Marblehead’s girls lacrosse team played host to Salem on Thursday, but it was so much more. The Magicians played in honor of Heather Walker, a town resident who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma, in 2021 and died in 2023.
When diagnosed, Walker thought of how she could help others and launched the Heather Walker Fund for Glioblastoma Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
In Thursday’s 13-1 win against the Witches, Heather’s daughter, Sammy, scored three goals and dished out an assist to lead the Magicians (4-4).
“Today, we played in honor of Heather and the Walker family,” said Marblehead coach Annie Madden. “Sammy had an outstanding game and truly would have made her mother proud.”
Riding its 10-1 halftime cushion, it was all uphill from there for the Red and Black, led by Maddie Forbes (goal, assist), Ramona Gillett (goal, assist), Rachel Delisle (assist), Cassidy Lubeck (3 goals), Gretchen Smith (goal), Caitlin Ryan (goal), and Kathryn Commoss (3 goals, 4 assists).
GIRLS LACROSSE
Peabody 18
Winthrop 2
Not only did Leah Bresnahan and Kristen Vinagro secure their first varsity goals, but they netted two apiece in Peabody’s 18-2 win against the Vikings. Madi Barrett (4 goals, assist) and Ally Bettencourt (4 goals, 4 assists) were dominant in the victory.
Other contributing Tanners included Brooke Lomasney (3 goals, 5 assists), Connie Patturelli (goal, 2 assists), Victoria Vaz (assist), Sophia Kassis (goal), and Sydney Angland (goal).
BOYS LACROSSE
Lynnfield 11
Pentucket 10
“Down the whole game,” as said by Lynnfield coach Pat Lamusta. But despite that, his Pioneers won it in overtime with Evan Rocha netting the game-winning strike.
Ben Pimentel made 10 saves between the pipes, while five Pioneers scored a pair of goals (Rocha, Will Norton, Kelan Cardinal, Mike Murphy, Owen Doherty).
BASEBALL
Swampscott 11
Salem 0
Pitching was on full display in Swampscott’s 11-0 triumph over the Witches of Salem. Jack Spear (6 IP, 8 Ks, 3 hits, 2 BB) and Dawson Dibarri (1 IP, K) put on a clinic.
The Big Blue (5-4, 4-3 Northeastern Conference) offense was led by Jamison Ford (double, HR, 2 RBI), Will Roddy (2 hits, RBI), Nick Berube (2 hits, RBI), and Chase Groothuis (2 hits, RBI).
KIPP 8
Lynn Tech 4
Tech scored four runs, but in the end, coach Eddie Lewis said “Today just wasn’t our day. We got off to a bit of a slow start, but it didn’t take long for us to get going. We were in the ballgame the whole way through, but KIPP did a great job making sure we never got the upper hand.”
It was KIPP’s (1-7) first victory of the season.
SOFTBALL
North Reading 11
Lynnfield 3
You could say the score was misleading, as Lynnfield trailed just 4-3 in the fifth inning, but the Hornets plated five in the sixth and two in the seventh to break it open.
For the Pioneers, Kaila George had two hits and scored two runs. Ava Gamache, Morgan Hubbard, Catie Kampersal, and Julia Corrente went home with the other hits.
Swampscott 22
Winthrop 5
Swampscott exploded against the Vikings – no one more than Maddie Liley, who drove in nine runs and hit a grand slam to center field in the second inning.
Mel Blood, Hayden Haskell, and Mia Triangle pitched well in the circle, while Lauryn Fahey (3 hits, 3 RBI), Cece O’Connor (2 hits, 2 RBI), Delaney Miller (RBI), and Lucia Alvarado (RBI) led the offensive barrage.
Innovation 18
Lynn Tech 0
Despite Genevieve McCafferty striking out seven and Jianny Benable going 2-for-3 at the plate, Lynn Tech coach Beth Mercaldi said, “Unfortunately, our bats were not working for us today.”
The Tigers look to bounce back in Tuesday’s home game against Mystic Valley at 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
St. John’s Prep 4
Wellesley 1
St. John’s Prep coach Mark Metropolis checked off his 500th career win at The Prep in his team’s 4-1 win against Wellesley. Luke Free, Jack Prokopis, and John DeAngelis went 1-2-3 in singles.
Swampscott 4
Masconomet 1
Charles and Sam Schepens recorded singles wins en route to Swampscott’s (7-1) 4-1 victory over host Masconomet. Julian Flake and Lucas Bereaud won first doubles, while Maxim Zeissig and James Dicker came back to win second doubles.
Lynn English 4
Everett 1
Despite a second-singles loss, it was a near-perfect performance from the Lynn English tennis team. The Bulldogs pounced, putting their record at a solid 2-2.
Edward and Eric Salazar picked up singles wins, while the combinations of Dabriel Rojas-Jordan Alas and Giovanni Aubin-Ethan Chilel did so in doubles action.
Marblehead 5
Salem 0
Marblehead’s boys tennis team defended its home court with ease on Thursday, cruising to a 5-0 win against the Witches. The Magicians improved to 3-0 in the Northeastern Conference and 3-2 overall.
Leo Winocour, Austin Bacon, and Quinn Fletcher were all victorious in singles play, while the duos of Ben Zaltsman-Ty Cooper and Alex Boehning-Filip Wabno put on shows in doubles action.
Lynnfield 5
Pentucket 0
Three matches, three wins for Lynnfield (3-0), which did it again Thursday in a shutout. Dan Levin, Shea McCarthy, and Shlok Kudrimoti got the job done in singles, while Russell Kason and Raffi Arkun, as well as Brendan Sokop and Slate LoPilate were near-perfect in doubles.
GIRLS TENNIS
Somerville 3
Lynn Classical 2
Somerville secured a narrow win over Lynn Classical, but not without Rams’ positives. Amber Sotomayer won first singles 6-1, 6-0 and Linda Jallow did so in second singles 6-2, 6-0, while Diana Quach put in a strong losing effort in third singles.
Lynnfield 5
Pentucket 0
This one was dominant. Lynnfield took care of Pentucket, 5-0, on Thursday to up its record to 3-1. Paige Martino, Lily Alves, and Maddie Sieve went 1-2-3 in singles, while Leticia Marafon and Ella Hayman, as well as Vicky McCrann and Emma Wagon registered doubles wins.
VOLLEYBALL
Lynn Classical 3
Pioneer Charter 0
Three sets was all Lynn Classical (7-3) needed on Thursday, cruising to a 3-0 win in enemy territory. Luca Lopriore (5 aces, 5 digs), Kenzel Lantano (27 assists), and Josh Gonzalez (7 kills, block) led the Rams’ charge.
