Last modified: Thursday, June 21, 2007 11:51 PM EDT GOBIS: Attleboro net squad is making progress BY PETER GOBIS / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Two years ago, Russ Severs' Attleboro High boys' tennis team won 10 matches against five teams which did not qualify for the MIAA Tournament. This year, the Bombardiers won 12 matches, seven against tourney teams. "That's a big improvement, and our worst loss was 3-2," said Severs ... Super-duper area shortstops Ben Blaisdell of Mansfield High and Greg Hopkins of Bishop Feehan High, heading to Curry College and St. John's respectively, both played and had a hit in the Eastern Mass. Coaches Association all-star game Tuesday in Lynn ... Attleboro's Sheila McKenna won the 200 meter sprint at the Mass. Senior Games at Springfield College over the weekend. She leaves for the National Senior Games in Louisville, Ky., today, competing with the High Fives basketball team in the 17-team, 65-69 division ... The Attleboro Area Golf Association's Women's Tournament, scheduled for Monday at the Highland Country Club, is in jeopardy as fewer than two dozen individuals had signed up by midweek ... Mansfield High's magnificent 90-goal scorer on the lacrosse field, Connor Hayes, will be participating in the Eastern Mass. All-Star Game Saturday night at Harvard, prior to a Boston Cannons match ... At the Shriners Football Classic tonight at Bentley College, North Attleboro High's Anthony Sherman, Mansfield High's Tom Gilson and Corey Eason along with Foxboro High's Chris Redd and Ryan Moreshead will be on the field for the South squad ... Former King Philip High softball star pitcher Mindy Padula will be back on the pitching mound for Assumption College after an injury-filled rookie season in Worcester. After throwing 28 scoreless innings during the fall season, she developed mononucleosis. Then fielding ground balls before a spring break game, she broke her throwing hand ... Team Howard - that Norfolk-based family that has supplied so many athletes into the King Philip High sports programs, has another at the pro level, outfielder Doug Clark of the Richmond Braves. The 31-year old former San Francisco Giant draft pick, a graduate from UMass-Amherst is the nephew and godchild of Tom and Maureen Howard. Clark, who began his career with the Giants and played in the A's organization before signing on with the Braves, made the highlight catch of the McCoy Stadium season thus far, stealing a homer over the right field wall from the PawSox' David Murphy last week ... Former Foxboro High golfer Rob Beattie, a sophomore at Wentworth Institute and member of the golf team, qualified for the Mass. Golf Association's Open shooting a round of 74 at the Franklin CC ... At the breakup dinner for Dwight Estey's North Attleboro High girls' track team, distance runner Stephanie McNamara was the running MVP and weight thrower Liz Malone was the field event MVP. Senior Kathleen Hennessey received the Contributor award, distance runner Carolyn Udall received the "most improved" award, distance runner Stephanie Moses received the "unsung hero" award and hurdler-jumper Christy Deininger (the team's fifth leading scorer with 77 points) received the "rookie of the year" award ... Foxboro's Jeff Lieneck, via Xaverian High and a sophomore reserve catcher with the Wheaton College baseball team, is playing in the NECBL this season with the Pittsfield Dukes. Lieneck played in 15 games for the Lyons, also serving in a designated hitter role ... "The years are getting shorter," related former Attleboro High and Bishop Feehan multi-sport coach Jay Gilmore, who was a distant runnerup to defending champion Leo Charron (in with a 6-over-par 77) at the Heather Hill CC for the annual Neil Loew Open for the Bishop Feehan community. Math teacher Pat Murphy captured the "B" division title ... The newest addition to the King Philip High girls' lacrosse program is Brenna Lynn Vitelli, born this week to coach Mike Vitelli and wife Jennifer ... At the breakup dinner for Mike Riley's Attleboro High girls' basketball team, senior Samantha Croxford was the recipient of both the Bombardier and Coaches Choice award. Sophomore center Ali Kelley received the sportsmanship award, sophomore guard Jenna Costa received the "team player" award, sophomore guard Kelci Keene received the "defensive player of the year" award and forward Lauren Beland was named captain-elect ... Selected to the Eastern Athletic Conference's all-star softball team were Bishop Feehan High seniors Amanda Coleman and Amy Gordon along with junior Kerin DeGirolamo ... A week in Newport, rubbing elbows with pro tennis players - volunteers are needed to serve as ballpersons (at least 11 years of age) and grounds-staff personnel (at least 21 years of age) for the International Tennis Hall of Fame Championship in July. Contact tennisfame.com ... Wheaton College baseball coach Eric Podbelski was pictured and featured in the weekly NCAA News for notching his 300th career victory in serving as the Lyons' coach and program founder for 10 seasons, in which he has taken nine NEWMAC titles and earned seven NCAA Division 3 Tournament appearances ... PETER GOBIS may be reached at 508-236-0375 or via e-mail at pgobis@thesunchronicle.com.