Girls tennis extends winning streak to six
After starting off the season with three straight losses, the Marblehead High girls tennis team has rattled off six straight wins to get right back on track with the first half of the season and the month of April quickly coming to an end.
These Magicians closed out last week with a close 3-2 triumph over visiting Masco on May 1. Second singles player Callie Gilmore cliched the overall match with a straight sets victory, 6-1, 6-4.
The first doubles team of Joy Meshulam and Caroline Bruett breezed to a 6-1, 6-1 win, while Harper Mooney and Lilly O’Keefe, the second doubles tandem, persevered, 7-5, 6-3.
Coach Tracy Ackerman praised the marathon effort of first singles player Samara Dosch, who made her Chieftains opponent Ria Kundallyn work hard for the win. That match lasted 2 ½ hours, before Dosch fell, 5-7, 5-7.
Previously, they defeated Danvers (April 29) and Beverly (April 28) by identical 4-1 scores after shutting out Saugus to begin last week on April 27, 5-0. All of these matches were also played at home.
Boys tennis begins May with another win
The boys tennis team (7-2) continues to win under the guidance of first-year head coach Karl Tenenholtz after prevailing over host Masco in its most recent match, 3-2 on May 1.
“This was a matchup between the third ranked team in Division 2, which we are, and the fifth ranked team,” said Tenenholtz.
Ty Cooper outlasted Masco’s Kai Hird in first singles, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. T.J. Kelly defeated Akash Meuon in second singles, 6-4, 6-1. But Caleb Sidman dropped a 6-1, 6-1 decision to Parker Kurtz in third singles.
The first doubles team of Adam Loughlin and Alex Boehning then dropped a marathon matchup to Aujun Sukjakar and Kartnir Nargund, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (4-7).
But in the clincher, Cordt Menzler and Filip Wabno took care of Alex Raymond and Henry Tissera in second doubles, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 11-9.
Coming into the Masco encounter, the Marblehead boys shutout host Danvers on April 29, 5-0, which followed a 4-1 loss to St. John’s Prep the day before on its Danvers campus.
Baseball Magicians get tripped up by Fenwick
The baseball Magicians (7-5) began last week with a decisive mercy rule victory over Salem at Seaside Park, 17-0 on April 28, before losing to non-league Bishop Fenwick, also at home, 7-3 last Saturday afternoon.
“Unfortunately, Salem came into this game shorthanded with several players injured,” said coach Mike Giardi, “and as a result, we were able to put up 13 in the first inning, and never looked back.”
Collin Allen pitched the first four innings to get the win. He gave up just one hit, while striking out six. Ryan Stockbridge took over for Allen in the fifth, and whiffed two to finish off the Witches in this mercy rule shortened game.
The offense banged out 13 hits, with Tim Wales (single, 3 RBI), Ethan Harwood (2 RBI), Madden Lyons (2 singles, 2 RBI) and Greyson Leventhal (1 RBI) leading the way with one double apiece.
The game against the Crusaders was a different story. “Too many mistakes led to many extra opportunities for Fenwick, which ended up costing us,” said Giardi.
Allen (7 hits, 4 walks, 5 runs, 3 earned, 5 strikeouts) also started this game on the hill, going 4.1-innings. Junior Will Macrina went the next two, giving up just one hit, three walks and two runs, one earned, while fanning one. Cam Carneval pitched two-thirds of an inning that resulted in one hit and one strikeout.
The home team managed only seven hits, and James Machado (1 RBI) and Leventhal supplied the power with one double apiece. Lyons was credited with two singles and one RBI.
Softball team ends April with nine wins
The softball team is 9-6 with the whole month of May ahead of them to secure many more wins in its pursuit of a top seed going into the state tournament. They picked up win No. 9 against Salem at home last Wednesday, April 29, 5-2.
Freshman Kiley Lewis, making her varsity debut in the circle, pitched all seven innings against the Witches to secure the win. Lewis completed the complete game effort by issuing just three hits, while whiffing two.
According to veteran head coach Johnny Gold, the Marblehead defense was outstanding, beginning with third baseman Tessa Andriano, who pulled off a double play with an assist from her twin sister Kate.
Ashley Mortensen helped pace the offensive attack with two hits and an RBI. Lillian Reddy also had a couple of hits. Kate Andriano knocked in a run with a single.
Girls lacrosse takes its four wins into May
The girls lacrosse team (4-7) dropped two games last week to visiting Beverly (12-5, April 30) and non-league host Manchester Essex (14-10, May 2).
Against the Panthers, Addie Co-Peeps (1 goal, 1 caused turnover), Emma Ryan (1 goal) and Zoe Dwyer (3 goals, 1 assist) factored into the offense. Goalie Molly Bullard was credited with 10 saves.
“I was so impressed with our play in this game,” said coach Annie Madden. “Our defense came ready to play, and dominated on all sets, while Molly Bullard did an amazing job in goal. Elise Dulac had two crucial turnovers that produced offensive opportunities.”
Turning to last Saturday’s game against the Hornets, Co-Peeps (4 goals, 1 assist), Ryan (1 assist), Dwyer (2 goals, 1 assist), Maggie Svencer (1 goal, 1 assist), Sammy Walker (1 goal, 3 draw controls) and Avery Wysor (2 goals, 1 assist) were the team’s statistical leaders. Bullard made 16 saves.
“Molly (Bullard) played another amazing game in net,” said Madden, “and the defense once again came to play and worked as a unit to slow down the Manchester Essex offense. Even though we didn’t win the game, we are still improving.”
