FILE PHOTO
Lynn Classical’s Matt Lauria will play in the Agganis baseball and football games.
By STEVE KRAUSE
LYNN — When it comes to the Agganis All-Star games, it’s been an extended family affair for Lynn Classical’s Matt Lauria.
Lauria will play two games next week, one of them Sunday (baseball, 2 p.m., at Fraser Field) and the other on Thursday (football, 7 p.m., at Manning). He’ll have the extra-added privilege of wearing the coveted No. 33 in Thursday’s football game, which was the number the game’s namesake, Classical great Harry Agganis, wore in high school.
But most importantly, Lauria, Classical’s quarterback last fall, joins a host of extended family members who have played in these games in the past. His sister Kristen played basketball, as did cousins Meghan and Jill Reddy. Another cousin, Liam Reddy, will be playing with him in the football game Thursday.
And then there are the Kolodziajs. Brian played football, and Lauren played softball. And believe it or not, there are still two more from the extended Reddy/Lauria family to go: Lauria’s brother, Daniel; and Liam Reddy’s younger brother Colin.
Both Lauria and Liam Reddy will be on the South team, and as incredible as this may sound, they’ve never played on the same team formally.
“Liam and I have been playing in some similar sports for years,” he said, “but this is the first time we’ll be together on the same team. It’s pretty special.”
Beyond any of that, he said, he’s honored to play in the Agganis games.
“When you look at them, and see the people they select, it’s a huge honor to make one,” he said. “To make two is even more special.”
He considers baseball his best sport, and will be going to Bridgewater State to play. This spring, he was the catcher on Classical’s 19-1 Northeastern Conference/North-winning team. The Rams’ season came to an abrupt halt when Marblehead defeated them in Division 3 North tournament. Lauria admits it was a tough pill to swallow.
“You have such a great season, and it ends so suddenly,” he said. “So it’s great to play at Fraser Field one more time, and with some of my friends who have also played with me and against me. It’ll be fun. We can swap stories and all that fun stuff.”
Lauria had a front-row seat for what had to be the play of the year in high school football last season — Marcus Rivera’s electrifying 83-yard kickoff return to win the Thanksgiving game against English, 21-20.
“Marcus had missed a huge part of the season due to injury,” Lauria said, “so to be able to knock off English in the last game was the season was special, and awesome.”
Lauria wants to make sure he gives all his coaches a proper shoutout.
“I have an appreciation for all my coaches,” Lauria said. They’ve all helped me in different ways. I want to give them a shout out for everything they’d done for me in the past four years. I’ll miss them a lot.”
As for the game?
“It’s a nice way to give myself a sendoff,” said Lauria. “I’ll be playing among all-stars from the area, and both the games are going to be on my home field. It’s a pleasure, and I cannot wait.”