Several High School athletes from all over Cape Ann will be playing their final high school sports contests before moving on to college in this week's Agganis All Star Classics. The Agganis All Star Classics pit the best players from all around the North Shore in seven different sports, as lacrosse was added to the games for the first time this summer.
This week 10 Cape Ann Athletes from four different sports will be competing with the best the North Shore has to offer.
Manchester Essex senior baseball stars Matt Corwin and Adrian Frattini will be participating in the 18th Annual Agganis All Star Baseball Classic Wednesday at Fraser Field in Lynn (7:15 p.m.) on the North Squad. Both All Stars were amongst the top contributors to this springs Hornets squad that won a state tournament game for the first time in three decades.
Frattini was a key member of the starting rotation and gave them a solid bat in the middle of the lineup, he continues his strong season on the diamond pitching for Post 3, Gloucester's American Legion Baseball team. Corwin, a Cape Ann League All Star on the diamond this spring, was in invaluable piece to the team in the middle infield and a table setter for the offense at the top of the batting order.
One night later at Lynn Classical High School, five locals will be participating in the 8th Annual Men's and Women's All Star Basketball Classics at Lynn Classical High School (6:00 p.m., women, 7:30 p.m., men).
In the men's game a pair of Cape Ann League All Stars will be playing together on the hardwood for the final time after stellar 2012 seasons. Manchester Essex stars Chris Bishop, the CAL Division 3 MVP, and Sean Nally will be playing for the North Squad Wednesday night.
Bishop's senior season at Manchester Essex was nothing short of spectacular averaging more than 20 points for game and leading his team to an 18-2 record and a Cape Ann League title. Bishop's combination of speed, athleticism and a strong jump shot to go along with stellar play on the defensive end made him an easy choice for the MVP of CAL Division 3 this winter.
The lightning quick Nally was essentially the team's quarterback running the point and making the Hornets offense go. A three year starter, Nally was a threat in multiple facets of the game as he was just as dangerous passing the basketball as he is shooting it.
In the women's game Gloucester's latest 1,000 point scorer Audrey Knowlton, who will be attending New York Institute of Technology on a basketball scholarshop, is playing for the South Squad. The sweet shooting Knowlton helped lead the Fishermen to the second round of the tournament for the second straight season averaging just over 15 points per game.
Three Manchester Essex standouts will be opposing Knowlton on the North squad in Leanne Ciccone, a strong rebounder and offensive post presence, Julissa O'Hara a stellar point guard with a high basketball IQ, and Jess Crossen, a defensive stopper.
Rounding out the All Star games on Friday is a trio of locals playing in the 51st Annual Football Classic.
2012 Gloucester Daily Time Gloucester male athlete of the year Kyle Lucido will be finishing off his football career amongst the best on the South Squad. Lucido was Mr. Everything for the Fishermen this fall leading the team in rushing and receiving while establishing himself as a bona fide workhorse back.
On the North Squad is Manchester Essex lineman David Wright and St. John's Prep lineman Shane Normand, a Gloucester native. Wright was a fierce offensive tackle and a feared defensive end anchoring the Hornets biggest strength this fall, their line. Normand, on the other hand, is a book end tackle for St. John's Prep playing regularly against the best teams in the state out of the Catholic Conference.
