GIRLS TENNIS
Danvers 3, Old Rochester 2: The Falcons pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the spring sports playoff season, defeating the previously unbeaten No. 4 seed in Old Rochester on the road in Mattapoisett.
Danvers (now 14-6) got its three victories from second and third singles as well as second doubles. Sophie Sanidas picked up a 6-3, 6-3 decision at the No. 2 spot; Josie Vogel breezed to a 6-2, 6-0 triumph at third singles; and Paige Sherman and Isabel Beaudoin teamed up for a 6-2, 6-2 win at second doubles.
The 13th seeded Falcons will now host a Division 3 state quarterfinal matchup against No. 21 seeded Bishop Fenwick (12-5) Friday at 4 p.m.
Hamilton-Wenham 4, Cohasset 1: Advancing to the Division 4 Final Four for the fourth straight season, the Generals (16-2) won all three singles matches as well as first doubles. Senior captain Naomi Provost won at first singles, 6-1, 6-1, to pick up her school record 80th singles victory. Charlotte Ireland came back from a 3-4 deficit at third singles to win, 6-4, 6-0, and Emily McIntosh wrapped up the win with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph at second singles. Olivia Romans and Evelyn Esdaile added a 4-6, 6-4, 10-7 comeback decision at first doubles.
“(Cohasset) was a very tough team we and we played outstanding up and down the lineup to get the win. One of our most complete matches this year,” said Hamilton-Wenham head coach Joe Maher, who lost 12 of 16 players from last year’s state championship squad, the program’s third straight. “I am so proud of this team; it’s truly a testament of their hard work and what they’ve accomplished this season.”
BASEBALL
St. John’s Prep 5, Wachusett 2: Ty Spear (2-for-3) plated the game’s first run with an RBI single in the third and added a key 2-run double in the fourth as the Eagles (14-8) advanced to the Division 1 Elite Eight for the second straight season. Senior captain Will Shaheen struck out six over 6 2/3 and classmate James Willett struck out the final batter for a save.
Connor Durney and Christian McCarthy collected RBI for St. John’s, Nic Lembo singled and scored two runs and sophomore Jimmy DiCarlo added a single.
Up next is a re-match of last year’s state quarterfinal with No. 2 St. John’s Shrewsbury slated for Sunday at 3 p.m. The Eagles and Pioneers split their regular season series this spring.
Hamilton-Wenham 5, Cohasset 1: Jack Cooke scattered four hits over five innings and Owen Waddell came on for two perfect innings of relief to ensure the Generals (19-3) remained in control throughout their 10th straight win. Galen Clark Goldfeld provided three hits for H-W, which advances to the Division 4 state quarterfinal with the win, while Cormac Heney went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and Waddell also chipped in two hits with a ribby. Seniors AB Labell and Chase Cann also drove home runs and Cole Scanlon singled and scored.
Hamilton-Wenham hosts No. 11 Dennis-Yarmouth Sunday at 2 p.m. at Patton Park, with a spot in the Final Four up for grabs.
St. John Paul II 7, Salem 0: Righthander Kevin Soto held No. 4 seed Lions without a hit until the bottom of the fifth, when St. John Paul got all three of its hits in the game and scored six times to win a Division 4 second round battle. The No. 13 Witches (10-12) couldn’t take advantage of a Soto double in the second and got only three hits of their own with Shea Christel and Rocco Ryan each hitting singles. Ryan came on to pitch the sixth, striking out a pair, and Soto finished with seven punch outs.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Hamilton-Wenham 20, Swampscott 6: Evie Bernard scored eight goals, including the 300th of her career, as the sixth-seeded Generals (now 14-4) rolled into the Division 4 state quarterfinals with an emphatic win under the lights at Gordon College. Bernard also had one assist and 11 draw controls for Hamilton-Wenham, which will face Norwood in the state quarterfinals Friday.
Another star was Grace Glidden, the author of two goals, three assists and five draw controls. Captain Maisie Leland and Jane Boardman both had big game for H-Ws with three goals and an assist apiece. Bailey Shepherd (2 goals, 3 assists) was another offensive star, ands Rowan Sheckells sparkled in net with 10 saves while Maddie Graber and Sophie Happel played standout defense in front of her.
Swampscott, the 11 seed, concluded a strong campaign with a 14-5 mark.
Apponequet 12, Bishop Fenwick 4: A fine season for the Crusaders (18-3) ended with a second round road loss in the Division 3 state playoffs.
SOFTBALL
Hopkinton 7, Marblehead 1: After reaching the Division 2 Final Four a year ago, the 15th seeded Magicians saw their season conclude with a 17-5 mark after a second round loss to the No. 2 seed Hillers.