WA tennis star Liona remains perfect
Playing in perhaps the strongest league in the state, the Dual County League, Westford Academy boys tennis star Connor Liona accomplished an impressive feat Tuesday.
The junior completed an undefeated regular season during a 5-0 victory over Belmont.
Liona won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles to stay perfect. Also winning singles matches were Savnak Manna (62, 6-2) and Will Owen (6-2, 6-1). In doubles, the teams of Finn Paquette/cang Nguyen (4-6, 6-2, 10-7 TB) and Yash Veerkar/devank Sayena (26, 7-5, 10-5 TB) both rallied for victories for the Ghosts. BG 9, MERRIMACK 0 >> The Cardinals swept their way to the NHIAA state tournament victory as Nick Xie (83), Gavin Bombara (8-0), Will Moynihan (8-6), Sean Cairns (8-0), Aditya Prasad (8-3) and Sean Finnegan (8-0) all won singles matches.
In doubles, the teams of Xie/bombara (8-6), Moynihan/cairns (8-1) and Lazzari/ Benson (8-6) were also winners for BG.
Girls tennis
WOBURN 3, WILMINGTON 2
The Wildcats swept the doubles matches behind the teams of Maddy Benoit/sophia Lavita (6-2, 6-1) and Julia Kane/eleanor Ragsdale (7-5, 7-5) in the narrow Middlesex League loss.
N. ANDOVER 5, BILLERICA 0
The Indians were swept away in MVC action by North Andover (9-7).
NORTHBRIDGE 4, NM 1 >> North Middlesex was defeated despite a fine effort from the No. 1 doubles team of Lizzy Holsinger and Liv Freeman. They collected a 6-1, 6-0 victory.
LAWRENCE 3, LOWELL 2 >> In a marathon battle of Mill City rivals, Lawrence won its first match in several years. Two singles matches lasted three hours.
Lowell’s Siya Patel lost a tough 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3) match at No. 1 singles, while Bella Meas was bested at No. 2 singles in another marathon, 6-7 (6-8), 7-5, 6-4. Lowell (2-15, 1-14 MVC) won the doubles matches behind the play of Audrey Djatcha/ Erin Nji (6-4, 6-0) and Natalie Sandler/sophia Gikas (61, 6-1).
Boys lacrosse
LITTLETON 11, OAKMONT 8 >> Brian Marrese netted four goals and an assist to power the Tigers to the CMADA Class B quarterfinal victory.
Brady Decoste was also pivotal, adding three goals and an assist. Cam Noyes continued his outstanding senior campaign with two goals and four assists. Justin Manno tallied two goals. Luke Laferty dished out two assists, while Gage Carroll stopped 16 shots. GROTON-DUNSTABLE 11, NM 9
The host Crusaders (14-3) came from behind to defeat a feisty North Middlesex (107) team in the CMADA Class A quarterfinals.
Evan Laudenslager led G-D with four goals and two assists, while Dom Terrazzano netted two goals and three assists. Nate Spinale produced two goals and an assist. Wes Garibotto chipped in a goal and assist. Gabe Pierantozzi and Freddy Hardy added a goal each. Henry Palmer made 12 saves. The Crusaders will play the Grafton-westboro winner in the semifinals.
For North Middlesex, Mason Shultz led the way with four goals an an assist. Shawn Highley and Joe Williams both had two goals and an assist. Jimmy O’keefe scored once, while Luke Maclean turned aside six shots.
Girls lacrosse
TEWKSBURY 12, DRACUT 11 >> Jamie Constantino and Emily Picher buried four goals apiece as the Redmen nipped the Middies in a thrilling MVC clash. Paige Crowley tallied a pair of goals for Tewksbury.
N. ANDOVER 15, BILLERICA 10
Despite three-goal performances from Sara Macleod and Delaney Burns, the Indians were downed in MVC play.
Chipping in with two goals each were Giovanna Gulinello and Sophia Jannoni, while Samantha White made five saves for Billerica (7-10, 6-7 MVC).
HAVERHILL 12, LOWELL 2 >> Despite a two-goal performance from Jackie Peirce, the Red Raiders fell in MVC play. Sara Skaff was outstanding in net for LHS with 20 saves.
Fantastic defense was supplied by Princess Onyenwe, Erin Asselin, Bella Goncalves, Alanna Cohen, Keanalee Fuentes, Peirce and Mia Simuang.
Softball
GR. LOWELL 16, GROTON-DUNSTABLE 15 >> In a non-league slugfest, the Crusaders received solid hitting performances from several players in the narrow loss.
Emma Hulslander led G-D by going 3-for-3 with two RBI. Also swinging hot bats were Lauren Haggerty (2-for-4, 2 RBI, double), Kaitlyn Haggerty (1-for-1, 2 RBI) and Erin Cirafella (1-for-2, 2 RBI, double).
TYNGSBORO 12, BM 0 >> The Tigers easily captured the CMADA Class C quarterfinal in five innings as Kiley Hogan struck out 14 Blackstone Millville hitters and allowed just two hits.
Carly Dimento went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Hogan also starred at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a single, triple and home run. Sam Puma went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Elisabeth Sillipp 1-for-3 with an RBI. Madi Mical 2-for-3 with an RBI, Kaylie Cashman went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Katie O’keefe went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
ESSEX 13, GR. LOWELL 7 >> The Gryphons were defeated as Amaya Flood took the loss on the mound. Sam Brady, Paige Matte and Ashley Mills all had hits for Greater Lowell.
Baseball
ALGONQUIN 8, NM 2 >> North Middlesex dropped the CMADA consolation game as the Patriots could only manage six singles in Townsend.
Ashton Donia (1-for-3) and Kyle Lewis (1-for-1) both drove in a run for the hosts. Algonquin scored a run in every inning except the fourth. Donia took the loss, allowing seven hits and five earned runs in six innings. NORTHBRIDGE 2, G-D 1 >> Groton-dunstable senior Nate Bushnell struck out seven and only allowed six hits, but Northbridge’s two-run fourth was the difference during a CMADA Class B quarterfinal in Groton.
Groton-dunstable (8-10) was limited to three hits.
CATHOLIC 2 >> Senior lefty Conlen Powell was masterful in going the distance on the mound. Both runs against him were unearned, as he scattered seven hits and struck out seven for ST (153, 10-2 CAC).
Shawsheen broke the game open with a three-run fifth when Dyllon Pratt unloaded a three-run double. He finished with two doubles. Nate Galanis collected two hits and drove in a run. Aiden Macleod (hit, 2 RBI), Mike Maselli (2 runs), Lukas Poirier (1 hit, run) and Brody Amenkowicz (hit, run) contributed on offense. WOBURN 3, BILLERICA 2 >> Ryan Peters was the hardluck losing pitcher when the Indians allowed an unearned run in the last inning.
The Indians had chances but couldn’t come up with a key hit .Drew Mello pitched well for five innings, giving up just one earned run for Billerica (11-10).
DOUGLAS 3, TYNGSBORO 2
Visiting Douglas pushed across a run in the top of the seventh to take the CMADA Class C quarterfinal game.
Ryan Wall and Jack Hannes each ripped doubles, while Adam Dorant and Andrew Duarte drove in runs. Scoring the runs were Jimmy O’keefe and Gavin Hehir, who both singled.
3 >> Despite triples by Cam Marshall and Brian Holmes, the visiting Panthers dropped the CMADA Class C quarterfinal clash. Marshall scored a run, while Holmes came across with the other two runs for Ayer Shirley (12-5).
Boys volleyball
WAYLAND 3, WESTFORD 2
In an entertaining Dual County League battle, the host Ghosts were edged, 2527, 27-25, 25-20, 25-27, 17-15.