Spring season set to get underway

With the conclusion of winter sports just this past weekend, there is a new and exciting season that begins: spring sports. This year, there are many teams that will be representing Johnston High School in their respective sports. This week, tryouts for fastpitch softball, baseball, lacrosse, track and field, golf, and our newest edition, boys’ volleyball, has started, along with the continuance of unified basketball. The unified basketball is a team composed of Special Olympic athletes and their partners, who compete against many schools across the state in a very competitive basketball game. Daniel Mazzulla, also the boys’ basketball coach and Mike Bedrosian coach this team and truly enjoy their time with the athletes. Track and field has also started their season this week, and many student-athletes are excited to join this Northern Division team. The kick-off to the track and field season begins on April 3 at 3:30 p.m., in a dual meet against Ponaganset and Lincoln High School at the Lions’ home field. Both the boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams have also started tryouts this week. The boys’ lacrosse team will be continuing its growth as a club team, which is necessary before entering the Rhode Island Interscholastic League. However, there will be girls’ lacrosse action being played on the Panthers’ home field, with their first home game being against their fellow Division III members, the Westerly Bulldogs, on Saturday, April 8 at 11 am. 

In addition to the field sports, the golf team will also soon be entering the competition as the weather starts to heat up. The golf team, which has grown exponentially over the past few years, is expected to have a great season. In addition to the “classic” sports Johnston is so accustomed to seeing, there is a new up-and-coming team in the high school: boys’ volleyball. Many students are very excited to become a part of this new team, and the team will enter its first club season this year. Baseball tryouts for pitchers and catchers began this past week, and with a new coaching staff and some new players, the team is very excited for the first pitch to be thrown. The 2016 Final-Four Panthers will first be stepping onto the field in a Division I matchup against La Salle Academy on April 4 at 4 p.m., and will then be taking on the Hendricken Hawks for their first home game on April 12 at 4 p.m. Lastly, the Division II Lady Panthers’ softball team is looking to clinch its third playoff berth in the past four years this season. The new coaching staff and upcoming underclassmen will seek a win in their first league game against Rogers High School in Newport on April 3 at 4 p.m.