After a brilliant career at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High, former Falcon softball great Justyne Roy proved that she can play at the NCAA Division I level with the UConn Huskies. The freshman infielder, playing at second base, broke into the starting lineup and proceeded to go 3-for-3 against Hofstra, belt a two-run homer against Central Connecticut, extend her hitting streak in the first game of a doubleheader with DePaul and then had nine putouts in the nightcap ...

Former King Philip High softball pitcher Amie Nickerson of Wrentham, a sophomore at UMass-Dartmouth, was named the Little East Conference Pitcher of the Week, with complete game wins over Mass. Maritime and UMass-Boston (twice), striking out 13 batters. "Amie showed last week that she's become a veteran pitcher," said coach Kelly Roy-Sale ...

And another, former Norton High Lancer, Karissa Bettencourt, the sophomore shortstop and leadoff hitter at Southern New Hampshire, was named to the Northeast 10 Conference honor roll for the week, batting .571 (12-21) with four doubles, one home run, four RBI and nine runs in a 5-1 week. Bettencourt batted 4-for-5 with three RBI in a sweep of Bentley, 4-for-8 with four runs in a sweep of American International and 4-for-8 with three doubles in a split with Bryant. She posted a .905 slugging percentage and went 3-for-3 in stolen bases ...

Former Mansfield High track star Courtney Lincoln, a freshman at UMass-Lowell, sparkled during the River Hawks' own Davis Invitational Meet, taking second in the long jump (16-7¾), third in the high jump (5-1) and fourth in the 100 hurdles (16.4) ...

Foxboro High product Matt Grendal, the senior captain and forward for the Salve Regina University men's basketball team, will be playing in the New England Basketball Coaches Division III All-Star game Sunday at Babson College. A two-time All-Commonwealth Coast Conference pick, Grendal lead the Seahawks in scoring (13.5) and rebounding (8.0) and was second in assists (64), while also climbing over the 1,000 career point mark ... "Our infield is stronger than it has been," said Attleboro High softball coach Deb Carreiro, pleased with the play of the left side of the infield that has senior Caitlin Montella at shortstop and freshman Hillary Dias at third base ...

At the breakup dinner for Tim Kelley's North Attleboro High swimming team, the Coaches Awards went to juniors Brendan Hamilton and Sera Gaboury along with freshman Devin Ellsweig. Captains-elect for next season will be Ryan Brousseau, Chelsea Berkley and Maddie Hebert. In addition, Kelley announced that the Swimming Booster Club will begin presenting an annual scholarship to a senior in honor of Mitch and Maria MacDonald for their dedication and efforts in orchestrating the program since its inception ...

"We have a new offensive set, more guys are getting touches of the ball," said King Philip High boys' lacrosse coach Dan Warren of a revamped attack. "We're letting them create more." ...

Happy Birthday John "Dino" Denis ...

"He's become a legitimate No. 1," said Attleboro High boys' tennis coach Russ Severs of junior James Bensson. "He has made himself into a legitimate player. He has a nice upside to his potential." ...

"She has the best lateral movement that I've seen in a while," said King Philip High softball coach Jim Leonard of his new starting shortstop, sophomore Lindsay Messier ...

"She's really been impressive," said Mansfield High softball coach Brian Clemmey of freshman center fielder and No. 5 batter in the order, Erin Keough ...

"He drives you nuts, he gets everything in and he has different types of slices," said North Attleboro High boys' tennis coach Sean Mulkerrins of senior No. 3 singles player Carlos Vega ...

"She's been waiting in the wings," said Attleboro High girls' track coach Peter Lacasse of senior captain and hurdler Suragi Patel. The Bombardier boys' track team will be without senior distance runner Todd Brousseau indefinitely as he was hospitalized earlier this week at Sturdy with a collapsed lung ...

"She throws hard, she has a nice changeup, she battles," praised Norton High softball coach Peter Peloquin of senior pitcher Alicia Parlon, making the most of her varsity starting assignments ... At the Tri-County Regional High winter sports awards banquet, North Attleboro's Peter Beckwith was honored as the boys' basketball team MVP and Ryan Sheehan of Attleboro was the freshman boys' hoop team MVP. Sophomores Emily Woodhams of Plainville and Jane Annis of Wrentham shared the Most Improved award for the girls' basketball team. Among the wrestlers, North Attleboro sophomore Joe Hopkins was tabbed the Most Improved and freshman Matt Hogan of Attleboro was the Rookie of the Year ...

PETER GOBIS may be contacted at 508-236-0375 or via e-mail at pgobis@thesunchronicle.com