Scarlet Hawks seek third straight playoff appearance

By Chris Villani

The Milford High golf team will be led this fall by several experienced players who have been patiently waiting behind some recent graduates for their chance to take the lead.

“They are ready to step up,” said head coach Jay Potty. “They are all solid players, and I think they are looking for their opportunity. I think these guys are anxious to see what they can do, and their potential is pretty high.”

Milford has a trio of senior captains who have all been with the program for the past four years. David Fleming figures to be one of MHS’ top players and Potty said he has made gains ever since his freshman year.

“He is a hockey player, so he has those fast-twitch muscles, and he bombs it off the tee,” Potty said. “He has put the time in to work on his short game and putting, and it’s paid off.” 

Robbie DeGasperis has developed a strong mid-iron game, Potty said, and hitting greens has put him in a position to shoot low scores. Zach Hipolito has bounced back after what Potty said was a subpar season due to swing struggles.

“It just wasn’t going the way he wanted it to,” Potty said. “He took lessons, and it’s like night and day. Watching him play, it’s amazing, I can tell the amount of work he has put in.”

Potty said that three-year player Sean Prevelige has made steady gains over the past few seasons and has gotten consistently better. All four seniors worked hard to make sure they came into the season in top form, the coach said.

“They were out there all the time playing a ton of golf and just trying to get better,” Potty said. “We have qualified for the postseason the last two years, and they don’t want that to stop. That is their goal and the team’s goal, to make postseason play.”

In addition to the seniors, Milford will rely on sophomore Lucas Richard to add depth in a strong league. Some of the newer players on the MHS roster will help round out the lineup.

“We have a bunch of kids who are newer to the game of golf, but they are a bunch of athletes and they have started to figure it out,” Potty said. “I am really happy with what I have seen so far. I think they are just going to get better the more they compete and the more they play.”

Potty said that a third straight tournament is no guarantee in a tough Hockomock League, but added that his team knows the challenge ahead.

“There are no excuses,” he said. “We have to go out there and play well.”