Lowell girls tennis opens with solid victory
Red Raiders defeat Everett at Shedd Park, 4-1
The Lowell High girls tennis team opened the 2024 season in style Monday.
The Red Raiders got past Everett, 4-1, in a non-league match at Shedd Park in Lowell.
Siya Patel posted a 6-1, 6-3, win at No. 1 singles, while Erin Nji cruised 6-1, 6-0, at No. 2 singles. Lowell swept singles as Tina Nguyen was a 6-1, 6-4 ,winner at No. 3. Baylee Anderson and Natalie Sandler combined for a 6-2, 6-1, win at No. 1 doubles.
It was Andover’s varsity debut and she picked up a racquet only three weeks ago.
PELHAM 9, MONADNOCK 0 >> The Pythons (1-0) ran the table in its season opening win.
Senior co-captain Jessica Bevens led the sweep at No. 1 singles 8-2. Sophomore No. 2 singles Kathryn Haley won 8-2. Senior co-captain No. 3 singles Rosie Day delivered 8-3. Junior No. 4 singles Sarah Bellahrossi was brilliant at 8-1. Junior No. 5 singles Olivia Squallante secured the 8-1 decision, with No. 6 singles winning by default.
In doubles action, Bevens and Bellahrossi, along with Haley and Day, each won 8-0, with No. 3 doubles team also winning by default.
NORTH MIDDLESEX 4, FITCHBURG 1
No. 2 singles Rebekah Sylvester (6-4, 6-1) and No. 3 singles Lizzy Holsinger (6-0, 6-1) held the fort as North Middlesex (1-0) got past Fitchburg in its home opener.
No. 1 singles Gabbie Curtin was edged in a tiebreaker 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (10-5), but North Middlesex battled back in doubles action. No. 1 doubles Olvia Rowley and Ava Stuart earned the 6-3, 6-4 decision, with No. 2 doubles Hira Khan and Zoe Aster also prevailing 6-4, 6-1.
Boys Tennis
LOWELL 3, EVERETT 2 >> Logick Lamichhane levied a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles, as the Red Raiders (1-0) edged the Crimson Tide in non-league action.
Lowell’s double teams came through in the clutch. No. 1 dou
bles Dhruv Patel and Hiro Neang pulled out a 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 victory, while No. 2 pair Vaal Thawnghmung and Tawtaw Lay also stuck it out for the 6-2, 6-7(4) decision to clinch the win. After taking his first set 6-3, top singles player Morokot Aing was upended 6-1, 6-4. Third singles Finnegan Gilday also fell 6-3, 6-4. LITTLETON 5, TYNGSBORO 0
Sudar Meyyappan played well for Tyngsboro.
Softball
WESTFORD 8, NORTH MIDDLESEX 2 >> Khloe Felicani drilled a pair of extra base hits, including a home run and a double, as Westford topped North Middlesex.
The Ghosts lineup was powered by multi-hit efforts from Sarah Kirby, Katie Carroll (double, triple) and Anya Gesin. Mackenzie Fannon also had a hit as well. That was all the offense sophomore pitcher Jessica Tang would need. The hurler tossed a complete-game victory, scattering three hits for two unearned runs, walking five, while striking out six.
0 >> Ali Mcelligott and Lily Mackenzie ignited the Wildcats lineup. The pair both went 2-for-4 with three runs and an RBI, rallying the team for six runs in the fifth to put the game away.
Eva Boudreau (3-for-4, triple, two RBI), Erin Mccarthy (double, two RBI) and Olivia Raposa (hit, two RBI) and also came up clutch. Wilmington struck for three more runs in the seventh with Charlotte Forcina (two hits, two runs) also making solid contact. Freshmen pitcher Izzy Maiella went the distance in her varsity debut holding
Winchester to just two hits in seven innings, while fanning six.
CHELMSFORD 6, ACTON-BOXBORO 1 >> Adrianna Capozzi belted a two-run homer over the left field fence, as the Lions opened the season with the win.
Chelmsford’s lineup made solid contact with Sam Kelepouris (3-for-3), Jenna Nigro and Zoey Moscato collected multiple hits. Pitcher Allie Kenney threw a complete game four-hitter for the Lions.
Girls lacrosse
CENTRAL 12, NORWELL 7 >> Central Catholic opened the season with an impressive non-league victory.
Central, which led 8-4 at halftime, received three goals from Abby Yfantopulous and Olivia Rondeau. Yfantopulous added an assist and four draw controls. Adding two goals each were Nicolette Licare (assist), Sarah Wilson and Kerri Finneran (8 draw controls). Anne Cashman made eight saves for the Raiders. WILMINGTON 9, TEWKSBURY 7 >> Tewksbury led 3-1, 4-2 and 5-3, but the Redmen couldn’t hold off Wilmington during season-opening action.
A goal by Grace Willy, her second of the game, pulled Tewksbury into a 7-7 tie with 10 minutes left before the Wildcats netted the last two goals.
Also scoring for Tewksbury was Ava Nordbruch. Netting single tallies were Kat Schille, Addy Tanguay and Julia Moura.
10, GREATER LOWELL 7 >> The Rams held the 6-5 lead at halftime.
Greater Lowell couldn’t capitalize in the second half, despite two goal games from Emma Finch, Tyra Medina and Julia Canario. Kristine Nocco rounded out the offense for the Gryphons. Megan Lesniak and
Addison Carbone each added an assist. Freshman goalkeeper Julia Dunfey made 11 saves in the loss. NASHOBA TECH 13, MYSTIC VALLEY CHARTER 9 >> Sophomore captain Samantha Richards struck for six goals and an assist leading Nashoba Tech (2-0) to the victory. Cassidy Bilawchuk (four points) and Delaney Auger each added three goals. Paige Duby rounded out the goal scoring binge, with Maddie Darlington picking up a helper. Goalie Amber King was solid in net making eight saves.
Boys Volleyball
LOWELL 3, CAMBRIDGE 1 >> Red Raiders captain Cody Fitzpatrick registered 17 kills to plot an opening day comeback.
After dropping its first set 25-22, Lowell regrouped winning the next three 2514, 25-21 and 25-15. Captain Tyrell Lout spread the attack dishing 38 assists. Ceazar Joeseph scored 13 kills, while libero Eric Nguyen collected 20 digs. Walter
Palacio provided an added spark with four kills and four blocks.
ALGONQUIN 3, AYER SHIRLEY 2 >> Junior outside hitter Miles Pyatt had nine kills and an ace, but it wasn’t enough as Ayer Shirley (21) fell prey to an Algonquin (1-0) comeback.
The Panthers took the first two sets 25-21, 25-15, before dropping the next three 27-25, 25-15 and 157. Senior right side and setter David Batchelor shined in the loss recording eight kills, two blocks and 12 assists.
CHELMSFORD 3, WESTFORD 0>> The Lions outlasted the Ghosts in straight sets 2419, 25-12 and 25-23.
Baseball
WILMINGTON 1, WINCHESTER 0>> Ayden Balter and Noah Spencer combined for the shutout, as the Wildcats blanked Winchester.
Balter spun a gem surrendering three hits, two walks and 10 strikeouts over five frames. Spencer was just as solid in two innings of relief giving up just two hits. Austin Harper drove in the game’s lone run with a first inning single.
College track
KOTOWSKI HONORED >> Junior James Kotowski (Stoneham) of the Umass Lowell men’s track and field team has been named River Hawk of the Week after an impressive performance at the Raleigh Relays this past weekend.
Kotowski competed in the javelin on Thursday against stiff competition from around the nation, breaking the Umass Lowell record with a toss of 237 feet, 9 inches on just his second throw of the season. This mark earned him the victory in the event by over seven feet. Kotowski is also coming off a successful 2023 outdoor season, where he became the America East champion in the javelin with a conference record-breaking throw, before competing at the NCAA East Preliminaries.