of teachers that I have admired throughout all my three years at LHS,” Linda said. “Ms. Duffy, Mr. Biggs, Mr.Mooney, Mr.Robichaud, Mr.Oxford, Mr.Curtin, Mrs.Blais, Mr.Davis, my teachers from culinary, Ms. Comeau, and even some of the janitors.  There are a lot of teachers who have done a lot for me and these are the ones I will never forget.”

 

Outside of school, Linda attends church, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.

 

“I also love to dance, and sing, and hang out with my friends and share laughs,” Linda said.  

 

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Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Peter Spylios (Boys' Lacrosse)

For Leominster senior lacrosse captain Peter Spylios, being a part of the team here at LHS is quite special.  

“It’s more than just a lacrosse team, it feels like a family,” Peter said.  “Everyone wants to help you and see you improve.  The whole coaching staff is incredible.

It was his current head coach, Colin Davis, who helped get Peter into lacrosse.

“Coach Davis ran youth camps for a week during the summer,” Peter said.  “And my mom would have me go every year with all my friends. It was a blast.”

Peter said he has learned a lot from coach Davis both on and off the field.  

“I have learned from coach Davis that in sports and life, you will be challenged with adversity,” Peter said.  “It is up to you how you decide to react.  You can give up and call it quits, or you can persevere and succeed.”

Davis had high praise for Peter.  

“He’s been a three-year starter for us and is the leader of our defense,” David said.  “He’s just an all around good guy.”  

As for the sport itself, Peter said he enjoys the team-nature of lacrosse.

“I like how it’s fast paced and a complete team sport,” Peter said.  “It’s very tough to be a one-man show in lacrosse.”

Peter is heading to Worcester State in the fall to study computer science and will play club lacrosse.

Here at LHS, Peter is a member of the National Honor Society and was a member of the Prom Committee.  His favorite class was physics with Mr. Noviello.  

Away from school, Peter enjoys  golfing, fishing and playing video games.   

   

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Payton Finnegan (Girls' Lacrosse)

Senior captain and defender Payton Finnegan will be attending the University of Rhode Island next year, and will be majoring in health sciences with the goal of becoming a physical therapist.  However before that, Payton is enjoying her remaining weeks with LHS girls’ lacrosse team, a team that is 4-2 and getting better as the season progresses.  

Payton said the team is a close-knit group.  

“My favorite part about being on the team at LHS is being able to have played with my best friends for the past four years,” Payton said.  “Everyone shares a love and passion for this sport which brings everyone closer together.  The friendships and bonds I have made being a part of the LHS lacrosse team for four years will last a lifetime.”

Payton also said she and her teammates have learned a lot from first-year coach Ken Aubuchon and the entire coaching staff.  Aubuchon was part of the LHS boys’ lacrosse team prior to taking over the girls’ program here at LHS.

“This season I have learned to always work my hardest in games and practices because it does pay off,” Payton said.  “My coaches have always pushed me to be the best I can be and to put my all into every game and every drill.  My coaches teach positivity and hard work and help to bring self-confidence into each player and I believe that’s the most important part about playing this sport.”

Aubuchon said Payton has done an outstanding job adjusting to the new defensive system implemented by assistant coach Hailey.  

She is one of the defensive generals and has to account for the opposing team’s best player and help adjust the defense to cover cutters,” Aubuchon said.  “It is her controlled aggressiveness and never give up attitude that is leading the defense this season.”

Aubuchon said Payton also has had some key takeaways and has been constantly improving in transitioning the ball from the defensive to offensive end.

“Her hard work, effort and leadership as captain this year has strengthened the team, as well as provided them with the blueprint on how to be  a role model and future captain,” Aubuchon added.

Payton said her favorite part of the sport is the aggressive nature of it.  

“My favorite part about lacrosse is how aggressive I am able to be,” Payton said.  “I also really love the team aspect and how every position is important and key to winning the game.”

Payton also played varsity soccer and said her favorite class at LHS was her English class with her favorite teachers, Mrs. Spylios and Mr. Grutchfield. 

Outside of school, Payton enjoys going to the gym, hanging with her friends and family, and shopping.

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Matthew Healy (Boys' Track)

When current LHS junior Matthew Healy was in middle school, he went out for the track team and hasn’t looked back since.  His motivation stemmed from some very talented family influence.  

“I’ve always enjoyed running,” Matthew said.  “I was introduced to it through my family by my cousin who currently runs track at Fordham University and my other cousin who’s a high jumper at the University of Michigan.  I’ve always looked up to both of them.  I used to go to their track meets as a kid and be amazed at how good they were and that really just made me want to start running track.”

Healy is enjoying a great season, recently placing second in the mile and third in the 800 in a meet at Shepherd Hill.

“He has goals and works hard,” Leominster boys’ track coach Cathy Harris said.  “He puts in 100% effort at all times and is extremely self motivated and determined.  He’s an asset to our team.”

“What I like most about track is competition against other people and the clock,” Matthew said.  “I like the fact that when you put up a good time, it validates the work you put in during practice and in the offseason.”

Healy said the LHS track team is highly supportive of each other.

“The thing I like most is that everybody pushes each other to do better and the support from the team helps everybody push themselves to do their best,” Matthew said.  

Matthew also said coach Harris is constantly pushing him and his teammates to improve.

“I’ve learned to push yourself the best you can in order to achieve your best time,” Matthew said.  “And to always strive to do better the next race you have.”

Healy is starting his college search and hopes to be able to run track after graduating high school next year.  

“I would like to major in psychology in college specifically as it relates to performance of athletes in sports from a mental standpoint,” Healy said.

Matthew, who also plays varsity ice hockey at LHS, said his favorite class is Intro to TV/Media.

 

“My favorite teacher would have to be Mr. Robichaud, he used to be my baseball coach back when I was a kid so I've known him for a while,” Matthew said.  “He is such a great teacher and person. I've learned a lot from him in and out of the classroom.”

Matthew’s hobbies include going to gym, and he is teaching himself how to play guitar.  He also enjoys spending time with family and friends and running. 

Blue Devil Alumni Spotlight: Kerry Conway '01

(L-R: Kerry, Pierce and Tabitha)

Kerry Conway graduated from Leominster High in 2001.  During her time as a Blue Devil student-athlete, she compiled quite the resume, a resume that would eventually lead to her being named to the Leominster Athletics Hall of Fame. 

 Conway was named the 2001 Sentinel and Enterprise Female Athlete of the Year, starring in softball, basketball, and soccer.  During her high school athletic career, Conway was a nine-time Mid-Wach All-Star and a nine-time Sentinel and Enterprise All-Star.  In softball, Conway was named to the Telegram Super Team twice.  Conway stole over 50 bases in her career and was never caught stealing and had a career batting average of over .400.  

 

Two decades later, Conway lives in San Diego County with her wife Tabitha and their 2.5 year-old son Pierce.  Conway currently works in the Gang Prosecution Unit of the DA's Office with a caseload largely consisting of violent crimes (robbery, murder, attempt murder) and weapons cases. 

 

“Being a Deputy DA is incredibly fulfilling,” Conway said.  “My job allows me to help people - often in their darkest times, and to make the community a better, safer, place to live.  As a prosecutor, I am the voice of victims who cannot speak for themselves.”

 

After graduating from LHS, Conway attended Dartmouth College where she majored in Government and minored in Public Policy.  She also played four years of varsity softball at Dartmouth, where she played shortstop.  

 

After graduating from college in 2005, Conway went straight to law school and graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2008.  She then did her post-bar with the San Diego District Attorney’s Office and was sworn in as a Deputy District Attorney in 2009.  

“I spent the first half of my career prosecuting general crimes and then spent six years in the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division prosecuting sexual assault, child molestation, and human trafficking/pimping and pandering cases,” Conway said.  

Conway’s parents (Kathy and Tim) still live in Leominster, a place Conway still has fond memories of.  

“I grew up in a neighborhood with a ton of kids, many of whom I would eventually go to high school with, and my younger, and perhaps smarter, brother Mike,” Conway said.  “We played games and sports all day until the street lights came on and our parents would yell for us to come eat dinner.  It was an ideal place to grow up.”

 

Conway attended St. Leo's from kindergarten through eighth grade.

 

“It was there that I met my lifelong best friend and point guard throughout high school, Katy Kirouac,” Conway said.  “Classically, Katy would later get the assist on my 1,000th point.  In junior high, my step-mother (Mary) and step-sister and step-brother (Meagan and Michael Broderick) came into my life, bringing more fun and laughter.” 

 

Conway also said she had a wonderful high school experience.

 

“I felt safe at Leominster and free to be a teenager,” Conway said.  “I had great friends, teammates, coaches, and teachers.  I was prepared for college by the time I graduated.” 

 

Conway said sports at LHS were an important part of her overall experience.   

 

“In addition to being incredibly fun, sports taught me so many invaluable life lessons,” Conway said.  “I developed time management skills, having to balance school work with practices, games, and travel schedules, that have carried over into my career.”

 

“I learned to work with all types of people, often with very different personalities and backgrounds than myself,” Conway continued.  “Sports also forced me to deal with adversity such as losses, bad calls, injuries, and helped me learn to work harder, and to come back stronger and better and to persevere.”

 

Conway said she had two coaches who were the most influential coaches she had while at LHS.       

 

“Coach Chris Young was my basketball coach for four years and was always there for his players,” Conway said.  “We went from a less than .500 team to the regional finals in our senior year.  He made practice fun and did not let us give up - he told us to believe in ourselves and we did.”

 

“Coach Alexis Curry was my softball coach for all four years,” Conway said.  “She was a guidance counselor to many of us as well.  Coach Curry was completely selfless and was there for her players and students 24/7 in any way that we needed.  She was a rock for many and I will forever be grateful to her for her mentorship.”

In the classroom, Conway said Mrs. Blanchflower was the most influential teacher she had.   

 

“She made class enjoyable,” Conway said.  “She ran an orderly, but fun classroom and took student groups to Spain every few years.  Our Spain trip was my first trip out of the country and was an unforgettable experience.”  

 

Conway recalled a couple non-sports related memories from her time at LHS.

 

“I have fond memories of the pep rally prior to the Leominster/Fitchburg Thanksgiving game - the skits and the seniors' moms as cheerleaders,” Conway said.  “Also, Principal Fleming reminding us every morning over the loudspeaker to eat fruit.”  

As for advice to current LHS students, Conway said to keep your head down and do your work. 

“Dream big and chase your dreams,” Conway said.  “Work hard.  Find a job you love and that makes you happy.  And always make time for fun and laughter.”  

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Bella Gasbarro (Softball)

Lifelong Leominster resident Bella Gasbarro started playing softball when she

was just seven-years-old.

“My mother introduced me to this sport because when she was little she played and she loved it, so she had gotten me into it when I was little and I still love the game,” Bella said.

Bella said what she likes most about softball is that it takes hard work to get where you want to be. 

“You don’t just wake up one morning being able to hit a home run, you have to work for it,” Bella said.

That work has paid off.  Bella was selected to play for a USA team that competed in Oklahoma City while also playing for a National Voodoo Asadoorian Team.  She now plays for 18U Polar Crush Gold (Dudek) out of Devens MA.  Bella plans on playing softball in college as well and wants to study marketing.

Bella, who also plays field hockey here at LHS said really enjoys being part of the LHS softball team.

“What I like most about being a part of the LHS Softball Program is that we all have talents and different skill levels so we can all learn from one another,” Bella said.

New LHS softball coach Tara Witzgall said Bella has a lot of knowledge of the game and her teammates look to her as a leader on the field. 

“She’s a player who doesn’t make many mistakes but when she does she bounces right back and moves onto the next play,” Witzgall said.  “Bella is the player you want at the plate when the game is on the line. Her coaches and her teammates have a great deal of faith in her in all aspects of the game.”

Bella has a lot of familiarity with Witzgall, playing for her in middle school as well.  

“Throughout the time I have known her, she has always been supportive not only in softball but in our outside lives too,” Bella said.  “One major thing that coach has taught myself and my team is that you have to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Coach says this religiously throughout the season reminding us that if we aren’t comfortable with something, we have to practice it to get better so we can do it in a game.” 

“I was not comfortable diving for the ball so Coach took time out of her day and came to the fields early before our game to work with me on diving for the ball,” Bella continued.  “Since she has worked with me on it, I now feel confident in myself to dive for a ball during a game to get the out.”  

Outside of school, Bella likes to play softball and hang out with family and friends.  Her favorite class at LHS to date was U.S. History I with Mr. Ordway.  

 

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Evan McCarthy (Baseball)

 

Born in Boston, current senior Blue Devil standout pitcher Evan McCarthy moved to

Leominster when he was just a few weeks old.  When he was four, Evan started playing

baseball thanks to his dad introducing him to the game and not soon after that, Evan

started t-ball.  Since that early introduction to baseball, it has become a passion for Evan.

“I enjoy how competitive it is and the overall strategy of playing the game,” Evan said.

Evan went on to play for Leominster National in Little League, before playing for the Nor’Easters and Leominster American Legion as well as here at LHS for coach Rich Barnaby.   

“He is the ideal leader and teammate,” Barnaby said of Evan.  “Evan is relentless with his preparation, he prepares himself physically all year and meticulously takes care of his body day in and day out.”

Barnaby said Evan is also a true student of the game.  

“I can always count on him texting me during the Red Sox or a televised college game to let me know that someone had a great two-strike approach or a great steal break from second,” Barnaby said.  “He is always learning.”

Barnaby also said Evan is a selfless person as well.  

“He is the first one to volunteer for community service activities like Challenger League or Little League field clean-ups and he is always taking the time to mentor younger players just like Pat Gallagher did for him when Evan was a sophomore,” Barnaby said.  

All of those qualities added up to an offer and commitment for Evan to continue his academic and athletic career at Assumption University in the fall.  

“We expect big things from him at Assumption,” Barnaby said.  “With his work ethic, high baseball IQ and selflessness, there are no limits to what Evan can accomplish.”

Evan plans on studying business and will likely concentrate on sports management. 

“I'd like to become an executive for the Red Sox some day,” Evan said.  

In the present, Evan is focused on his final season in a Blue Devil uniform.

“We have a great team chemistry,” Evan said.  “We don't take any days off and everyone is focused on winning and getting better.”

At LHS, Evan played golf this past fall and is a member of the National Honor Society.  His favorite class during his time at LHS was American Studies with Mr. Robichaud.

In his free time, Evan enjoys playing sports, video games, cooking, and hanging out with friends.

As for his time learning the game from coach Barnaby, McCarthy said he has learned how important fundamentals and the small details are to the game of baseball. 

“The difference in winning vs. losing is usually who can control the big moments by executing things like plays or baserunning,” Evan said.