UML’S Fowler to attend New Jersey camp
His shirt soaked with sweat, his face covered in perspiration, Owen Fowler walked outside the Umass Lowell locker room Monday morning following a workout.
He’s excited about the 2023-24 season. First, though, is a special opportunity this summer.
Fowler, a sophomore-to-be from Tewksbury, has been invited by the New Jersey Devils to attend their development camp next month.
“It will be nice to see how I stack up to some of their top prospects and draft picks,” Fowler said.
Fowler is not the only River Hawk skater headed to an NHL camp this summer.
He will be joined by goaltenders Henry Welsch (Minnesota) and Luke Pavicich (Detroit), defensemen Ben Meehan (Los Angeles) and Brehdan Engum (San Jose), and forward Dillan Bentley (Tampa Bay).
Pavicich is a transfer from Umass.
Meehan was drafted by the Kings. The other five UML players are all undrafted free agents. As long as they are not injured, which has happened, going to an NHL development camp is usually a positive experience for a young player.
State tournament
And then there were two.
After a tough weekend for local squads, the lone teams still alive in the MIAA state tournament are the Tewksbury softball team and the Ayer Shirley baseball team.
Tewksbury will play in the Division 1 state semifinals Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Worcester State.
Third-seeded Tewksbury (185) has been dominant in its three state tournament wins, outscoring opponents 30-4 following victories over Stoughton (9-1), Dartmouth (8-3) and Bedford (13-0).
Somerset-berkeley is coming off an epic 11-inning victory over No. 2 Billerica. The 5-2 win was recorded after a rain delay of more than two and a half hours in Billerica.
In the 4 p.m. semifinal game, Burlington will meet Westfield.
Meanwhile, Ayer Shirley has advanced to the Division 5 baseball semifinals.
The No. 6 Panthers (17-5) will square off against No. 2 Bourne (167) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Brockton.
Ayer Shirley has been dominant in its three wins, topping Mystic Valley (10-1), Sutton (3-0) and Frontier Regional (14-3).
Baseball
BAY PATH 5, SHAWSHEEN 3 >> The Rams were edged by top-seeded Bay Path in the State Vocational championship game in Charlton.
Lukas Poirier had three hits to lead the Ram offense while Mike Maselli had two RBI. Senior Conlen Powell started for the Rams and went the first 2.1 innings before Aiden Macleod went the final 3.2 innings and allowed just one run.
The Rams (18-5) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when freshman Dyllon Pratt walked with two outs and scored on a double by sophomore catcher Robbie Welch. Bay Path scored twice in the bottom of the second and two more times in the home half of the third to take a 4-1 lead.
Senior Mavrick Bourdeau finished off a great career by lacing two hits. Welch also threw out two runners trying to steal second base.
CAC baseball
Shawsheen Tech senior shortstop/pitcher Mavrick Bourdeau has been named the Commonwealth Athletic Conference’s Large School Division MVP.
He is headed to Saint Anselm College and will play baseball there. Bourdeau helped guide the Rams to the league’s championship.
Bourdeau is joined on the allstar team by senior pitcher/third baseman Aiden Macleod, senior pitcher Conlen Powell, senior first baseman Mike Maselli and sophomore second baseman Lukas Poirier, his Shawsheen teammates.
Selected to the all-star squad from Greater Lowell were sophomore catcher A.J. Baia, junior pitcher/first baseman Jake Torpey, senior third baseman/second baseman Yan Rivera and sophomore pitcher/first baseman Nolan Stys.
Named to the all-star team from Lowell Catholic were senior Sean Mcnamara, junior Brady Prindle, junior Aiden Virella and sophomore Seamus Scott.
In the Small Division, picked as all-stars from Nashoba Tech were junior center fielder Andrew Ferreira and junior third baseman Cole Currier.
CAC softball
In the Large Division, Lowell Catholic sophomore catcher Amanda Grace was named the COMVP, while Brian Martin of Lowell Catholic shared Coach of the Year honors with Greater Lawrence’s John Delaney.
Large Division all-stars from Greater Lowell Tech were junior shortstop Paige Matte and senior pitcher/first baseman Haylee Gannon.
Grace is joined on the all-star team by Lowell Catholic teammates Maggie Carney, a freshman pitcher, and Mollie Miner, a sophomore shortstop.
The Academy of Notre Dame is represented by eighth-grade pitcher Carly Smith and freshman shortstop Sarah Freitas.
Shawsheen Tech’s all-stars were senior Mia Bisso, sophomore shortstop Alivia Imbimbo and freshman first baseman Francesca Reardon.
In the Small Division, Nashoba Tech is represented by junior pitcher Ashley Hart and junior third baseman Hannah Richard.