After press time: North Reading falls to Newburyport 4-1 (April 16)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — The North Reading High boys’ tennis team lost, 4-1, at Lynnfield on Monday afternoon on a pleasant, sunny day. With that result, the Hornets fell to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the Cape Ann League.
“They are still very deep,” said Hornets head coach Mark Bisognano, about the undefeated Pioneers. “They are not as good as they were last year but they are still the team to beat in our division.”
Senior co-captain, Parker Lee, lost, 6-1, 6-2, at first singles while Kellen Tiberii won, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5 in the tiebreaker) and 10-6 in a 10-point third set.
At third singles, Raffi Toby, lost, 6-2, 6-3.
In doubles action, the first team of sophomores John Pastore and Nolan Pierce fell, 6-0, 6-2.
The second team of senior co-captain, Sameer Murthy and 10th-grader, Connor Abruzzese, lost in three sets, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
On April 11, the Hornets beat visiting Bishop Fenwick, 4-1, in a non-league match.
Lee fell, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreaker) at first singles. Tiberii won, 6-1, 6-3, while Toby won, 6-2, 6-2.
Pastore and Pierce won, 6-2, 6-3, at first doubles while Murthy and Abruzzese won, 6-3, 6-7 (7-4 in the tiebreaker) and 10-3 in a 10-point third set.
“That was a solid win for us,” said Bisognano. “The second doubles team closed the match well after losing that second set.”
On April 9, the Hornets were blanked, 5-0, by guest Manchester-Essex.
“They are the team to beat in the (CAL) Baker Division,” said Bisognano.
Lee lost, 7-6 (7-1 in the tiebreaker), 6-2 while Tiberii fell, 6-0, 6-1. Toby lost, 6-0, 6-2.
Pastore and Murthy fell, 6-1, 6-2, while Cole Verdonck and Abruzzese also fell in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0.
The Hornets will have the April Vacation Week off next week as their next match isn’t until April 28 when they host Amesbury at 4 p.m.