Newsletter #29...A fun fundraiser on tap
If you enjoy playing Cornhole and helping a great cause, the Wicked Pickle in South Portland is the place to be Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.
Windham High School senior Oakley McLeod created the Mental Edge Softball Camp two years ago and this coming spring will be the third annual event.
McLeod, her father, longtime coach Jason McLeod, and Cheverus junior ace Addison DeRoche joined the weekly Hoffer's High School Sports podcast this week to discuss the origin of the camp and the fundraiser, which will include a silent auction.
Michael Hoffer
Make sure you check it out.
Cheverus milestones
A pair of standout Cheverus senior athletes recently achieved career milestones.
Girls' basketball standout Kylie Lamson reached the 1,000 point plateau for her career during Tuesday's 48-44 victory at Gorham.
Lamson, one of the state's elite players and a favorite for the Miss Maine Basketball Award, got to 1,000 points in the fourth quarter against the Rams, making a layup after a steal.
Girls' hockey goalie Ellie Skolnekovich, meanwhile, set a new program mark with her 40th career victory in the Stags' 10-0 home win over Lewiston last Saturday.
Skolnekovich has played an integral role in leading Cheverus to three straight state titles and the Stags are very much in the hunt for a fourth. Skolnekovich also played goalie for Cheverus' field hockey team, which won Class A championships her sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
Skolnekovich, who is well known for her beautiful rendition of the national anthem before many Stags' games, will play field hockey at Union College in New York next year.
In case you missed it...
Game stories from the past week...
Falmouth boys defeat Biddeford
Windham boys down South Portland in showdown
Cheverus boys enjoy pivotal win over Westbrook
Windham boys rally to stun Scarborough
Cheverus/Yarmouth gets better of Falmouth in midseason battle
Deering girls no match for powerhouse Biddeford
TA boys become Sanford's latest victim
Media
Tuesday's WGAN spot with Matt Gagnon:
https://wgan.com/morning-news/hoffers-high-school-sports-16/
WJAB spots on Middays with Mannix and Mannix return later today. Every Friday at 11:30 a.m.
Prediction
My popular, prescient Patriots pick (11-6 for the season).
This week's guess (AFC Wild Card Round edition):
Patriots 24 Chargers 20
This one has me worried, as I think the Chargers are more formidable than many are giving them credit, but the fact the game is in Foxboro will help immensely. The Pats have to play a clean game and find a way to apply some pressure defensively. I expect Drake Maye to play well and the offense should be able to score just enough to keep this magical season alive another week.
How great is it to have playoff football back in New England?!
Features
Hoffer's High School Sports, in conjunction with cPort Credit Union, named Scarborough junior boys' basketball player Carter Ryan our Athlete of the Week Monday.
Michael Hoffer
Tuesday brought the latest Super-Six polls for basketball and hockey:
Michael Hoffer
We're essentially at the midway point of the winter sports season and there are an abundance of great stories.
The month of January will pass quickly and we all know what that means.
Tourney time is drawing ever closer.
See you right back here next Friday.
Enjoy the weekend, everyone.
Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffersports@yahoo.co
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