By Christopher Tremblay
Staff Sports Writer

Ashland High School has announced the Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

Entering the halls will be Richard Martin (Class of 1964), Tim Walsh (2005), Russ Baker (1953) and Jerry Hanna (1966). 

In addition to the four individual Clocker athletes, two amazing teams, the 1998 softball team, and the 1967 baseball team, will also be honored.

The banquet will take place at 2pm on Nov. 19, at La Cantina Italiana in Framingham. Tickets for the event will be $40 and should be ordered as soon as possible as there is a cap for 150 participants; if the cap is not hit the ticket sales will close on Oct. 19. 

Richard Martin was an athlete who excelled in three sports for the Clockers. He was a four-year varsity starter on the diamond and was captain of the 1964 squad that captured the Dual County League Championship. As a first baseman and star pitcher, the southpaw finished his career with 16 wins including a no-hitter against Wayland during his junior campaign. On the gridiron, Martin was a two-year varsity starter for Ashland at quarterback and safety, where he was a captain during the 1963 season in which the team finished 7-1-1 and capped off the season with a 21-6 Thanksgiving Day win over previously undefeated Hopkinton. Martin was named MVP of the game. On the basketball court Martin was a varsity starter all four years and was the first Ashland’s first player to record 1,000 career points. He captained the 1962-63 and 1963-64 teams and was named a two-time DCL All-Star.

Tim Walsh, another three-sport athlete, captained the soccer team in both his junior and senior season. During his four-year varsity run with the soccer team he played both forward as well as center midfielder. The Clockers captured three Tri Valley League Championships and two Division 3 South Sectional Championships during his tenure. As a senior, Walsh was the league MVP and garnered first team honors on the TVL All-State team. On the court, the point guard continued his success of being named a captain for both his junior and senior seasons and was an important part of the 2005 Clocker squad that finished the season as Division 3 South Sectional Finalist; he was also named a TVL All-Star that campaign. On the diamond Walsh found himself patrolling left fielder for the Clockers and once again earned TVL All-Star recognition as a senior. Throughout his three sports during his time at Ashland Walsh amassed a 49-19-2 record across as a senior, playing in 12 state tournament games and winning 9 of them. 

Russ Baker starred for legendary coach “Grump” Walker in basketball and baseball and as a senior was a member of the 1952 undefeated football team. On the diamond, he starred defensively at shortstop and was a consistent hitter at the plate batting an even.300. His greatest achievements, though, came on the basketball court where Baker completed his senior season knocking down a record 187 points in only 8 games. He averaged an astounding 23.4 points per game in a time when the 3-point era had not yet been established. His best performance came at Hopkinton when he drained 21 baskets and 4 free throws for 46 points, which not only set a court record at Hopkinton, but also a school record for the Clockers that stood for over 40 years. Baker continued his contributions to the town as a youth hockey coach and he played an integral part of establishing the Demons Hockey program in the mid-1980s.

Jerry Hanna was another three-sport athlete for the Clockers, lettering in football, basketball, and track and field. He captained the track and field team, placing 4th in the low hurdles in the Class E State Meet. On the gridiron Hanna made his mark as the only player to be named to both the First Team Offense and the First Team Defense as a Framingham Area All-Star. As team captain, he was considered a “small, mighty, and shifty” halfback, while defensively he anchored a Clockers secondary that recorded three shutouts. Hanna was able to score points in just about every phase of his game during his senior campaign, while finding the endzone five different ways. He crossed the goal line on rushes, receptions, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a kick return. His best effort came in a 24-20 win over DCL rival Wayland in which he recorded a touchdown run, a touchdown catch, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Hanna finished the season with 44 points, good for top 5 overall in the Framingham Area.

The 1998 Softball Team amassed a 20-4 record (14-2 in the Tri Valley League). Coached by Ginny Walsh and Charlene Carabello. The girls finished the season as TVL Champions, Division 3 South Sectional Champions, and Division 3 State Champions. Going into the tournament the squad was seeded #5 in the South bracket. Once there they capped off a 6-0 playoff run with a 3-1 State Title victory over Frontier. Co-captains Amy Curlett and Leah Kamataris led the way for the Clockers. Kamataris anchored the defense at SS and batted .322, while Curlett finished the season with a 13-3 record, a 0.68 ERA, and went a perfect 6-0 in the playoffs. Keri Giangrande performed sensationally in the circle as well, posting an 8-1 record with a 0.34 ERA. Upperclassmen Brooke Perry, Michele Leporati, and Becky Karb all contributed to the successful season. Lauren Vendetti and Becca Marks performed above their freshman status.

The 1967 Baseball Team amassed a 16-2 overall record under the leadership of Massachusetts’ Hall of Fame Coach Clem Spillane, Assistant Coach Joe Apicella, and co-captains Bob Mucha and Pat Fitzgerald. The Ashland nine finished the season as Dual County League Champions on their way to capturing the Class C State Championship. Joe Markarian was the MVP of the title game, pitching a 2-hitter and hitting a grand slam in the 7th inning to lead the Clockers to an 8-0 victory over Dartmouth. Markarian (8-1) and Mike Trychon (7-1) starred on a Clockers pitching staff that finished with a 2.27 team ERA. During that season Ashland recorded an incredible 21 double plays in the field. Veteran catcher Steve Willard led the team in numerous offensive categories posting a .418 batting average, recorded 26 hits and knocked in 23 RBI. Other major contributors to the 1967 season included Earl McLaughlin, Mark Iarussi, Larry Piccioli, Dennis Fairweather, Tom Pandolfi, Billy Ellsworth, Ernie Sannicandro, Lonnie Hart, and Jim Calhoun.