Clinch tournament berth

Published May 15, 2019

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LYNNFIELD — There was a tennis match that took place at two venues on Monday as the Lynnfield High boys’ tennis team took on Hamilton-Wenham. The first part of the match took place at the Lynnfield Middle School but, due to the rain, was continued indoors as the Northeast Tennis Center in Middleton.

The Pioneers suffered their first loss of the season as they were edged 3-2 to fall to 10-1 overall and 6-1 in the Cape Ann League.

“Our schedule is already backed up due to the rain so we decided to finish the match inside,” explained Lynnfield head coach Joe Dunn.

Sophomore co-captain Jamil Khodr lost at first singles in three sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1. Harrison Luba, at second singles won in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

Mike Gentile won in straight sets at third singles, 6-1, 6-3.

The first doubles team of David Gentile and Mike Maffeo lost in three sets, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1. The second team of Jason Stelman and Matt Gunning lost 2-0 as they had to retire.

“It is two evenly matched teams,” said Dunn. “We beat them earlier this year, 3-2.”

Sting Hornets in rematch

On May 9, the Pioneers blanked host North Reading, 5-0, to complete the season sweep over the Hornets.

“They are better than what the final score shows,” said Dunn. “They have a lot of veterans on that team.”

Khodr won 6-1, 6-3, while Luba won 6-1, 6-0. Mike Gentile won 6-1, 6-3, at third singles.

David Gentile and Maffeo won 6-4, 6-1 while Stelman and Gunning won in three sets at second doubles. They won the first set 6-1, but lost the second one 6-4. They then won 6-3 in the final set.

Beat Masco

On May 8, the Pioneers won at Masconomet 4-1 up in Boxford.

Khodr lost in three sets. He won the first one, 7-5, but then lost the next two, 6-3, 6-2. Luba, meanwhile won in three sets. The freshman lost the first one 6-2 but then won 7-5, 6-2.

“That was a great comeback win for Harrison,” said Dunn. “He was trailing in that second set.”

Mike Gentile won 6-1, 6-3, at number three.

David Gentile and Maffeo won,7-6 (7-2 in the tiebreaker) and 6-3 while Stelman and Gunning won 6-4, 6-3.

Tourney bound

Lynnfield punched its ticket to the Division 3 state tournament on May 7 as they won at Swampscott 5-0 to complete the season sweep over the non-league Big Blue.

Khodr won 6-0, 6-1 while Luba won with matching 6-4 scores. Mike Gentile won 6-0, 6-1.

David Gentile and Maffeo won 6-3, 6-1, while Stelman and Gunning won 6-1, 6-0.

The Pioneers will visit St. John’s Prep on Wednesday (May 15). They then return to CAL action the next day as they visit Manchester-Essex.

Lynnfield then plays its third match in three days on Friday as they visit Ipswich.

On May 20, they host Pentucket.

All four of those matches will start at 3:30 p.m.