After press time:
North Reading defeats Cape Cod Academy 4-1, advances to play Bedford in the Round of 16 on June 4.
For more details and the latest state tournament updates, click here.
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — In their final match of the regular season on May 23, the North Reading High boys’ tennis team lost, 5-0, to Lynnfield at home. The Pioneers, who won the Cape Ann League Kinney Division title for the sixth-consecutive season, swept the season series.
“We took them to three sets at first and second singles,” pointed out Hornets head coach Mark Bisognano. “In the league, no player has taken each of them to three sets.”
At first singles, Roman Ton won the first set, 6-3, but lost the second one, 6-3. They then played a 10-game pro-set in the final one, since the match was decided at that point and Ton lost, 10-3.
Second-singles player, Parker Lee won, 6-2, in the first set as he lost, 7-5, in the second one. The third set was also a 10-game pro set that he lost 10-7.
Ricky Ho played at third singles and he lost in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0.
In doubles action, the first team of Aiden Patel and Raffi Toby lost, 6-3, 6-4. The second team of Sameer Murthy and John Pastore also fell in two sets, 6-3, 6-1.
The day before the Lynnfield loss, the Hornets beat host Malden, 4-1, in a non-league match on a hot, humid day.
“They are the best team in the Greater Boston League and we only beat them 3-2 in the first meeting this year,” pointed out Bisognano.
Both Ton and Lee shut out their opponents, 6-0, 6-0. Toby played at third singles in this match and he won, 6-4, 6-2.
Ho and Murthy pulled out a marathon match at first doubles. They won the first set, 7-6 (7-5 in the tiebreaker), lost 7-6 (7-5 in the tiebreaker) in the second set and won 10-7 in the super tiebreaker for the final set.
Patel and Pastore fell in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, at second doubles.
North Reading was ranked 15th in the final MIAA Division 3 power rankings and they will get to open the states at home. They will welcome 18th-seeded Cape Cod Academy on June 1 with that match starting at 3 p.m.
Cape Cod Academy, who is the 18th seed, enters the match at 12-2.
Last year, they knocked off the Hornets in the tournament as they were the home team as North Reading looks to avenge that loss.
“They only had one senior from their team last year and we have five of our seven players back from last year,” said Bisognano. “Having to be in the bus for two hours, like we did last year when we went down there, should help us.”
