After press time:
North Reading falls to Newburyport 4-1 (May 15)

 

Published May 16, 2024

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — On Monday afternoon, the North Reading High boys’ tennis team edged Ipswich, 3-2, at home. With that win, the Hornets improved to 8-3 overall and 5-3 in the Cape Ann League.

At first singles, Roman Ton won, 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreaker), 6-4. Second-singles player, Parker Lee won, 6-1, 7-6 (7-2 in the tiebreaker) while Sameer Murthy won in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 at third singles.

“It all came down to Sameer,” pointed out Hornets head coach Mark Bisognano, as that was the last match to finish. “He rattled off the final three games of that third set to clinch the win. He played great in the clutch.”

In doubles action, the first team of Ricky Ho and Raffi Toby lost in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. The second pairing of John Pastore and Aiden Patel also fell in two sets, 7-5, 6-4.

“There are four or five matches that could go either way once the schedule comes out and this was one of them,” said Bisognano. “I was happy to win this one.”

On May 10, the Hornets were shut out by undefeated Lynnfield, 5-0, on the road.

“They are very strong again and haven’t dropped off a bit,” said Bisognano, about the Pioneers, who have dominated the league the past few years.

Ton lost, 6-3, 6-2, while Lee fell, 7-5, 6-1. Patel played third singles and lost, 6-0, 6-1.

Toby and Ho lost, 6-1, 6-3, while Pastore and Murthy fell, 6-1, 6-1.

The day before the Lynnfield match, the Hornets blanked host Pentucket, 5-0, to complete the season sweep over the Panthers.

Ton won, 6-0, 6-2, while Lee won, 6-3, 6-0. Patel, at number three, won with matching 6-1 scores.

Toby and Ho won, 6-1, 6-0, while Pastore and Murthy won, 6-2, 6-1.

“We played them much better than when we beat them in the season opener,” recalled Bisognano, as the Hornets won that first meeting, 3-2, back in early April.

On May 7, the Hornets shut out guest Methuen, 5-0, in a non league match.

“We took care of business,” said Bisognano.

Ton won, 6-2, 6-0, while Lee won, 6-3, 6-1. Murthy played third singles and he won 7-6 (7-2 in the tiebreaker), 6-4.

Toby and Ho won by default at first doubles while Pastore and Patel won in three sets. They lost the first one, 5-7, but won the next two, 6-4, 6-3.

On May 20, the Hornets visit Hamilton-Wenham. They then play a non-league match the next day as they visit Malden. Both of those matches will start at 4 p.m.

North Reading headed into this week seeded 15th in the MIAA Division 3 power rankings. The top 32 teams, at the end of the regular season, automatically qualify for the state tournament.