The No. 37 Marblehead baseball team (10-11) trailed, 2-1, after two innings, but fifth-seeded Mansfield took over with a three-run third inning to put the pressure on en route to a 7-3 win in Division 2 action. Left-fielder Cameron Quigley and right-fielder Owen Coyne each had a pair of hits for Marblehead, while all three RBI came from Coyne. Marblehead finished with six hits, compared to Mansfield’s nine, while both teams committed two errors.
BASEBALL
St. John’s Prep 6
Newton South 0
Braeden Hurley (8 K) earned the win and the No. 10 Eagles flew past No. 23 Newton South in the Division 1 tournament. The offensive load was led by Will Shaheen (2 H, RBI, R) and Connor Durney (2 H, RBI).
Marblehead 4
Marshfield 2
Division 2 action saw No. 37 Marblehead take down No. 28 Marshfield in a preliminary showdown. Carter Sahagian (7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, BB, 6 K) put on a show from the mound, while the offense was led by Stefan Shepard (H, 2 RBI). Despite committing four errors, seven Magicians compiled hits to put pressure on the hosts.
SOFTBALL
Marblehead 3
Leominster 0
Marblehead pitcher Tessa Francis gave up three hits and struck out 11 batters as the No. 15 Magicians are still alive in their Division 2 quest. Isabel Mortensen led Marblehead with a pair of hits, followed by Ashley Mortensen, Nora Mahan, Tessa Andriano, and Francis, all of whom collected hits.
BOYS LACROSSE
St. John’s Prep 16
Wellesley 1
The second-seeded Eagles (19-1) netted 18 goals through 12 goal-scorers and flew over No. 18 Wellesley at Glatz Field in Danvers. It was 4-1 in favor of The Prep after one quarter – Wellesley shot out to a 1-0 lead – but the defending Division 1 champions turned up the pressure from there. Sebastian Froeb and Ryan Doherty played well defensively, while Ryan McCarthy (3 goals), Luke Kelly (2 goals, assist), Thias Tolo (2 goals), Cam McCarthy (goal, 2 assists), and Paul Kosinski (goal, assist) led the offense. Will Crawford won 10 of 11 face-offs.
St. John’s Prep 19
Medford 1
The No. 2 St. John’s Prep Eagles (18-1) – in search of another Division 1 title – defeated No. 31 Medford by 18 goals at Glatz Field. Sam Pruell and Cal Haughey shined defensively, while 17 Eagles netted goals. Chase Kenyon won 18 of 20 face-offs, while Brody McMahon won three of four.
Reading Memorial 17
Marblehead 2
No. 27 Marblehead opened the postseason on the road against No. 6 Reading Memorial in Division 2. Unfortunately for the Magicians, the Rockets were firing on all cylinders, scoring seven goals in the first quarter to take a commanding 7-0 lead. Reading Memorial led 12-0 at halftime. Marblehead got goals back in the third and fourth quarters, but its defense struggled against a powerful attack.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Grafton 14
Marblehead 6
The No. 23 Magicians traveled to face No. 10 Grafton, but came back empty-handed as Marblehead was eliminated from the Division 2 tournament. The game was close at halftime with Marblehead trailing, 6-4. Unfortunately, in the second half, the Magicians couldn’t keep up. Kathryn Commoss and Zoe Dwyer led the Magicians with two goals each. Maddie Forbes and Ramona Gillett also got on the scoresheet with a goal apiece. Molly Bullard made five saves in net.
“It was a well-fought game to conclude a season we are incredibly proud of,” said Coach Annie Madden. “Our seniors were leaders from the first day of our season to the last. The legacy they have left behind is more important than any win.”
GIRLS TENNIS
Wayland 4
Marblehead 1
After winning its opening match against No. 15 Masconomet, No. 18 Marblehead made the trip to No. 2 Wayland for the second round of Division 2 tennis. Unfortunately for the Magicians, they couldn’t pull off another upset, losing 4-1. The lone winner for Marblehead came from the first doubles team of Reese Friedman and Lani Gilmore, which won a back-and-forth match 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), (12-10).
“Wayland is a powerhouse of a tennis team. All of their players hit tough deep balls with tons of variety in their games. It was easy to see why they are the No. 2 seed. I was proud of our girls for never giving up on balls and fighting to the end,” said Marblehead Coach Tracy Ackerman. “Reese and Lani ended their uber-successful doubles tennis careers in stellar fashion. After losing the first set, they battled from behind to win the second set in a tiebreaker. They pulled from all their experience as partners for two years and won an absolute battle of a tiebreaker,12-10. As a coach, that is all I could ask for. Lani and Reese have shown tremendous leadership and sportsmanship throughout the season, and for them to finish with this win means the world.”
Marblehead 3
Masconomet 2
Two of the top teams in the Northeastern Conference met again, this time in the postseason, as the No. 18 Marblehead girls tennis team pulled off a 3-2 upset over No. 15 Masconomet in Division 2 at Bass River Tennis Club.
Despite losses at first and second singles, Marblehead earned victories at third singles, first doubles, and second doubles. Abbie Goodwin won at third singles, 6-3, 6-3, defeating Sophia Donnelan. Gilmore and Friedman took first doubles, 6-0, 7-6 (7-1), while Caroline Bruett and Josie Reers won a three-set thriller at second doubles, 6-1, 2-6, 7-5.
“We all knew it was going to be super close, so we have been very focused in practice all week. We have tons of respect for the Masco players and their coaches,” Ackerman said.
Ackerman praised Bruett’s performance.
“Caroline Bruett, in particular today, had an outstanding day on the courts. She was consistent when needed, but also put balls away at the net to end points for us. Her confidence helped her partner to remain calm and clinch the match,” Ackerman said.
VOLLEYBALL
Newton South 3
St. John’s Prep 2
In Division 1 volleyball, despite taking the first set, the No. 16 Eagles were eliminated in the opening round of the state tournament in five sets. The Eagles got off to a fast start, thanks to Jayden Pelletier, who had multiple kills to help The Prep take the first set, 25-17. No. 17 Newton South responded by winning the second set, 25-16. The teams then traded sets with St. John’s Prep taking the third (25-18) and Newton South winning the fourth (25-20) to force a fifth. In the decisive set, Newton South trailed, 8-3, early, but rallied to win 12 of the next 15 points to advance.
