LONGMEADOW – Westfield senior boys’ tennis player Tristin Viale went 10-1 this season, only getting swiped in a match he actually was within match point from winning. The postseason proved to be no different.
Viale finished runner-up in the Western Massachusetts tournament this past weekend a Longmeadow High School. The Westfield senior opened the playoffs with a nearly two-and-a-half hour marathon match against Longmeadow’s Ashvin Babu.
Viale dominated early, taking the first set 6-2. Babu rallied in the second set to tie the match 1-all. Viale eaked out a third set though, 7-5 to advance.
Viale continued to battle all weekend long.
Westfield’s Tristin Viale goes mid-air to make this play on the ball against Ashvin Babu in a Western Massachusetts Boys’ Tennis Individual Tournament match early Saturday morning at Longmeadow High School. Viale, the tournament’s 11th seed, upset third-seeded Babu, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 in a thrilling two-and-a-half hour battle. He continued his valiant run all the way to a silver medal finish. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Westfield’s top tennis player defeated Amherst’s No. 1 seed, Nathan Ji, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 before upending Minnechaug’s No. 2, James Leone in the semifinals, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5. In the championship game, the tournament’s overall top seed, Jeffrey Mueller held serve, defeating Viale, 6-0, 7-5.
In doubles’ action, Westfield’s Will Scott and Erik Unger lost to Northampton’s Asa Geller and Matt Skrzynski, 6-0, 6-2. Bombers’ Jalen Bodendorf and Matt Roberts fell to Minnechaug’s Dash Garvey and Logan Mitchell, 6-3, 6-2.
Sun., May 21
BASEBALL
Bonini powers Saints
St. Mary 4, Wahconah 2
St. Mary pitcher Nate Bonini scattered six hits, struck out seven batters, walked two, and allowed just two runs over seven complete innings. He also went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Hunter Authier went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for St. Mary. Saints’ Drew Collins had two hits.
Sat., May 20
BOYS’ LACROSSE
Bombers prevail
Westfield 13, Shrewsbury 8
Zach Gentle (2 assists), Max Maggipinto (2 assists), and Matt Bonsall (1 assist) scored three goals apiece to lead Westfield. Landon Reyes (2 goals, 1 assist), Chris Ward (goal), Nicholas Clausen (goal), and Kohl Lunardini (1 assist) also contributed offensively.
Lunardini was also dominant on faceoffs.
Defensively and at midfield, Mitch Weiss, Gavin Carzello, Kris Meneses, Tyler Shrewsbury, Danny Antonellis, and Zach Cree were all stout.
Westfield goalie Alex Beauchemin made 13 saves.
LATE RESULTS
Fri., May 20
BASEBALL
St. Pierre homers; Mochak dazzles
Westfield 3, Pope Francis 0
Westfield scored two runs in the first inning, which proved to be more than enough, en route to a 3-0 win at Bullens Field.
Austin St. Pierre went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, Aidan Dunn doubled and scored a run, and Dalen Mochak (5 Ks) tossed a complete game two-hitter to lead Westfield in a shutout.
JV SOFTBALL
Palmer 6, Southwick-Tolland 5
McKinley White had a single and triple to lead Southwick. Rams’ pitcher Sarah Hough recorded 5 Ks.
