Banana Ball; Spellman football coach quits: Top 5 stories in the Brockton area last week

Kathy Bossa, The Enterprise
·3 min read

BROCKTON — Brace yourself for BananaLand. The Savannah Bananas announced Brockton as one of the social media sensation’s destinations on its Banana Ball World Tour. The Brockton Rox won a national bid to host the exhibition game next summer.

B-R Superintendent of Schools Derek Swenson has taken a temporary leave of absence for "personal reasons" and Assistant Superintendent Ryan Powers is serving as acting head of schools in the meantime.

Following the Cardinal Spellman High football team’s loss to Bishop Fenwick on Thursday night, head coach Kahn Chace has resigned from his position citing "parent harassment and disrespect."

There have been three cases of monkeypox in or connected to Brockton as of Wednesday.  Here's what we know.

Should Brockton city councilors nearly double their own salaries to $30K? That's a proposal working its way through City Hall.

In case you missed it, here are five stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area that resonated with our readers.

Brockton man killed in fiery crash on Route 24 in West Bridgewater

Massachusetts State Police responded to a fiery crash scene on Route 24 northbound at 3:04 a.m. on Sept. 30, where they found a 2017 Ford Explorer on fire with the operator trapped inside, according to a written statement. The operator of the vehicle is believed to have been “traveling at a high rate of speed,” and was found deceased on arrival, police said. According to state troopers, the vehicle “went off the right side of the road and struck a tree, for reasons still under investigation.”

Fatal crash: Brockton man killed in fiery crash on Route 24 in West Bridgewater  

Massachusetts State Police
Massachusetts State Police

Minivan stalls on tracks in Bridgewater, driver escapes before train strikes

An MBTA commuter rail train crashed into a minivan that had stalled on the tracks on Broad Street in Bridgewater, according to Bridgewater Police’s Twitter page. No one was injured in the crash, which took place on Thursday afternoon, Bridgewater police said.

Minivan stalls on tracks: Minivan stalls on tracks in Bridgewater, driver escapes before train strikes

Photos of crash: Minivan struck by MBTA commuter rail train in Bridgewater

A minivan stalled at the crossing on Broad Street in Bridgewater was struck by an MBTA commuter rail train on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.
A minivan stalled at the crossing on Broad Street in Bridgewater was struck by an MBTA commuter rail train on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.

Banana Ball is coming to town: Brockton Rox to host Savannah Bananas next summer

Brockton, brace yourself for BananaLand. The Savannah Bananas announced Brockton as one of the social media sensation’s destinations on its Banana Ball World Tour. The Brockton Rox won a national bid to host the exhibition game at Campanelli Stadium on Aug. 16, 2023.  The Rox will play the game as 'The Party Animals' -- a concept similar to the shows put on by the Harlem Globetrotters.

Banana Ball coming to Brockton: Banana Ball is coming to town: Brockton Rox to host Savannah Bananas next summer 

A pitcher on stilts is the norm when it comes to the Savannah Bananas, who will playing at Canal Park on July 3, 2023.
A pitcher on stilts is the norm when it comes to the Savannah Bananas, who will playing at Canal Park on July 3, 2023.

Whitman mom leads charge to end 'unsafe weight limits' in youth football

The Old Colony Youth Football League (OCYFL) is under fire again as concerned parents in Whitman and surrounding towns are questioning the league's weight limits. "My son Jacob loves football, but ever since he joined the Midgets last year, he's been obsessed with food and checking his weight every day," Jenni Brennan, Whitman football mom of two and licensed therapist, said. Brennan did research on whether weight limits are healthy for young athletes.

'He barely eats': Whitman mom leads charge to end 'unsafe weight limits' in youth football

'A terrible situation': WB youth football prez speaks out on school choice controversy

Jailen Walters, 12, at Memorial Field in Whitman on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, has been "sidelined" from playing football in the OCYFL for two seasons due to his weight, his mother Ashley Drake said.
Jailen Walters, 12, at Memorial Field in Whitman on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, has been "sidelined" from playing football in the OCYFL for two seasons due to his weight, his mother Ashley Drake said.

Cameron Monteiro scores four TDs in first start at quarterback; Brockton wins back-to-back

A lot has changed since standout receiver Oluwakoleade "K.O." Osinubi returned to his hometown's high school football team. Fresh off of winning the Division 2 Super Bowl title at Catholic Memorial last year, the Brockton native envisioned winning big again. A 3-1 start for the Brockton High football team this fall has only strengthened that belief. Lining up on the opposite side of star wide-out Cameron Monteiro was also lucrative – Monteiro reached the end zone four times in Brockton's 52-17 win over Natick.

Monteiro scores 4 TDs: Cameron Monteiro scores four TDs in first start at quarterback; Brockton wins back-to-back

Brockton's Cameron Monteiro signals for a two-point conversion during a game against Natick at Marciano Stadium on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. Brockton won 52-17.
Brockton's Cameron Monteiro signals for a two-point conversion during a game against Natick at Marciano Stadium on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. Brockton won 52-17.

Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton-area top 5 stories: Fatal crash; Banana Ball; monkeypox