Softball gets 10th win
The girls softball team (10-7) started last week at home with a satisfying 9-2 win over non-league Ipswich that also clinched a state tournament berth.
The May 11 game also featured the 700th career strikeout for all-star pitcher Tessa Francis, who scattered three hits, while fanning 18 in another dominating performance. Francis reached the milestone on her eighth whiff, and had 10 more after that to give her 710 with five more regular season games still to go, plus the postseason, to add to that total.
Francis also played a role in the offense by going 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI. Third baseman Tessa Andriano powered the attack with three hits and three RBI.
Coach Johnny Gold’s team then lost a close contest to host Beverly two days later, 3-2. There are only four games left in the regular season, including a makeup game at Danvers on May 20, starting at 4 p.m. The game against the Falcons was originally scheduled for May 14, but rain forced the postponement.
Baseball Magicians split the week
The Marblehead High baseball team (9-8) had mixed results last week. They were shutout by Swampscott on May 11, 6-0, before narrowly beating Beverly two days later, 2-1. Both games were home encounters at Seaside Park.
“We couldn’t get anything going at the plate against Swampscott,” said coach Mike Giardi.
The baseball Magicians managed just two hits – one single apiece by catcher E.J. Wyman and Owen Coyne – while striking out 14 times.
Sophomore pitcher Madden Lyons (5 hits, 3 walks, 2 runs, 1 earned, 7 strikeouts) definitely deserved a better fate on the mound after going six strong innings, giving up only one earned run. Coyne (3 hits, 1 walk, 4 runs) pitched the final frame.
The Magicians, however, bounced back nicely against the Panthers. “This was a much-needed win,” said Giardi.
Senior captain Ryan Angilly delivered a clutch two-out single that scored his fellow captain Dylan Glass with the game-winning run in the seventh inning. Glass entered the game as a pinch runner for junior Andrew Dellacamera, who patiently waited out a walk. Sophomore catcher Will DePhillips was then hit by a pitch. Lyons, his classmate, moved both he and Dephillips into scoring position on a fielder’s choice, setting the stage for Angilly’s heroics.
Yanzel Fuentes (7 innings, 4 hits, 2 walks, 1 run, 4 strikeouts), another sophomore, earned his second complete game win of the year after throwing 79 pitches.
The Magicians were credited with five hits. Greyson Leventhal had a double to account for the team’s lone extra base hit in the game. Tim Wales drove home the tying run with a single in the fourth inning. Dellacamera chipped in with two singles.
Girls lacrosse remains in postseason hunt
The girls lacrosse team (6-6 in the Northeastern Conference, 8-9 overall) won two out of three games last week to keep its postseason aspirations alive going into the regular season finale against Winthrop at home on May 19 after press deadline.
These Magicians defeated visiting Peabody on May 11, 17-9. But then, host Masco turned the tables on them two days later, 16-9, before they traveled to Tewksbury to beat the Lady Redmen, 14-6 last Saturday, May 16.
Coach Annie Madden’s team celebrated Senior Day prior to the game against the Tanners. “All season long, we have been working to put together a full 48 minutes of lacrosse, and today we did just that,” said the veteran Marblehead coach. “Everyone did what they needed to do in order to win it for our seniors – Chloe Rowland, Avery Wysor, Avery Barbeau, Anna Rausch and Sofi Kannengeisser – who have led us (since practice began in March), and today was for them.”
Zoe Dwyer paced the attack with nine goals, while Sammy Walker led the team in draws. Goalie Molly Bullard once again came up with some clutch saves to help preserve the winning margin of difference. She made nine saves altogether.
Addie Co-Peeps (2 goals, 2 assists, 1 caused turnover), Emma Ryan (2 goals, 1 groundball), Maggie Svencer (1 goal, 1 assist, 5 draw controls), Gwen Potter (1 assist, 2 draw controls, 4 groundballs), Avery Wysor (1 assist, 1 groundball) and Chloe Rowland (2 groundballs) also contributed to the win. Besides her nine goals, Dwyer was also credited with one draw control. Walker chipped in with three goals, one assist and two groundballs to go along with her winning draws.
In the game against Masco, Dwyer was once again the scoring leader with five goals and one assist. Co-Peeps collected two goals and one assist. Sydney Moniz and Ryan each accounted for one goal. Svencer was responsible for one assist. Bullard stopped seven shots.
The Marblehead girls then stayed ahead of Tewksbury throughout the Saturday matinee, including at halftime, 9-2. Dwyer, only a sophomore, was once again the star of the show with seven goals, one of which was her 100th career marker.
Co-Peeps (4 goals, 1 assist), Barbeau (1 goal), Svencer (1 goal) and Moniz (1 goal) also played significant offensive roles. Bullard did her part to maintain the safe lead with eight saves.
“This was a good team win,” Madden said afterwards. “Everyone stepped up, and was focused on taking care of the ball.”
Boys tennis keeps on winning
The boys tennis team (13-2) extended its winning streak to eight after wins against Gloucester (4-1, May 11), Beverly (4-1, May 12) and finally Danvers (5-0, May 16).
It’s been a successful first year for coach Karl Tenenholtz, whose club swept the host Falcons off their courts last Saturday afternoon, which just might move them up in the Division 2 power rankings. Going into the Danvers match, they were fourth overall, only trailing Longmeadow (14-1), Westborough (9-3) and Walpole (11-4).
Ty Cooper shut down Jack Scarpaci of Danvers in first singles, 6-0, 6-0. T.J. Kelly had pretty much the same results against Connor DiTomaso in second singles, 6-1, 6-0. Alex Boehning maintained the trend in third singles, beating Jack Chronis, 6-0, 6-0.
The first doubles team of Cordt Menzler and Finn Bowen dominated Kyle Sillars and Graham Corbin, 6-0, 6-1. Jeff Kucharsky and Griffin Waller took care of Jacob Downey and Evan Sewyck in second doubles, 6-2, 6-3.
Girls tennis takes down Gloucester
The girls tennis team (8-4) played only one match last week, and that was a shutout 5-0 win over host Gloucester on May 11. They are well on their way to another postseason berth, and are currently seeded 15th in the latest Division 2 power rankings. As of press deadline, they still have six regular season matches left on the schedule, starting with a Sunday encounter (May 17) against the Falcons in Danvers.
The Magicians easily dispatched the aforementioned Gloucester in straight sets throughout all five individual matches to secure their eighth win of the season.
Samara Dosch (6-2, 6-2), Callie Gilmore (6-0, 6-0) and Sophie Li (6-2, 6-0) won their singles matches. The first doubles team of Joy Meshulam and Caroline Bruett took care of business, 6-2, 6-4, while Lilly O’Keefe and Harper Mooney finished off the Lady Fishermen in second doubles, 6-1, 6-2.
