READING — In the first quarter, it was shaping up to be the kind of game that would come down to which team had the ball last.

WINCHESTER — Opening night for the Winchester High football team was interesting, just as coach Wally Dembowski had predicted.

BURLINGTON — The Burlington High football team stayed close for one half before falling further behind in the late going, as Lawrence scored once in the first half, and added three more scores in the second half, to emerge with a 27-7 victory over the Red Devils, in the season-opening game f…

WOBURN — After a 2020 season that saw so many games canceled, it was hard to award an actual Middlesex League Liberty boys' soccer champion, the coaches around the division are thrilled that things are back to normal in 2021.

WOBURN — Overcoming an abbreviated season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Woburn High swimming team is ecstatic about competing under relatively normal circumstances.

Reading High and Melrose have been the two premier football programs in the Middlesex League for the better part of the last decade.

READING — It was a most unusual first season as head coach for Reading High girls' soccer coach Kelsey Ring.

WOBURN — Knowing its arch-rival, Winchester, will not be coming at them with an array of returning Middlesex League all-stars, EMass all-stars, All-State and All-New England and All-American players is enough to improve the season outlook of the Woburn High girls' soccer team.

WOBURN — A year ago the Woburn High field hockey team was hurt by the coronavirus protocols of 11 vs. 11 play, wearing masks, no corners, and especially for the Tanners, not being able to play the Freedom Division teams which (other than Watertown) are usually very beatable squads.

READING — After having a fairly new team last season, the Reading High girls volleyball team will welcome back 10 returning players in hopes to build off the shortened covid season.

READING — The 2020 season was surely a lost one for the Reading High boys soccer team. Not only did the pandemic season include just 10 games, the Rockets lost five of them due to the tight restrictions which were loosened in the subsequent winter, Fall II and spring seasons.

READING — Playing under coronavirus pandemic protocols of seven vs. seven without corners, and scheduled to play just 10 games against Liberty Division teams last fall, the Reading High field hockey team had four games cancelled due to covid issues, which reduced its already truncated season…

WOBURN — With nine retuning players from last season’s team, the Woburn High girls volleyball looks to be in the hunt in what is an always tough Middlesex League.

READING — Playing under coronavirus pandemic protocols of seven vs. seven without corners, and scheduled to play just 10 games against Liberty Division teams last fall, the Reading High field hockey team had four games cancelled due to covid issues, which reduced its already truncated season…

READING — Overcoming obstacles and a pandemic a year ago, the Reading High golf team is aiming for its usual strong showing this season.

READING — As the fall season returns to normalcy of some sorts, the Reading High girls swim team aims to embark on its drive for five consecutive Middlesex League titles. .

WINCHESTER — It looks like it will be a challenging season ahead for the Winchester High football team, as only one player remains from the 2019 team that was just a win away from playing for a Super Bowl berth.

WOBURN — After a year away from the program, Woburn High golf coach Brian Keeley is enthusiastic to be back on the golf course.

WOBURN — Last season seems like it just ended and actually April 24 wasn’t that long ago.

READING — After the shortest offseason ever, the Reading High football team is grateful to be back to start a more normal season.

BURLINGTON — The Burlington High football team culminated its first week of practices to prepare for this upcoming season with a scrimmage at Chelmsford this past Saturday. So far the team has been focused on working hard to improve but still appear to be a work in process.

High school football practice around the local area began on Friday, Aug. 20. The regular season will begin on Friday, Sept. 20.

On the tennis court, both Chrissy and Jamie Cerretani of Reading have competed as elite tennis players for over two decades.

BURLINGTON — As Anne Murray once sang, “Everything old is new again.”

BOSTON — After the first two innings of its Lou Tompkins 15U B Division final on Sunday, Reading Red had an uphill battle.

BEDFORD — The Woburn 15-year-old All-Stars staved off elimination last night and will play again tonight with a chance at making it to Trophy Weekend in the Lou Tompkins Association B Division Tournament of Champions..

WINDHAM, N.H. — As was the case in her eight previous professional bouts, the referee raised Amanda Pavone’s hand at the end of her fight on Friday.

LOWELL — The Woburn Summer Tanners finally did it, they won a Northeast League game, defeating Lowell, 10-6, in a contest halted by a strange curfew rule in the sixth inning,a t Campbell Senior Field.

WOBURN — During her career on the Woburn High wrestling team, Sophia Matthews has taken home her share of medals and trophies.

Much has changed since the last time Amanda Pavone was in the ring. She’s lighter and she has a new trainer and a new promoter, but the goal is the same.

BEVERLY — The Reading 12-year-old All-Stars saw their dream of Little League World Series glory come to an end on Saturday afternoon, as Peabody West prevailed, 4-2, in the Section 4 major baseball tournament final at Harry Ball Field.

BEVERLY — For the first time in four sectional tournament games over two evenings, at Harry Ball Field, pitching was the dominant trait when District 13 champion Reading played District 16 champion Peabody West.

TYNGSBORO — It is not that frustrating, since it is summer baseball, but the Woburn Summer Tanners really thought they would have at least one win by the middle of the July.

As a dedicated golf professional for Meadow Brook Golf Club for nearly two decades, Steve Sheridan has certainly endured his share of obstacles and challenges.

WOBURN — Phase one of the march to the Little League World Series was completed on Saturday afternoon as the Reading 12-year-old All-Stars captured the major baseball Little League District 13 title with an 8-3 victory over North Reading, in the final, at Weafer Park.

READING — Erica Sanchez dedicated over a third of her life to the Reading Memorial High School Athletic Community. As the school’s athletic trainer, Sanchez often witnessed the joys of victory and the agony of defeats along her 15-year journey.

NORTH READING — The two local teams were hoping to meet in the Little League Baseball District 13 finals. Instead, Woburn and Reading met in the semifinals, last night at Benevento Park, and it was the Rockets who will continue on the Road to Williamsport.

WOBURN — The Road to Williamsport is underway for the Woburn District 13 Major Little League baseball team.

READING — The situation the Reading High boys lacrosse team found itself in at the end of the first half of its MIAA Division 2 state semifinal against Concord-Carlisle was similar to where the Rockets found themselves against the Patriots in the 2018 state title game.

READING — It was the most anticipated boys lacrosse game between Middlesex League teams of the season and it didn’t happen until the MIAA Division 2 North semifinals.

NORTH ANDOVER — There is heartbreaking and there is cruel, and this 7-6 loss by Reading in 10 innings against Division 2 North Sectional favorite North Andover felt more like the latter.

BOXFORD — Although it ended in heartbreaking fashion, the Woburn High baseball team went down swinging in what turned out to be an epic ballgame with Masconomet on Monday.

WOBURN — All season the Woburn High softball team had come through with clutch hitting, good pitching, and solid fielding to win 13 straight games. But in its first tournament game the Tanners just barely got outplayed by a 17th-seeded Billerica (10-7) squad that did everything just a little…

READING — The Rockets welcomed back the state tournament for the first time in three years (2019 did not qualify; 2020 season cancelled) with a resounding 7-1 win over Liberty Division rival Winchester at Moscariello Ballpark.

READING — The Reading High boys lacrosse team began play in the MIAA Division 2 North tournament by continuing its roll through the Middlesex League.

READING — After the Reading High girls lacrosse team lost to Marblehead in the MIAA Division 1 North final in 2019, many of the underclassmen’s thoughts turned toward the next season.

WINCHESTER — The Woburn High softball team has put together some big hitting displays this season. So it was fitting that in the league tournament championship game the Tanners put together their biggest offensive display yet this season.

WATERTOWN — The four teams near the top of the Middlesex League Liberty Division standings were tough to beat, and tough to separate.

READING — On Saturday, the Reading High boys lacrosse team was expecting to see a different team in the Middlesex League championship game on Monday.

WOBURN — The Woburn High baseball team began the postseason in excellent form, combining top-line pitching with stellar defense and timely hitting for a 4-0 shutout of Melrose, in the first round of the Middlesex League Tournament, yesterday at Carroll Field.