Hector Longo

Massachusetts

Writer at The Eagle-Tribune

Once a writer who coaches, then a coach who writes... I write stories. I do not write articles.

Articles

Salem's Ruel to pitch at Division 2 Post

1 day ago | eagletribune.com | Hector Longo

SALEM, N.H. — When Bailey Ruel first committed to play Division 2 college softball, the Salem High School senior picked an alternate path. It would not include high school ball this spring. kAm|2<:?8 E9:?8D @77:4:2= H:E9 2 D>2== 46C6>@?J @? $2EFC52J 2?5 D6=64E:?8 !@DE &?:G6CD:EJ :? r@??64E:4FE[ #F6= :D 4@?7:56?E 96C 49@:46 H:== A2J :>>65:2E6 5:G:56?5D 2E E96 ?6IE =6G6=]k^Am kAm“x 36=:6G65 x’5 36 >@C6 AC@5F4E:G6[ H@C<:?8 @? >J @H? 2?5 7@4FD:?8 @? H92E x ?66565 E@ H@C< @?
Softball: Irwin, hungry Hillies hang on, stop North Andover in thriller

6 days ago | eagletribune.com | Hector Longo

NORTH ANDOVER – Hungry for their first Division 1 state tourney appearance since 2022 and driven by the minuscule fractions of a rating point that cost them a spot last spring, the Haverhill High girls are ready to crank it up here in the stretch run. Thursday afternoon at McEvoy Playground, the Hillies avenged an earlier loss to North Andover High with a dramatic, 6-5, win. kAm}@CE9 p?5@G6C[ 8:G:?8 w2G6C9:== 2== :E 4@F=5 92?5=6[ C2==:65 7@C 7@FC CF?D :?
Windham KOs Cards in battle of unbeatens

6 days ago | derrynews.com | Hector Longo

Unbeaten and outscoring the opposition 84-10 through six games, Division I state finalist Bishop Guertin issued a warning shot to the rest of the state in the early going:The Cardinals are back. Claire Ballard and the Windham Jaguars had a message of their own to send last Thursday afternoon. The Bates College-bound senior struck out six in a complete-game, powering the Jags to a 7-2 victory. At 7-0, Windham is one of just three Division I unbeatens, along with Londonderry and Pinkerton Academy.
Bonded by sports, Salem sisters eye one more special spring

6 days ago | derrynews.com | Hector Longo

SALEM — As far as big sisters go, Maddie Beeley has been rock-solid, at least according to her little sister, Abby. “She’s been there for me the whole way, and I definitely appreciate that,” said Abby, the Salem High junior. The Beeleys embarked on their “farewell tour” this spring with Salem softball, though, as Maddie, a senior, will be moving on to study and play at Endicott College next fall. And the plan here is to make it something special and cherish every second.
Warrior on the Run: Flying Fraser wreaks havoc for surging Andover girls

1 week ago | andovertownsman.com | Hector Longo

By Hector LongoWhile Aria Fraser adds alternate meanings to the term “flying start” on an almost daily basis, she’s slaughtering the cliché of “catcher’s speed.”kAmuC2D6C[ E96 ;F?:@C 42AE2:?[ 92D 324<3@?65 2 3C:==:2?E 7:CDE 92=7 7@C E96 (2CC:@CD[ H9@ C:56 2 7:G6\82>6 H:? DEC62< 2?5 D:E 2E e\a @? E@A E96 |'ra]k^AmkAm“x H2D C62==J AF>A65 23@FE E96 D62D@?] x 5:5 2 =@E :?
Salem's Bettencourt lands Milner, Beeley at Endicott

1 week ago | derrynews.com | Hector Longo

With four Commonwealth Coast Conference championships in her seven seasons at the helm, Salem’s Katie Bettencourt has enjoyed monster success as the softball coach at Endicott College. Her secret is no secret: Bettencourt knows how to harvest the local talent on the diamond. She’s back at it again this spring, winning games and landing area standouts, recently receiving commitments from two of the region’s best – Salem center-fielder Maddie Beeley and Central Catholic third baseman Caitlin Milner.
Kelleher, NECC rolling into postseason: Haverhill righty taking charge for Knights

1 week ago | eagletribune.com | Hector Longo

HAVERHILL — While his senior season salvaged things – 11 victories and a trip to the state tourney was a heck of an accomplishment for the Hillies – Jack Kelleher didn’t do a ton of winning on the baseball diamond in four years at Haverhill High school. Now a freshman at Northern Essex Community College, Kelleher is making up for lost time. kAm“(6’G6 H@? >@C6 82>6D E9:D J62C E92? H6 H@? :? 7@FC J62CD @7 9:89 D49@@=[” ;@<65 z6==696C]k^Am kAm%9FCD52J ?:89E Wf A]>]X[ z6==696C 2?5 E96 af\g z?:89ED @A6?
Renaissance Raider: Central's Akstin soars on three unique fronts

1 week ago | eagletribune.com | Hector Longo

METHUEN – When poet Robert Frost wrote “The Road Not Taken” 110 years ago, he had to have someone like Chase Akstin in mind. The Central Catholic senior three-sporter definitely chose the “less traveled” athletic path over his Raider career. You’d be hard-pressed to find the golf-skiing-lacrosse combo anywhere, and if you did, it would be virtually impossible to find a competitor at the levels of excellence Haverhill’s Akstin has provided.
Ballards, Windham KO Cards in battle of softball unbeatens

1 week ago | eagletribune.com | Hector Longo

Unbeaten and outscoring the opposition 84-10 through six games, Division I state finalist Bishop Guertin issued a warning shot to the rest of the state in the early going:The Cardinals are back. kAmr=2:C6 q2==2C5 2?5 E96 (:?592> y28F2CD 925 2 >6DD286 @7 E96:C @H? E@ D6?5 @? %9FCD52J 27E6C?@@?]k^Am kAm%96 q2E6D r@==686\3@F?5 D6?:@C DECF4< @FE D:I :? 2 4@>A=6E6\82>6[ A@H6C:?8 E96 y28D E@ 2 f\a G:4E@CJ] pE f\_[ (:?592> :D @?6 @7 ;FDE E9C66 s:G:D:@? x F?362E6?D[ 2=@?8 H:E9 {@?5@?56CCJ 2?5 !:?<6CE@?
Central softball stays on offensive, pounds Methuen

2 weeks ago | eagletribune.com | Hector Longo

METHUEN – A couple of days after defending its own turf against Merrimack Valley Conference unbeaten Tewksbury, league-leading Central Catholic showed just how the offense could do on the road, pounding Methuen, 19-2, on Wednesday night at Burnham Road. The Raiders, who improved to a still-perfect 6-0 in the conference, followed their 13-run barrage against the Redmen by testing the fence-free environment here in Ranger country with a series of shots that zoomed deep into the night.