One of Beverly all-time soccer performers, Ali Kaba, known as "Liberian Lightning" in his high school days, is taking his mega talents to Salem State College, it was revealed yesterday.
The 23-year-older, born in Monrovia, Liberia, and an escapee from his native country during its prolonged civil war, was officially accepted after encouragement to pursue an education from Mike Kersker, who coached Kaba on the Aztecs club team.
Not only is Kersker a former Salem State men's soccer coach, but he got most of the credit for Kaba's decision to become a Viking from current Salem State coach Turi Lonero.
"Mike coached Ali on the Aztecs for a couple of years and was the one who impressed the importance of an education on Ali. We recruited him last year and things didn't work out," Lonero said.
"We had a couple of our best players on the Aztecs, Yuta Kizaki and Andrew Angus, and they formed a bond with Ali. Angus played on the forward line with Ali. But it was Coach Krasker who was instrumental in convincing Ali to go back to school, that it was the right thing to do, and we're thrilled it was Salem," Lonero said.
"Coach Kersker is a good guy and wanted what's best for me. I wasn't ready last year. I had a family issue. But like they say, nobody can take your education away from you," Kaba said.
Lonero called Kaba an elite player and said he'll be joining some elite athletes on the Vikings.
"Two years in a row we've missed the NCAA tournament by one game. An addition like Ali can make the difference. He'll fit in nicely with the talent we have."
Kaba, who now lives in Marblehead, had been working fulltime with Dept. of Social Services.
"He's fast, a hard worker, has a great shot and is a great finisher. He has it all," the Salem coach said. "We have two other great forwards in Jared Barbosa of Lowell and Willer Nogueira of Brighton. Both kids are from Brazil. Forward is the strength of our team," Lonero said.
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Sources close to the Boston University hockey program report that Danvers' hard-working forward Brian McGuirk has been elected a Terriers' captain for the 2007-08 season.
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Jamie Baker of Boxford, signed by the San Diego Padres after a stint with the Nashua Pride, had a great training camp, a couple of 1-2-3 innings and another frame in which he gave up a walk, a hit and one run, but ran into some tough luck in the final week. He strained a shoulder in the weight room and got released.
The 23-year-old righthanded pitcher had the locker next to Peabody's Matt Antonelli in Peoria, Ariz.
"I got that strain in the weight room mostly likely, I know it wasn't from throwing, that last week and it was bad timing," Baker said. "I was doing well, my arm was building up to that point. I just needed a few days, maybe a bit longer, to let it heal, but I think the strain scared them off. It was a small problem. But I wasn't a first round draft choice. They didn't have much invested in me."
Baker said two Padres' scouts, Bob Cluck and Bill Brick, have called him since his release and told him not to get down.
"They obviously liked what they saw and said I still had a bright future. That it came down to a numbers game. I guess they didn't have enough pull to keep me," Baker said.
As a senior closer at Wheaton College he was 4-0, 1.80 with 10 saves as the Lyons reached the title game of the Division 3 College World Series. He had a win and save at the World Series.
He signed with the Nashua Pride, a Class A independent club, and was 3-1, 1.00.
Baker is now working with Beverly Fitness Club trainer Kevin McGovern, who was the trainer with the Pride.
The club that benefits from Baker's return is the North Sport Spirit in Lynn. The Pride, not thinking Baker would return, traded Baker's rights to the Spirit. Baker said he's talked to the Spirit, but has no idea what his role will be.
"My arm is great. I feel stronger than ever. I'm ready to go," he said.
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Jeff Allison is working out regularly in Tewksbury, but the snakebitten pitcher declined an interview request.
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One-time Beverly distance ace Brenna McNiff reaped the harvest in the family's move to Jupiter, Fla. Brenna scored 760 and 770 in the college boards. A senior at The Benjamin School in Jupiter, she's been accepted at Duke, Boston College, Notre Dame and Virginia. McNiff was also accepted and offered a scholarship at Vermont. She's making her final visit this weekend to Notre Dame, then will make a decision.
The 17-year-older will likely make a choice between Duke and BC. She once again was All-County and nominated for the Palm Beach County student-athlete award. She's a finalist among 12 from a field of 300 nominees.
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Pingree's star female hockey player, sophomore Kaitlin Spurling of Byfield, a veritable scoring machine, with 47 goals and 23 assists the past sason, is transferring to Noble & Greenough School. She had her biggest game, four goals and three assists, vs. Winsor.
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Marblehead is also losing a gem of a female athlete in Samantha (Sam) Weinstein, who has decided to transfer to Deerfield Academy and will repeat her junior year there.
Weinstein piled up 117 career points (beginning as an eighth grader) to become the all-time scorer in MHS girls' hockey; was the MVP of the Northeastern Conference in lacrosse, accounting for 61 goals as a midfielder, and was a three year regular as he goalie on the girls' soccer team.
"Marblehead is a great place, and I loved going to school there," Weinstein said. "I just found a better opportunity to play at the next level."
She was an NEC all-star in all three sports, a hockey captain two years ago, and a Salem News all-star as well in hockey and lacrosse.
Bill Kipouras is a staff writer at the Salem News. He can be reached at 978-338-2615 orby e-mail: bkipouras@ecnnews.com.
