Branden Mello

Woonsocket

Sports Editor at The Call & Times

Sports Editor at The Pawtucket Times

Sports editor of the Woonsocket Call and Pawtucket Times. [email protected] @BU_Tweets alum

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Articles

CALL/TIMES 2025 HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL PREVIEW: Local teams relying on youth

2 weeks ago | woonsocketcall.com | Brendan McGair |Branden Mello

The last four seasons have featured a high school softball team from the Call/Times readership area celebrating a championship at Rhode Island College. In 2021, Burrillville/North Smithfield celebrated a Division III title, while co-op forces featuring Shea and Tolman basked in a similar glow after capturing the 2022 D-III championship.
Thoun delivers throw of 82-6.25 in national-title sweep

1 month ago | woonsocketcall.com | Branden Mello

Woonsocket junior Shamrock Thoun just needed to slow down to throw farther. The Villa Novan came into the weekend's national championship meets as the undisputed No. 1 weight thrower in the country, but he had a big goal going into Friday's Nike Indoor Nationals. Thoun wanted to throw the weight 80 feet. To do so, he just needed to slow down. “After states I worked in practice on getting my feet closer on the third turn,” Thoun said Sunday afternoon.
Dib, Wilcox earn New england medals

1 month ago | woonsocketcall.com | Branden Mello

PROVIDENCE — Lincoln senior Kamel Dib and Woonsocket senior Ben Wilcox produced their best performances in their final scholastic meet. Dib, a state finalist at 144 pounds, advanced to the New England semifinals Sunday morning at the PCTA with three impressive wins Saturday. Dib was pinned in the second period of his semifinal match by Jaeckez Mendez, but the Lion responded with a pair of victories to secure third place.
No. 1 La Salle shuts out No. 4 Northern Yeti

1 month ago | woonsocketcall.com | Branden Mello

PROVIDENCE — No. 4 Northern Yeti skated back on to the Schneider Arena ice to start the third period believing they still had a small chance to knock off No. 1 La Salle in the state semifinals. In the span of 4 minutes, 21 seconds, the Rams shattered those dreams with a barrage of goals to cosign the Yeti to a third blowout defeat to the Rams this season.
Defensive errors doom BVS in semifinal loss to Portsmouth

1 month ago | woonsocketcall.com | Branden Mello

PROVIDENCE — It was the start No. 2 Blackstone Valley needed in its semifinal showdown against No. 3 Portsmouth. Just 24 seconds into Wednesday night's contest at Schneider Arena, Jaxon Boyes gave the Knights the lead when he scored on a rebound off a shot by Caden Rudek. The Knights continued to press and had two good chances to double the lead, but Portsmouth goalie Jon Cabral kept the deficit at one. And then, at 5:51, a defensive mistake allowed Chase Pascoe to tie the game.
Raimondi produces pair of shutouts in Yeti quarterfinal sweep

1 month ago | woonsocketcall.com | Branden Mello

PORTSMOUTH — Burrillville junior defenseman Victoria Steele was happy to finally have Cumberland junior goalie Emily Raimondi on her side in a state quarterfinal series. Last season, Raimondi was the backbone of an MCLSRA squad that allowed just two goals and eliminated Steele's BPBNS team in a sweep. Sunday, Raimondi delivered again in the quarterfinals, as she produced her second straight shutout to deny No. 5 East Bay at Portsmouth Abbey. “She's amazing and I love her so much,” Steele said.
Gravel returns home, nets hat trick BVS sweep of Lincoln

1 month ago | woonsocketcall.com | Branden Mello

NORTH SMITHFIELD — Blackstone Valley forward Nate Gravel played for the road team in Game 2 of Saturday's Division II quarterfinal series against No. 10 Lincoln, but he felt right at home. No player on either team has spent more time watching or playing high-school hockey games at Rhode Island Sports Center than Gravel.
Bellini survives Woonsocket's Uttley in 46-point state title bout

1 month ago | woonsocketcall.com | Branden Mello

PROVIDENCE — Woonsocket senior Ethan Uttley simply ran out of time in the 132-pound state title match everyone inside the PCTA Saturday night won't forget for a very long time. For the third time this season, Uttley and Ponaganset returning state champion Apollo Bellini engaged in a high-scoring affair. And, for the third time this season, Bellini used an impressive opening period to prevail against Uttley. Saturday night's duel was different.
No. 4 Clippers sweep away Ponaganset

1 month ago | woonsocketcall.com | Branden Mello

PAWTUCKET — Cumberland sophomore goalie Patrick Bradley just watched freshman forward Cam Cucinotta and senior leading scorer Sean Taylor trudge to the penalty box in the span of four seconds in the third period of Game 1 of the No. 4 Clippers D-II quarterfinals series with No. 5 Ponaganset. Only one thought ran through Bradley's head. “Just style and flow,” Bradley said.
Gravel, Lambert lead BVS to Game 1 win over Lincoln

1 month ago | woonsocketcall.com | Branden Mello

PAWTUCKET — No. 2 Blackstone Valley Schools saved its most complete performance of the season for the first game of what the Knights hope is a revenge tour that leads back to Schneider Arena. The Knights, who lost in last season's Division II final, scored plenty of goals during the regular season, but they also spent plenty of time taking the puck out of their net. That wasn't the case Friday night against No. 10 Lincoln in Game 1 of their Division II quarterfinal series at Dennis Lynch Arena.