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When the request came across a direct message on Ryan Crookhams Instagram account, he didnt hesitate to say yes.

It was a no-brainer, he said.

The request was an invitation to wrestle in FLOWrestlings annual Whos Number 1 (WNO) preseason classic.

Crookham, a junior at Notre Dame, will be joined by Northampton senior Jagger Condomitti in the eighth annual event, to be wrestled Oct. 3 in Austin, Tex.

Crookham, a two-time PIAA 2A champion, will wrestle Wyoming Seminary junior Nic Bouzakis, a National Prep champion, at 132 pounds, while Condomitti, a two-time PIAA 3A medalist and 2020 runner-up, will take on Brecksville (Ohio)s Victor Voinovich, an Ohio state champion, at 152 pounds.

For Condomitti, a Nebraska commit, his selection fulfills a longtime dream.

I have been to all of the WNOs except last year, he said. When I went to WNO at Lehigh (in Grace Hall) it just seemed like another level of high school wrestling, at the next level. I wasnt sure Id ever get the chance to wrestle in it but then it all kind of fell into place.

It surely did for Crookham as well, whose matchup with Bouzakis is a real No. 1 v. No. 2. They ended their sophomore seasons ranked No. 1 (Bouzakis) and No. 2 by Intermat at 126 pounds -- the sole difference being a 4-3 decision by Bouzakis over Crookham in the final at the Walsh Jesuit Ironman Tournament.

I have been looking forward to that matchup for almost a year now, said Crookham, who went 51-1 as a sophomore. Thats the one guy I have had on my mind.

Crookham leads the overall series with Bouzakis, a Florida native, 2-1, having won a couple of freestyle bouts. But the Ironman bout still stings.

It was 2-2 heading into the third period, Crookham said. I was riding on top and they called him for stalling so I was winning 3-2. With 15 seconds left he got to his feet, and reversed me, you could call it a buzzer-beater. I have not forgotten that at all. Hes really strong and uses his strength a lot in his wrestling.

Condomitti doesnt have a history with Voinovich, an Oklahoma State recruit who was ranked No. at 145 for a while last season by Intermat. The season ended with Voinovich ranked No. 7 and Condomitti (39-4 as a junior) ranked No. 11 by Intemat.

Victor and I were in the same bracket at the Beast of the East, but we didnt wrestle, Condomitti said. I have wrestled him a little in practice two years at a camp at Cornell, we drilled a little. We have some common opponents. He wrestled at WNO last year (where he pinned Jesse Vasquez of California).

Condomitti said he was originally set to wrestle another opponent before the organizers changed to Voinovich.

It doesnt matter to me, he said.

Training during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge even for top wrestlers like these two.

I havent been working on anything specific in my training, Condomitti said. I was working out in my house with my brother (Bug, a Northampton sophomore) and sometimes working out with (coach Jeff) Buxton and guys from the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club. It was wrestling, and (weight)lifting, wrestling and lifting. Only in the last couple of days have I been getting back to regular practices.

Crookham said he has been working on his conditioning.

I want to be able to put a pace on my opponents, not just technique them but be able to wear them down, he said. I have been training non-stop; in fact, I was overtrained. I wasnt able to wrestle any real matches.

Bouzakis will be a real good match, and maybe even a present of sorts for Crookham.

My birthday is the day before WNO, he said. I always had in my mind that I could wrestle at WNO, and I always dreamed of myself on that stage, getting my hand raised.

Whos Number One? Full Lineup

(in match order)

138 pounds: Shayne Van Ness (Blair Academy) v. Jordan Williams (Collinsville, Okla.)

138: Joel Vandervere (Warren Twp., Ill.) v. Jesse Mendez (Crown Point, Ind.)

126: Jordan Titus (Center Moriches, N.Y.) v. Dean Peterson (St. John Vianney)

152: Victor Voinovich (Brecksville, Ohio) v. Jagger Condomitti (Northampton)

285: Kyonte Hamilton (Georgetown Prep, Md.) v. Chase Horne (West Laurens, Ga.)

220: Kyle Haas (Maize, Kan.) vs Nick Feldman (Malvern Prep)

145: Cody Chittum (Blair Academy) v. Wyatt Henson (Waynesburg Central)

195: Seth Shumate (Dublin Coffman, Ohio) v. Tate Picklo (Mustang, Okla.)

73 kg (women): Kennedy Blades (Wyoming Seminary) v. Amit Elor (College Park-Pleasant Hill, Calif.)

132: Nic Bouzakis (Wyoming Seminary) v. Ryan Crookham (Notre Dame)

160: Paddy Gallagher (St. Edwards, Ohio) v. Travis Mastrogiovanni (Blair Academy)

120: Richie Figueroa (Selma, Calif.) v. Drake Ayala (Fort Dodge, Iowa)

170: Alex Facundo (Davison, Mich.) v. Cael Valencia (St. John Bosco, Calif.)

138: Van Ness/Williams winner v. Vandervere/Mendez winner

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Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com.

Read more from the original source:
Whos No. 1? Could be Crookham and Condomitti - lehighvalleylive.com

The Evanston Legion AA baseball team continued to roll through their conference schedule last week, sweeping home doubleheaders against Rock Springs and Casper to remain at the top of the AA West standings.

The Outlaws welcomed Rock Springs to Ross Kesterson Field for a day/night doubleheader Wednesday, routing the Sandpuppies 16-3 in the opener, and holding off a late charge in game two to win 12-9.

Saturdays twin bill against the defending state champ Casper Oilers gave Outlaws fans all the action they could handle, with the home team coming out on the right side of a pair of nail biters, 6-5 and 8-7.

The boys knew they had a job to do, and they did it, said Outlaws manager Chad Thompson. In the end, thats what counts.

Evanston is now 26-18 on the season 9-1 in conference play with one week remaining before the start of the state tournament. The Outlaws will close out the regular season this weekend with a three-game series in Jackson; two of those will be conference games.

Were just going to work on our normal stuff that we do this week, Thompson said. Well keep plugging away were always trying to get better at individual stuff, and well go from there.

Outlaws 6, Casper 5

The Outlaws have had Caspers number this season, winning the first three meetings of the two teams by a healthy margin in each.

But it was a different team that took the field against Evanston Saturday the defending state champs began to play like it, battling back from a four-run deficit to give the Outlaws a scare before losing 6-5.

Defensively, we played really well, Thompson said of the Outlaws. We put a few runs up, and were able to play good defense. Even though they [Casper] tried to creep back in, we were able to shut it down.

Casper got on the board first, and led 1-0 after the first inning. The Outlaws tied the game in the bottom of the second Casey Periman led the inning off with a double, then scored on a long sacrifice fly by Brenden Thompson (the team leader in RBIs with 48) to bring the game back to even at 1-1.

Evanston increased its lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third a double by Conner Peterson and a single by Ryan Fisher set the table, with Peterson eventually scoring on a wild pitch; Fisher followed suit, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Jagger Mitchell to make it 3-1.

The Oilers cut the lead to 3-2 with a run in the top of the fourth; the Outlaws answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by back-to-back singles by Periman and Reid Gross and an RBI single by Peterson to make it 6-2.

Casper buckled down with a run in the top of the fifth and two runs in the top of the seventh, while holding the Outlaws scoreless in both innings. But with one out, bases loaded and the go-ahead run standing on second, Fisher on the mound in relief for starter Gus Allred got Caspers hitter to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game. It was the second double play the Outlaws turned during the 6-5 win.

Those were both very timely double plays, Thompson said. Our middle infield plays really well together they always seem to know what the other is going to do before it happens, so that chemistry is good.

Lefty Gus Allred pitched a gem in his seventh win of the season, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and striking out nine in five innings of work.

My arm is feeling great, Allred said. I feel like Im starting to get to the point where I can pitch full games, and have finally started to get back into starting games effectively on the mound.

Fisher picked up the save, giving up two earned runs on two hits, striking out three.

Peterson and Periman combined for four of the Outlaws six hits Peterson was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Periman went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.

Fisher (1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored) and Gross (1-for-2 with a run scored) rounded out the hitting; Gross also had the Outlaws lone stolen base.

Outlaws 8, Casper 7

The nightcap of Saturdays twin bill got off to a rough start for the home team still stinging from the previous games end, the Oilers took out their frustrations on Evanston starter Clayton Moyles, plating five runs in the opening frame.

That first inning, Clayton was just struggling to hit his spots, coach Thompson said. Thats baseball, it happens. They [Casper] put five up, and it was catch-up time from there.

The Outlaws cut Caspers lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the first, behind an RBI single by Gus Allred. Moyles shook off his disastrous first inning to throw well in the second the lefthander struck out the first two batters he faced to hold the Oilers scoreless.

Casper increased its lead to 6-1 with a run in the top of the fourth; the Outlaws answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame, when Reid Gross crossed the plate to make it 6-2.

The Oilers added one more run in the top of the sixth to push their lead to 7-2. Quiet for most of the game, the Outlaws bats awoke in the bottom of the sixth back-to-back singles by Ryan Fisher and Hank Allred set the table, with Fisher scoring on an error a short time later. A sacrifice fly by Gus Allred scored brother Hank and Jagger Mitchell to cut Caspers lead to 7-4; a two-run triple off the bat of Brenden Thompson scored Casey Periman and Reid Gross, and tied the game at 7-7 heading into the final frame.

He [Brenden] just went with the pitch, and laced it down the right field line, coach Thompson said. We were able to score the two runners on base I was trying to hold Reid [Gross] at third, but he wasnt listening.

After a three-up, three-down top of the seventh by the Oilers, the Outlaws went into the bottom of the seventh with a chance to win the game.

With Fisher on board with a single, Hank Allred reached first after getting hit by a pitch. An errant throw by Caspers catcher in an attempt to pick Hank off at first gave Fisher all the space he needed to score the game winner and send the Oilers home with an 8-7 loss.

The guys didnt get down on themselves, and they kept scratching and clawing, Thompson said. In the end, we put ourselves in a position to win, and we were able to.

Mitchell picked up the win in relief, giving up two unearned runs on no hits, striking out six in four and two-thirds innings. Moyles went two and a third innings, giving up five earned runs on seven hits, and striking out four.

Gus Allred led the charge at the plate for the Outlaws, going 2-for-2 with 3 RBIs.

Those wins against Casper were huge for us, Allred said. We knew we had to get those wins to help set the tone for state, and we were able to pull away with the victories in both games.

Fisher also had a two-hit game, scoring twice; Hank Allred, Gross and Thompson rounded out the offense with a hit apiece, including a two-run triple by Thompson.

Outlaws 16,

Rock Springs 3

Evanston put on a hitting display in the opener of a twin bill against Rock Springs Wednesday the Outlaws pounded out 13 hits in a 16-3 rout of the Sandpuppies.

Ryan Fisher led the charge at the plate for the home team, going 4-for-4 with a double, 3 runs scored and 3 RBIs; his .398 batting average leads the team.

We moved some guys around in the lineup, and moved Ryan up to the one spot, and he performed great, Thompson said. When your leadoff is 4-for-4, youre having yourself a good day.

Casey Periman also had a day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and 2 RBIs; Reid Gross and Jordan Schneider both went 2-for-3, with 3 RBIs from Gross and two from Schneider. Jagger Mitchell (2 RBIs) and Gus Allred rounded out the hitting with one apiece.

Allred picked up the win on the mound for the Outlaws, giving up one run on three hits and striking out one in two and two-thirds innings of relief. Starter Clayton Moyles pitched two and a third innings, giving up two runs on five hits, striking out one.

Outlaws 12,

Rock Springs 9

Game two of Wednesdays doubleheader was a bit more competitive, as is usually the case when the Outlaws and Sandpuppies square off.

Evanston picked up right where they left off, plating five runs in the bottom of the first. The scoring charge was highlighted by a two-run home run by Clayton Moyles, his first of the season.

Funny story we had a steal on for that particular pitch, coach Thompson said, laughing. Clayton wasnt even supposed to swing. So he swung, and I got a little angry. But then it went over the fence, and I wasnt angry anymore. I guess he thought it was a hit-and-run, maybe.

The Outlaws scored a run in the second and two in the third, highlighted by an RBI double by Casey Periman and an RBI by Reid Gross on a fielders choice. Down 8-2 in the top of the fourth, Rock Springs plated four runs to cut the lead to 8-6; they cut the lead to one with a run in the top of the fifth to make it 8-7.

The Outlaws answered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth, led by a two-run double from Gus Allred. Rock Springs would score twice more, but thats as close as the Sandpuppies would get, falling 12-9.

Evanston scattered nine hits over seven innings, led by Allred, who finished 3-for-4 with a double, 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Moyles had a homer and 2 RBIs, Periman had an RBI double and Fisher, Mitchell and Brenden Thompson had a hit apiece, with RBIs from Fisher and Thompson.

Caysen Smith picked up the win on the bump for the Outlaws, giving up nine runs on nine hits (six earned) and striking out four in six and a third innings.

Caysen Smith pitched fantastic, Thompson said. There were nine runs on the board, but I wouldnt give very many of those to him. Our defense let him down a little bit, at times.

Derek MacDonald pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief, with no hits and no runs.

Original post:
Outlaws on verge of conference title - Uinta County Herald

TURNERS FALLS Standing in front of his peers, who wore masks and were seated in chairs spaced 6 feet apart, Turners Falls High School graduate Anthony Peterson said he may have been disappointed with how his senior year turned out, but he wasnt discouraged.

Being disappointed is one thing, and being discouraged is something else, Peterson said, quoting playwright Tennessee Williams. On March 13, our senior year came to an end. We werent going to have the typical ending that previous graduating classes had, and for that, I am disappointed.

At the graduation ceremony on Friday evening, the senior class president told his peers they shouldnt be discouraged either.

I want to celebrate what we accomplished, he said.

Seated in the chairs before him, there was an Eagle Scout, he said. There were actors and actresses, National Honor Society students, acclaimed athletes and state champions.

Every single member of the 2020 class should be proud of what we accomplished here at Turners Falls High School, Peterson said.

Fridays commencement began at 6 p.m. on the Turners Falls High School football field. Chairs on the field were spaced 6 feet apart, and bleachers were also marked to allow for social distancing between guests. In accordance with the state mandates as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone was expected to wear a facial covering.

I think it was worth the wait to hold (the ceremony) this way, said Salutatorian Brody Trott, acknowledging modified commencement ceremonies in other towns.

He reflected on his first year as a student, 12 years ago.

Graduation seemed so far away, Trott said. Its hard to believe we are already here.

Outgoing Superintendent Michael Sullivan congratulated the students on Friday, many of whom he had been in the Gill-Montague Regional School District with since they were in fifth grade.

Youve distinguished yourselves not just for your academic accomplishments, but also for your achievements in athletics and citizenship, Sullivan said. You are known to be a class of integrity and kindness.

He also thanked the students for their perseverance, resilience and maturity during the usual end to the school year.

You adjusted well to the remote learning situation, and you made the best of losing out on so many of the events that make the last semester of high school memorable and enjoyable, Sullivan said.

The occasion, Sullivan said, served for him to let the students in on a secret.

No one else has the answer to your most challenging questions, he advised. You will need to figure things out for yourself, because more often than not, your wisdom and your instincts and your inner voice will need to be your compass.

If the district has done its job well, he added, students will use the tools theyve been given an analytical mind, a curious heart and a collaborative spirit to find their way in whatever their next step is.

Graduates

Jaeden Anthony Ausikaitis, Spencer Logan Blair, Hailey Elizabeth Bogusz, Cameron Andrew Bradley, Jakob Joseph Burnett, Christina Eliza Caswell, Chelsea Katelyn Curtis, Liam Patrick Driscoll, Kody Andrew Fisher, Karissa Morgan Fleming, Elijah James Forcier, Alexandrea Rose Francis, Jonathon Patrick Fritz, Joshua William Gaulin, Josy Lyn Hunter, Tracey Jay Johnson, Eliza Cate Johnson, Shelby Elizabeth Jordan, Joseph William Kochan, Trevor Jeffrey Lapinski, Zacheria Charles Leighton, Jordan Myles Llewlyn, Korey John Martineau, Zachary Allen Mason, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Miner, Chantelle Makenzie Monaghan, Alyson Kendall Murphy, Brian Patrick Murphy, Anthony Thomas Peterson, Brian Daniel Poirier, Edward Joseph Reipold, Dabney Sinclaire Rollins, Anastasia Romashka, Lyuba Sankova, Jakob Aaron Shearer, Emily Alana Sisson, Journey Leigh Smalls, Lucy Willo Spera, Jaclyn Rene Thibeault, Brody Ira Conrad Trott, Luis Thomas Vinton, Abigail Marie Waite, Allison Joy Wheeler, Lindsay Arden Whiteman, Mackenna Gwen Whiteman, Jaden Christopher Whiting-Martinez, Lorie Lorraine Wood, Kamara Rose Woodard and Lydia Fay Wright.

Most Valuable Players: Boys Basketball Anthony Peterson; Girls Basketball Hailey Bogusz; Basketball and Competition Cheerleading Kaitlyn Miner; Field Hockey Alyson Murphy; Football Liam Driscoll; Football Cheerleading Emily Sisson; Golf Brian Poirier; Boys Soccer Jakob Burnett; Boys Swimming Cameron Bradley; Girls Swimming Allison Wheeler; Volleyball Hailey Bogusz.

Academic and Service Awards: Excellence In Art Lorie Wood; Excellence in Design Build Kody Fisher and Luis Vinton; Excellence in Film Editing Alyson Murphy; Excellence in Filmmaking Korey Martineau; Excellence in English Abigail Waite; Excellence in French Chantelle Monaghan; Excellence in Latin Korey Martineau; Excellence in Life Science Josy Hunter; Excellence in Maker Lab Elijah Forcier; Excellence in Mathematics Joseph Kochan; Excellence in Physical Education Jaden Whiting Martinez; Excellence in Physical Education Internship Eliza Johnson; Excellence in Physical Science Karissa Fleming; Excellence in Social Studies Josy Hunter.

Presidents Award for Academic Achievement: Abigail Waite, Cameron Bradley, Chantelle Monaghan, Eliza Johnson and Karissa Fleming.

Presidents Award for Academic Excellence: Joseph Kochan, Brody Trott, Dabney Rollins, Josey Hunter and Allison Wheeler.

Society of Women Engineers of Boston: Josy Hunter, Dabney Rollins and Isabelle Farrick.

Turners Falls High School American Citizenship Awards: Kaitlyn Miner, Alyson Murphy, Eliza Johnson and Brian Poirier.

Turners Falls High School Service Award: Kaitlyn Miner.

Ellen T. Wrightson Memorial Award: Anthony Peterson.

Turners Falls High School Class of 2020 Scholastic Merit Awards: Joseph Kochan, Brody Trott, Dabney Rollins, Josy Hunter and Allison Wheeler.

Salutatorian Award: Brody Trott.

Valedictorian Award: Joseph Kochan.

Special Recognition Dual Degrees from Turners Falls High School and Greenfield Community College: Allsion Wheeler.

National Honor Society Members: Josy Hunter, Eliza Johnson, Joseph Kochan, Alyson Murphy, Dabney Rollins, Chantelle Monaghan and Allison Wheeler.

Junior Book Awards: Bay Path College Book Award Audrey OKeefe; Rensselaer Medal Isabelle Farrick; Saint Michaels Book Award Haley Bastarache and Haleigh Greene; Smith College Book Award Mercedes Bailey; Wells College 21st Century Leadership Award Catherine Reynolds; Williams College Book Award Leah Timberlake.

Anna Garbiel Scholarship: Kaitlyn Miner and Brian Boguz.

Athletic Scholarships: Hailey Bogusz, Kaitlyn Miner, Anthony Peterson and Jaden Whiting-Martinez.

Donald Maynard Scholarship: Josy Hunter.

Edward Brown Memorial Scholarship: Anthony Peterson.

Erving Teachers Association Scholarship: Jakob Burnett and Allison Wheeler.

Erving PTO Scholarship: Allison Wheeler.

Ethel Raymond Orcutt Scholarship: Alyson Murphy.

Thomas W. Merrigan Memorial Scholarship: Joseph Kochan.

Friends of Gill: Alyson Murphy.

Gilmond Lamore Memorial Scholarship: Eliza Johnson and Kaitlyn Miner.

Gill-Montague Education Association Scholarship: Alexandrea Francis.

GMEF Enrichment/Scholarship: Joseph Kochan, Kaitlyn Miner and Abigail Waite.

H. Royer Collins Student Athlete Scholarship: Joseph Kochan.

Harriot E. Tidd Memorial Scholarship: Alyson Murphy.

Madeline J. Carlson Scholarship: Hailey Bogusz, Eliza Johnson, Kaitlyn Miner, Anthony Peterson and Emily Sisson.

Massachusetts Elks Scholarship: Alyson Murphy.

Mery OBrien Scholarship: Cameron Bradley, Josy Hunter, Alyson Murphy, Brody Trott, Abigail Waite and Allison Wheeler.

Our Lady of Peace Scholarship: Josy Hunter and Eliza Johnson.

Pioneer Valley Kennel Club: Josy Hunter.

REAM Scholarship: Emily Sisson.

The Recorder Scholarship: Anthony Peterson.

Tobin Scholarship: Kaitlyn Miner.

Turners Falls Athletic Club Scholarships: Hailey Bogusz, Alyson Murphy, Joseph Kochan, Eliza Johnson and Kaitlyn Miner.

Turners Falls High School All-Sports Booster Scholarship: Jackob Burnett and Eliza Johnson.

Turners Falls High School Alumni Scholarship: Emily Sisson.

Turners Falls High School Class of 1957 Bernard Plaza Scholarship: Cameron Bradley.

Turners Falls High School Class of 1962 Scholarship: Josy Hunter, Alyson Murphy and Allison Wheeler.

Turners Falls Class of 1964 Sally Ann Geraghty-Livingston Memorial Scholarship: Brody Trott and Abigail Waite.

Turners Falls High School Student Government Service Scholarship: Kaitlyn Miner and Alyson Murphy.

Wells Trust Fund Scholarships: Hailey Bogusz, Cameron Bradley, Josy Hunter, Eliza Johnson, Joseph Kochan, Kaitlyn Miner, Alyson Murphy, Brody Trott and Abigail Waite.

Womens Club of Turners Falls Scholarship: Hailey Bogusz.

Women of the Moose Chapter 316: Eliza Johnson and Allison Wheeler.

Read more:
Turners Falls High School says goodbye to Class of 2020 - The Recorder

Governor Charlie Baker is expected to meet with Vice President Mike Pence this weekend on Nantucket, where Pence is traveling to attend a fund-raiser for President Trumps reelection campaign, according to the governors aides.

Baker, who said he didnt vote for Trump in 2016 and wouldnt in 2020, is not attending the 30-person lunch fund-raiser on Saturday, according to Bakers office.

But the Swampscott Republican is planning to huddle privately with Pence on the island to discuss the pandemic and how the federal government can support Massachusetts response efforts, a Baker spokeswoman said.

Baker has enjoyed lofty approval ratings for his handling of the novel coronarivus pandemic among Massachusetts residents, who have been deeply critical of Trumps handling of the crisis. The president, sliding in public polling against the presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, has repeatedly downplayed the viruss threat, claiming as recently as Tuesday that it will simply disappear.

A Republican National Committee official told the Globe that the Saturday fund-raiser is expected to raise about $1 million. Tickets for the lunch are $25,000, Politico reported.

Long diplomatic in his critiques of Trump, Baker has in recent months sharply criticized the presidents handling of the multiple crises buffeting the country. After Trump last month derided the nations governors as weak and demanded tougher crackdowns on protesters, Baker gave an unprompted rebuke of what he called the bitterness, combativeness, and self-interest emanating from the White House.

At so many times during these last several weeks, when the country needed compassion and leadership the most, it simply was nowhere to be found, Baker said.

He also criticized Trumps threat to cut federal funding from school districts that dont reopen this fall, calling it inappropriate for the feds to think about this as a one-size-fits-all. And early in the pandemic, Baker repeatedly vented when the Trump administration undercut the states efforts to track down badly needed personal protective equipment, including to Trump directly on a conference call.

Were a lot more interested in the work than in the noise, Baker said at a mid-April press conference after Trump claimed governors were staging a mutiny by forming pacts to coordinate reopenings, as Baker and six others had done.

Baker, however, has had a seemingly warmer connection with Pence, a former Indiana governor whose time in Indianapolis overlapped with Bakers first term in office.

The two had a joking exchange during a National Governors Association meeting last year, and Baker in August greeted Pence at the airport on Nantucket, when the vice president attended a similar fund-raiser for the Republican National Committee and Trumps campaign.

Baker did not attend last years fund-raiser, either, the governors aides said at the time. But the two met to discuss the stalled Vineyard Wind project and the trade deal the Trump administration had negotiated with Mexico and Canada.

Matt Stout can be reached at matt.stout@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @mattpstout

Original post:
Baker, Pence to meet on Nantucket this weekend - The Boston Globe

Bovay, a friend and associate of Greeley, had moved to Ripon a few years before he called the 1854 meeting. A veteran organizer who had led militant movements for land reform with the slogan, Vote Yourself a Farm Bovay had long advocated for the formation of an independent political movement with the purpose of gaining control of legislatures and the Congress in order to enact radical reforms.

At Bovays urging, Greeley popularized the new party, which drew in partisans from many political camps who were united in their opposition to the spread of slavery. Among the first Republicans were many allies and associates of socialist causes, including Joseph Weydemeyer, a former Prussian Army officer who would continue to correspond with Marx as he rose through the ranks as a military officer during the Civil War.

Decades after the founding of the new party, the great trade unionist and Socialist Party leader Eugene Victor Debs would reflect on the history in his speeches. Though he dismissed both major parties of the early 20th century as wings of the same bird of prey, Debs allowed as how, the Republican Party was once red.

There may have been a measure of hyperbole in that remark. But the fact is that the Republican Party that was founded in Ripon included plenty of people whose familiarity with radical ideas would alarm Mike Pence.

John Nichols is the associate editor of The Capital Times and the author of "The S Word: A Short History of an American Tradition Socialism" (Verso); as well as the new book, "The Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party: The Enduring Legacy of Henry Wallace's Anti-Fascist, Anti-Racist Politics" (Verso).

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John Nichols: Someone forgot to tell Mike Pence that the first Republicans were radicals - Madison.com