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Senior Zach Skowronek had four goals and an assist to lead Algonquin (4-5) to a 9-8 win over Westfield in a non-league game on Tuesday.

Senior Zach Skowronek had four goals and an assist to lead Algonquin (4-5) to a 9-8 win over Westfield in a non-league game on Tuesday.

Matt Cannon added three goals and an assist while sophomore Jonah Whitt made 18 saves in net as Algonquin held a 5-1 halftime lead and then hung on for the victory.

It was a huge win, Algonquin coach Matt Nofsinger said. We went into it with a playoff mentality, that it was a must-win for us, and the kids responded and stepped up to the challenge.

Westfield, I feel, is one of the top Western Mass. teams. It was a double-overtime win (we had over them) last year and we knew it was going to be a tough game and it was but we were able to hold them off.

After the Tomahawks held a 7-4 lead over Acton-Boxborough on Sunday and lost 12-8, Algonquin was happy to not see leads in two straight games slip away.

We just had to continue to play a full 48 minutes and string it all together, Nofsinger said. But we still have a lot of work to do.

Algonquin travels to Shrewsbury Thursday for a 4 p.m. start.

MARLBOROUGH 12, LUNENBURG 4: Tyler Adkins scored three goals and added an assist as Marlborough (4-4) defeated Lunenburg.

Dominic Carter added a goal and five assists and Dan Hayward scored two goals.

Evan Doherty added two goals and an assist.

NATICK 12, BROOKLINE 2: Freshman Isaac Tolino had three goals as Natick (7-2, 4-2 BSC) defeated Bay State Conference opponent Brookline.

Senior Colin Montgomery had three goals and one assists while classmate Billy Tinney tallied two goals and one assist for the Redhawks.

Natick plays at Braintree on Thursday (4 p.m.).

FRAMINGHAM 16, NORWOOD 5: Junior James Ross tallied two goals and five assists to lead Framingham (6-4, 3-2 BSC) to victory over Bay State Conference foe Norwood.

Junior Joe McHugh scored four goals and senior Owen Parker notched two goals and two assists in the win.

Framingham travels to Walpole on Thursday at 4 p.m.

WELLESLEY 17, BRAINTREE 3: Mike Bomes and Chris Aitken tallied four goal apiece for the Raiders as Wellesley (7-3, 5-1 BSC) cruised past Braintree in a Bay State Conference matchup.

The Raiders led 7-0 after one and 13-1 at halftime.

Just a terrific start for the Raiders today, Wellesley coach Rocky Batty said. Grant Chryssicas and Kiras Persky went undefeated on faceoffs, and that led to lots of offense. Honestly, we just shot really well. Period.

Brennan Conroy added three goals and an assist for the Raiders while Joe Flaherty and Bobby Leonhardt played well on defense.

Wellesley hosts Newton North on Thursday at 4 p.m.

HOPKINTON 19, BELLINGHAM 1: Dylan McBride scored three goals and Kierin Herr had a goal and two assists as Hopkinton (8-2, 4-2 TVL) romped past visiting Bellingham (0-10) in a Tri-Valley League meet.

Matt Lawrence scored twice, goalie Corey Bannon made six saves, and Ryan Kelleher scored his first varsity goal for the Hillers, who led 17-1 at the half.

Hopkinton hosts Ashland Friday in a TVL game.

HOPEDALE 16, NORTHBRIDGE 8: Junior Jake Wollensak tallied eight goals, two assists, and 11 face-off wins to lead Hopedale (9-1, 4-1 MMC) to victory over Mid-Mass Conference rival Northbridge.

Senior J.D. Waswill scored three goals and freshman Blake Moxim added two goals in the win.

Hopedale junior goalie Dan Hollis made 21 saves to help secure the win.

Hopedale plays Valley Tech in an MMC battle on Thursday at 4 p.m.

WAYLAND 14, CAMBRIDGE R&L 3: Junior Ben Travis had four goals and two assists as Wayland (7-2, 1-0 DCL) rolled in a Dual County League victory over Cambridge Rindge & Latin.

Wayland led 6-0 after one quarter and 9-0 at the half.

Sophomore Michael Lampert had two goals and four assists for the Warriors.

Wayland plays at Acton-Boxborough on Thursday at 4 p.m.

VALLEY TECH 9, AUBURN 2: Senior Stefan Sadlon scored three goals to lead Valley Tech (7-2) to victory over Auburn in a non-league game.

Junior Reece Hendriks tallied four assists while classmate Chris Lonergan added two goals and one assist for the Beavers.

Junior Connor Polymeros scored two goals in the win.

Valley Tech travels to play Hopedale on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

It will be a tough game, Valley Tech coach Andrew Barksdale said of Thursdays contest. But if we stick to out game we should be fine.

WESTWOOD 15, HOLLISTON 5: Senior Mike Alibrandi scored two goals and added an assist as Holliston (3-8, 1-6 TVL) fell to Westwood in a Tri-Valley League contest.

Freshman Seth Bello came off the bench and had a goal and two assists for the Panthers.

Junior Will Celorier made 18 saves in net for Holliston.

The Panthers host Ashland on Monday.

Read more:
Boys Lacrosse: Algonquin holds on against Westfield - Milford Daily News

FrontPage Magazine

of LA Black Population Thinks New Riots Likely FrontPage Magazine Actually, blacks have been rioting around the country since around 2010,; thanks Obama. This is documented in at least two of Colin Flaherty's books-'Whte Girl Bleed a Lot' and 'Don't Make the Black Kids Angry'..The mainstream media tends to not report ... and more »

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of LA Black Population Thinks New Riots Likely - FrontPage Magazine

Cameron Dau

The Spirit Lake boys golf team welcomed the best golfers from around the Lakes Area to Brooks Golf Club Saturday, as the Indians hosted the Iowa Great Lakes Golf Tournament.

Spencer earned the team title with a combined round of 314.

The Tigers were followed by Estherville Lincoln Central (321), Okoboji (346), Spirit Lake (352), Emmetsburg (353), Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire (364) and Martin County West (385).

Seth Feller

Emmetsburg's Hunter Mcallister carded the low individual round of the tournament, entering the clubhouse after 18 holes with a score of 72.

Spencer's Ezra Meyer and Martin Co. West's Dawson Weber carded matching rounds of 74.

ELC teammates Jacob Bosch and Trey Jacobson finished with rounds of 75 and 79, respectively.

Brady Olson

Spencer's Colin Slattery, Chase Hough and Eric Beetler each carded rounds of 80.

Spirit Lake's Jac Radcliffe and Cameron Dau each carded rounds of 83. Ryer Donkersloot shot a 92. Dillon VanderWilt shot a 94. Ben Heitritter shot a 102 and Blake Johnson shot a 103 for the Indians.

Okoboji's Nik Mankle carded his team's low round of 84. Ian Brandt shot an 85. Sean Greiner carded an 88. Jamison Helmers carded an 89. Michael Allen shot a 90 and Seth Feller carded a 93 for the Pioneers.

GT/RA's Noah Flaherty carded his team's low round of 87. Brady Olson carded an 89. Tyson Kruse carded a 90. Treyton Cacek carded a 98. Josh Petrich carded a 100 and Brady Rosacker shot a 110 for the Titans.

Read more:
Spirit Lake boys host Iowa Great Lakes Golf Tournament - Dickinson County News

Joe Serpa (left) and Coltrane Leport hike out, sailing against Sharon. Ralph Stewart

Vineyard skipper Mary Murano (left) holds the boom, while crew Maggie Mayhew grips a jib sheet, slowing down to secure a good starting position. Ralph Stewart

Joe Serpa (left) and Colin Henke sail upwind after the start during a scrimmage with Barnstable. Ralph Stewart

Vineyard (white and green sails) and Lincoln Sudbury boats jockey for position at the leeward mark offset. Ralph Stewart

Vineyard (white and red sails) and Sharon boats come to the windward mark. Ralph Stewart

Patrick Flaherty and Elizabeth O' Brien execute a roll tack prior to the start of a race against Lincoln Sudbury. Ralph Stewart

The Vineyard sailors raced in home waters for the first time this season, hosting a high school quad meet against Lincoln Sudbury, Sharon, and Barnstable, on Monday afternoon on Lagoon Pond.

The Vineyarders forged a split in the two best-of-five series that counted, edging Lincoln Sudbury 3-2 but falling to Sharon 3-0. MV started the day by scrimmaging Barnstable, gaining valuable experience against a solid opponent.

The weather was warm and pleasant throughout, with varying cloud cover and a 5- to 15-knot breeze blowing in from the west/southwest with 20 shifts.

The teams raced a digital n course, starting just off the Sail Marthas Vineyard boathouse beach near Sailing Camp in Oak Bluffs, heading south to the windward mark and offset, continuing northwest to the leeward mark and offset, and finishing due south on the Vineyard Haven side of the Lagoon.

For the scrimmage with Barnstable and the Lincoln Sudbury series, Vineyard Coach Andrew Burr sent out skipper/crew combinations of senior Mary Murano and junior Maggie Mayhew, freshman Joe Serpa and junior Coltrane Leport, and freshman Patrick Flaherty with junior Elizabeth OBrien. Freshmen Abigail Hammerlund and Taylor Trudel, along with sophomore Colin Henke, also saw action in the scrimmage races.

The young Vineyarders performed well against Barnstable. They were even better against Lincoln Sudbury, a respected program with decades of high school sailing experience.

The Vineyarders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, placing 1-2-4 in the first race and 2-3-5 in second. The Warriors fought back to tie the series at 2-2. In the decisive fifth race, Lincoln Sudbury took first place, but the Vineyarders held down the 2-3-4 spots to win 12-9 on points and take the series.

After a tough two weeks sailing away from home against several of the top programs in New England, prep school powerhouses Portsmouth Abbey and St. Georges among them, the hard-fought win over Lincoln Sudbury was most welcome.

The Vineyarders closed out the day against a top-level Sharon Eagles team. Coach Burr made one change in his lineup, pairing senior Auguste Pisano at skipper with Maggie Mayhew on crew.

Joe Serpa and Coltrane Leport ran away with first place in the second race, but the Eagles grabbed places 2-3-4 to win 12-9 on points.

The hosts were in each race to the end, but lacked the aggressiveness and team racing savvy required to pull out a win against an accomplished and experienced opponent.

My biggest thing to them, Coach Burr said, I always say, Id rather see you attack and go into the team racing play and fail than not to have done it and watch someone else beat us because we were too nervous to do what the sport is, which is to go on the attack.

Heading into the heart of their Cape and Island League schedule, the Vineyarders, who defeated Falmouth earlier this season, stand at a misleading 2-10. They are a young team with great promise that continues to improve with each race.

As far as our team goes, the combinations of Patrick [Flaherty] and Elizabeth [OBrien], Joe [Serpa] and Coltrane [Leport] are really impressive, Coach Burr said. Each time I see them, they get better and better.

Im really pleased with where we are right now. Watching Joe and Coltrane, they crushed it. It was so good to always see them in the top two spots in the first part [versus Lincoln Sudbury]. Whereas, in the earlier piece of the season, we werent necessarily in the races, we were just trying to manage; we were fully in these races. The culmination of the day was when we sailed Sharon at the end. We were always in a position to execute a team racing play and convert to a winning combo, but failed to engage, and Sharon did. They were the ones who had the team racing experience, and that experience showed.

The Vineyarders will compete this weekend in the ODay fleet racing qualifiers at Tabor Academy in Marion before sailing at Barnstable on Monday. The next home meet is against Sandwich on Tuesday at 3 pm.

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Vineyard sailors earn split in first home meet - Martha's Vineyard Times

David Flaherty has more than 20 years experience in the hospitality industry and is the marketing director for the Washington State Wine Commission. This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of Nations Restaurant News.

Beverage sales are one of the most lucrative revenue-generators for any restaurant.

A well-managed wine program in particular can mean the difference between financial success and failure. Like driving a fine-tuned Ferrari, mastering the wine list is a skill that takes years to develop and decades to master. For those who can present a wine selection that is accessible, adjusts to guests desires, mirrors what the chef is doing on the plate and meets financial goals, success means job stability.

Many wine programs may seem esoteric or daunting at first glance, but good ones offer value to patrons and excitement for the staff, and create a consistent and reliable revenue source

In general terms, 30 percent of the business could, and should, come from alcohol. The high margins can generate significant bottom-line dollars, said Colin Thoreen, wine director at Ai Fiori in New York City. If you consider larger wine programs that draw over $1 million a year, and that have a cost of 30 percent, they are dropping $700,000 to the bottom line.

Thoreen has been running the wine program with nearly 1,500 selections for five years. His advice? Once you have a solid idea of the mission statement, stick with it and find wines that fit your goals instead of allowing distributors to push their agenda on you.

Understanding your clientele is essential. Are they locals? Tourists? Business people dining on expense accounts? That information, along with your goals, need to be rolled up in offerings that also pair beautifully with the food.

If your list does not fit your cuisine, or is managed by someone who doesn't have insight into what people want to drink in that particular establishment, youre losing opportunities to sell, said Amanda Reed, beverage director at Heartwood Provisions in Seattle.

Reed diligently watches which wines sell and what type of selections her guests are asking for, and that informs her buying.

I've observed wine directors and sommeliers that create lists that reflect their personal tastes, but not necessarily their guests tastes, Reed said. It's important to keep the list well rounded, so there is something for everyone. And Im fortunate to work in a place that is a little more experimental as far as food and concept go, so people come in craving an adventure. That gives me some flexibility when it comes to off-the-beaten-path selections.

Smart wine pricing is both a science and an art.

The industry, in general, has a three-time markup on wines, Thoreen said. But additionally, I make sure there are Easter eggs in every single section of the wine list that are just above cost, as this rewards the wine-savvy who appreciate and/or understand wine. And for a bottle of wine meant to impress, I may price those at an even higher markup.

For wines or regions that I personally love, those are some of my lowest markups, as I want people to take a chance on them, he added.

For the by-the-glass offerings, where much of the volume happens, great care needs to be taken with pricing.

Most wines by the glass are priced in line with the bottle cost, Reed said. So a $10 bottle at cost will be offered for $10 a glass.

However, if a wine Reed wants to sell by the glass costs more than $20, shell decrease the markup percentage to help it move.

Thoreen agreed that operators need to pay attention to the math when offering wines by the glass.

This category should make up at least 20 percent of your overall wines sales and run a cost of or below 23 percent, he said. You will not have a successful program, and ultimately business, if you cant achieve this.

Negotiating with distributors is also a needed skill, for there are often deals to be had by buying in larger quantity or guaranteeing the wine will be featured on the by-the-glass list for a set period of time.

Reed has found the most success on her by-the-glass wine sales by listing the grape variety next to the wine to help customers understand their options.

Thoreen said its important to remember that the wine list is not about you.

I think the biggest surprise for most, and one that is often overlooked, is the need to get out of your own way, he said. Its not about your personal preferences; its about what the clients are demanding, and the sustainability of the business.

Reed agreed.

Don't splurge on wines that don't move, she said. Even if they are iconic and fun to represent on your list, they don't always have a place in your restaurant.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, a successful wine director will ensure their staff is well versed in the layout of the list and its focus.

Train, train, train, Thoreen said. Training your staff is the lynchpin of a successful program, and getting them excited is so important. Clients appreciate staff that are confident in what they are selling, so I encourage monthly classes that give them a foundation of wine and spirits to pull from.

David Flaherty has more than 20 years experience in the hospitality industry. He is a certified cicerone and a former operations manager and beer and spirits director for Hearth restaurant and the Terroir wine bars in New York City. He is currently marketing director for the Washington State Wine Commission and writes about wine, beer and spirits in his blog,Grapes and Grains.

Read more here:
Successful wine lists focus on the customer - Nation's Restaurant News