Play Ball!

April 20, 1912, 3:00 p.m. Opening Day at Fenway Park.

The father of Sacred Heart graduate Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, Class of 1908 stepped to the mound to throw the first ball at Fenway Park. It was a headliner week. Six days earlier Michael Ryan had set a new record running the 16th Boston Marathon and the next day the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank. Opening Day at Fenway Park, situated just blocks from the Boston Academy of the Sacred Heart on Commonwealth Avenue in the Back Bay, captured the excitement and imagination of the Town, and it has continued to do so for now 100 years.

Architect James McLaughlin created the concrete and steel ballpark, then a behemoth that seated 24,400 fans most of whom arrived by trolley. Following the ceremonial pitch by Boston Mayor John “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald, father of three Sacred Heart students, the Red Sox, dubbed the “Speed Boys,” took on the New York Highlanders, later named the Yankees. Three hours later, the Sox prevailed with a 7-6 victory on an 11th inning RBI by Tris Speaker.

As Fenway Park prepares for its 100th Opening Day against the Tampa Bay Rays, the girls in Blue at Newton Country Day School opened the varsity softball season with a 14-13 thriller against Southfield, “a contest of exciting twists and turns that began with one of the rarest moments in the history of the sport,” reports Coach Evan Adair.

 

By Coach Mr. Evan Adair

April 4, 2012. 3:30 p.m.

“Center-fielder A. Torrence ’14 (2-4, HR, 3 Runs) stunned players and fans alike by crushing the first pitch of the game – and the 2012 season – high over the left field fence for a home run. One out later, co-captain M. Kelly ’12 homered as well, notching the score at 2-0 before Southfield had come to the plate. Kelly ’12, a short-stop and pitcher, continued to lead the offensive charge, recording 4 hits, 3 runs, and 3 RBI in the effort.

“The game went back and forth the rest of the way, as Southfield and NCDS bats matched each other at every turn. Co-captain M. Rocha ’12 (1-0, 6 Ks) pitched six strong innings for the victory. While she faced a couple tough innings, she always stayed one step ahead. Her moment of truth came in the bottom of the sixth inning, with bases loaded and NCDS winning by only one run. Rocha ’12 dug deep and retired the next batter to preserve the lead. M. Kelly ’12 then came on in the bottom of the seventh to close out the game and pick up the save.

“While the team recorded 15 hits, the margin of victory in the game ended up coming from an unlikely source of power. Second baseman L. Richmond ’12 (2-6), known for her solid contact and blistering speed, recorded the first home run of her high school career in the top of the sixth inning. After working the count to her favor, Richmond ’12 stroked a 3-1 offering to deep right-center field and never looked back.

The win was a true team effort, as starters and reserves alike chipped in. Third baseman A. Hawkins ’15 reached base in all five plate appearances, recording 2 hits and 4 RBI. Outfielder L. Hurley ’13 and second baseman J. Turnbull ’14 (2 RBI) both came up big, providing clutch pinch hits to start crucial rallies.”

May Red Sox Nation enjoy such excitement at the Centennial Opening Day of Fenway Park.