LYNN — The Harry Agganis All-Star Games were in full swing Sunday at Manning Field and Fraser Field Sunday, with girls and boys lacrosse, soccer, softball, and baseball all on display on a hot, sunny day in Lynn.
The action began with girls lacrosse, where the South, coached by Peabody’s Michelle Roach, defeated the North, coached by Bishop Fenwick’s Jill Robinson, 14-7.
The teams were tied 3-3 after the first quarter, capped by a buzzer-beating goal from Beverly’s Joselyn Silva. The South then surged in the second and third quarters to take an 11-5 lead into the final frame.
Despite goals from Silva, Avery Laundry (Swampscott), Mackenzie Morse (Winchester) and Ella Palma (Pentucket), the North couldn’t close the gap.
Scoring for the South were Peabody’s Brooke Lomasney, Franklin’s Sophia Sacchetti, Braintree’s Bella Duffy, Archbishop Williams’ Clare O’Keefe and Ipswich’s Lucy Winthrop.
The MVPs of the game were Lomasney (South) and Silva (North).
Roach, an Agganis scholar in 2003, said she was grateful to return as a coach.
“I love being here. Growing up in Lynn and going to the Agganis events and now years later to come back and coach it’s an incredible opportunity,” Roach said. “When I was in high school it was the Manning Bowl. But it’s really cool to come back to the community that you grew up in and to have these celebrations for the student-athletes.”
Robinson said she enjoyed seeing the seniors get one more chance to compete — including five of her own players.
“Today was really fun. It was fun to see these seniors come out today and showcase what they’ve been growing, learning, and working on the last four years,” Robinson said. “I got to watch five of my seniors go out and play one more time. My goalie, Courtney McKenzie, got to put on a show today which was amazing to see.”
In the boys lacrosse game, with the score tied late in the game, Lynnfield’s Kelan Cardinal scored to give the North a 7-6 lead. Not long after, Danvers’ Brady Tersolo added an insurance goal.
The South fought back with a goal in the final 20 seconds, but the North held on to win, 8-7.
Despite the narrow loss, South head coach Josh Field of Essex Tech said the experience was rewarding.
“It’s always an honor to be out here for the Agganis game and it’s a privilege to be here coaching this team,” Field said. “Kids can come together that haven’t played together as a team and to do what they did and compete, it’s the best and most rewarding thing, especially for these seniors to get one more game.”
Triton’s Wayne Silva coached the North and said the competitive edge came out late in the contest.
“You tune in a bit more when it gets close late. It was a nice win and it’s fun to see the kids in a different atmosphere,” Silva said. “We had the Amesbury kid (Max White) playing with us and he scored like six goals on us during the season so it’s nice to joke around with him in a different environment.”
Two players traveled more than three hours to participate for the North: Matthew Beaudin and Collin Meunier from Minnechaug Regional High School made the trip and closed out their high school careers with a win.
At Fraser Field, softball was up to bat first. The South defeated the North, 8-5.
The South built an 8-2 lead after a big fourth inning, in which Marblehead’s Luka Bornhorst, Danica Schena (Saugus), and Lauryn Fahey (Swampscott) each scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-0.
North mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough. Ariana Reynoso (Lynn English) laid down an RBI bunt to score Beverly’s Elsa Reulet. Reynoso later came home on a passed ball, and St. Mary’s Ryleigh Williams added the final run on another passed ball.
“This was a great experience and a lot of fun. This was my first time ever coaching in this event,” Swampscott head coach Brittany Coppinger said. “I told them at the beginning of the game that this was their game to play and I was not going to give them any signs or call their pitches so it was all on them today.”
Beverly head coach Megan Sudak, who led the North, said it was a special opportunity.
“It’s so much fun. First of all, it’s such an honor to coach this game. Being able to coach this great group of kids, I love seeing the culmination of all the kids in different programs coming together and just having some fun,” Sudak said. “I wanted them to have fun and embrace it. It’s basically their last chance to represent their school, but at the same time meet new friends and create new relationships.”
The MVPs of the game were MacKenzie Paulin (Greenfield) and Elsa Reulet (Beverly).
In the baseball game, the North edged the South, 3-2.
In the top of the first, North Andover’s Jeff LoVolpicelo hit a two-run double to right-center, scoring Jake Jackson and Ryan O’Bryne to give the North an early lead.
The South responded in the bottom of the inning, when Nolan Swirbalus hit an RBI single to score Jaiden Driscoll.
The score stayed 2-1 until the sixth, when North’s Nolan Kelleher scored on an error. The South cut it back to a one-run game in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly to left-center that brought in Lynn English’s Jariel Benzan.
In the seventh, North’s Andrew Fucci (Lynnfield) struck out two batters and induced a groundout to close the game.
The MVPs were Swirbalus (South, Archbishop Williams) and LoVolpicelo (North, North Andover).
“Everything that the Agganis Foundation does for these kids, anytime I can give back or do anything for them I will. Everything that they do for the kids to let them go out and play against each other one more time is amazing,” Peabody and South head coach Mark Bettencourt said. “I remember when I played in the game, when they only had football back then, getting to meet all those kids to know them a bit better, that’s what it’s all about. Just like today these kids started the game as strangers and now they’re walking out with more friendships and they might even cross paths at the college level or whatever the case may be. It’s just a great thing for the North Shore and I hope it goes on forever.”
The day wrapped up with girls and boys soccer.
In girls soccer, the South won 4-0, scoring twice in each half. First-half goals came from Gianna Parker (Lynn Classical) and Isabelle Skabeikis (St. Mary’s). In the second half, MVP Bianca Renzullo netted two goals to seal the win.
Beverly’s Ava Freitas was named MVP for the North.
Saugus head coach April Martinez led the North and said it was an honor to coach the game.
“I was excited to do this. I know a lot of these girls through playing club soccer. Then I know one of the girls who played at Bishop Fenwick (Amelia Latorelli) and of course my own player in Layla Manderson,” Martinez said. “I’m honored that they asked me to coach and I was excited to coach these kids one more time.”
In the boys game, the South won 2-0. St. Mary’s Mehdi Khemmich broke the deadlock in the third quarter, and Lynn Classical’s Roland Temdia added an insurance goal in the fourth.
MVPs were Khemmich (South) and Connor Connolly (North, Beverly).
The Agganis All-Star Games continue Monday with the 20th All-Star boys and girls basketball games at Lynn Classical. The boys tip off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the girls at 7 p.m. The football game is Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Manning Field.
