After press time: Lynnfield falls to Newburyport 3-2 (May 7)
Published May 7, 2025
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NEWBURYPORT — On May 1, the Lynnfield High boys’ tennis team was edged, 3-2, by host Newburyport. It was an historic defeat for the Pioneers who lost their first Cape Ann League regular-season match since the 2019 season.
“They have a tough team with a lot of depth,” said Lynnfield head coach Joe Dunn, about the Clippers. “Now, we hope to start another long winning streak.”
Shea McCarthy won, 6-1, 6-3, at first singles while Shlok Kudrimoti fell in three sets at second singles. He lost the first set, 6-0, but won the second one, 6-4. He then was shut out in the rubber set, 6-0.
Brady Trippe lost in three sets at third singles, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
“Even though he lost, Brady played a tremendous match,” said Dunn.
In doubles action, the first team of Raffi Arkun and Matt Reinold lost 6-4, 6-1. The second team of Andee Shieh and Rowan Bayer won in three sets as they won, 0-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2 in the tiebreaker).
With the defeat, the Pioneers fell to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the CAL.
The day before the Newburyport match, the Pioneers nipped Mystic Valley, 3-2, at home.
“They are a very good addition to our league,” said Dunn, as this is Mystic Valley’s first year in the CAL coming over from the Commonwealth Athletic Conference.
McCarthy was shutout, 6-0, 6-0, at first singles while Kudrimoti lost in three sets, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Reinold won at third singles, 6-0, 6-1.
The first doubles team of Arkun and Bayer won in three sets, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. The second pairing of Ritvik Mahajan and Rishabh Anand also won in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
“I was really pleased with our doubles teams that day,” stated Dunn. “We have been mixing and matching our doubles teams early in the season and both of these teams clicked and pulled through.”
On April 16, the Pioneers rolled over Pentucket, 5-0, at home as Lynnfield had the April Vacation Week off the next week.
McCarthy won with matching 6-3 scores at first singles while Reinold won, 6-4, 6-3, at second singles.
Trippe won, 6-1, 6-0, at third singles.
In doubles, Arkun and Bayer won, 6-3, 6-4, while Mahajan and Anand won with matching 6-2 scores at second doubles.
“Pentucket is stronger than they were last year, but we were the better team that day,” recalled Dunn.
The match at Manchester-Essex scheduled for Monday was rained out (make up date unknown as of press time).
On Wednesday, the Pioneers will try to avenge the loss to Newburyport as they host the Clippers at 4:30 p.m.
They then visit North Reading on May 9 at 4 p.m.
On May 12, Lynnfield visits Amesbury with that match starting at 3:30 p.m.