WESTFIELD – The Westfield High School boys’ tennis team is having a banner year.
Fresh off a solid showing at individual championships, Westfield upended its first two opponents of the week. The latest victory, a 5-0 shutout of visiting Holyoke, Wednesday, clinched at least a share of the Pioneer League championship.
“Our depth has taken us to where we are,” Westfield coach John Morizio said. “We are solid all the way through our lineup.”
Westfield’s seven starters rolled over Holyoke’s Purple Knights.
Tristin Viale (6-0), Lyle Libanan (6-3, 6-1), and Shayne Holloway (6-2, 6-0) swept singles action for Westfield at the Nos. 1-3 spots, respectively Wednesday.
Westfield dominated doubles play with Bombers’ No. 1 duo Jimmy Knapik and Matt Roberts and second doubles pair, Jaylen Bodendorf and Jake Perpetua, both sweeping 6-0, 6-0.
With the victory, Westfield improved to 12-1 overall and 6-0 in the Pioneer League. West Springfield (12-2 overall) currently sits at 5-1 in league play. Both teams meet tomorrow at West Side’s Clark Field at 4 p.m.
The St. Mary High School boys’ tennis team are, (pictured from left to right): head coach George Hart, players Will Armstrong, Zach Mastalerz, Patrick Boyle, Garrett Almeida, Matt Bruno, and Joe Wilcox. Assistant coach Father Chris Fedoryshyn stands at far right. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
Boyle a winner for STM
Mohawk 4, St. Mary 1
St. Mary’s Patrick Boyle won at second singles, defeating Isaac Paige, 6-2, 6-2.
GIRLS’ RESULTS
Demers wins in Saints’ defeat
Mohawk 4, St. Mary’s 1
St. Mary’s won at first singles at Jessica Demers upended, Mohawk’s Nelly O’Connell, 6-1, 6-2.
At second doubles, Saints’ Brianna Rivera and Mariah Suarez fell to Eva Markham and Charlotte Holdesied, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL
Bombers sweep Lions
Westfield def. Ludlow, 25-16, 25-22, 25-19
The defending west sectional champs completed another stellar season in the North League, sweeping Ludlow at home on senior night.
Igor Belokopytov (12 kills, seven digs), Eddie Lobota (10 kills, 11 digs, three blocks), Shane Kiendzior (eight kills), Ryan Murray (seven kills, two aces, three digs, one block), Scott Walsh (35 assists, 17 digs, three blocks), and Tyler Stanton (25 digs) fueled the victory.
SOFTBALL
Seniors shine for Gators
Ware 23, Gateway 7
Gateway seniors Gabby Dame, Joanna Arkoette, Chelsea Edinger, and Aliviah Galipeau each had hits in their team’s second-to-last game of their high school career. Dame finished with two.
Southwick softball pitcher Emily Lachtara, right, deals at Palmer High School. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Rams lose in extra
Palmer 3, Southwick 2 (9 inn.)
Palmer plated the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to nip Southwick.
Palmer’s Savannah Cavanaugh had a monster afternoon, going 4-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI, and scattering five hits on the mound to go along with 19 strikeouts.
St. Mary’s Johnathan “Budda” Spear (19), right, attempts a high-flying block of a Granby pass. (Photo by Kellie Adam)
Southwick’s Sydney Rogers went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Steph Devine, Nikki Willey (double, walk), and Emily Lachtara each had one hit for Southwick.
Lachtara also struck out six Palmer batters.
BOYS’ LACROSSE
Siart, Wurster record hat tricks
Granby 21, St. Mary 9
Granby’s Sawyer Mahan (8 goals, 1 assist) recorded a game-high nine points, and Nick Roberts tallied nine goals.
Reilly Siart and Matt Wurster each notched hat tricks for St. Mary. Both players also had an assist. Saints’ Johnathan “Budda” Spear (2 goals, 1 assist) and Padraig Smith (3 assists) finished with three points apiece.
BASEBALL
Alvord nearly a no-no
Westfield Technical Academy 18, Pioneer Valley Christian 1
Brad Alvord came within one out of completing a no-hitter on the mound for Westfield Tech.
Pioneer Valley Christian broke up Alvord’s no-hit bid with a hit just over the right fielder’s head.
Cody Garwacki (3-for-3, double, three RBIs), Tyler French (2-for-2, two walks, three runs, three RBIs), Tanner Hart (2-for-3, three RBIs), Nate Boulay (bases-loaded hit), and Chris Boyden (bases-loaded hit) sparked the offensive explosion.
The win pushed Westfield Tech ever so closer to a postseason berth. The Tigers need to win just one of their two remaining games next week.
“We play two good teams (Smith Voke, Sci-Tech) so we need to get healthy and focused,” Westfield Tech coach Kyle Dulude said. “We are playing with the minimum, bruised and beat up. It will be interesting to see what type of players show up next week.”
