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10 WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 JULY 8, 2021 FILE PHOTO After missing last year’s event due to the canceled season, Lynnfield girls tennis coach Craig Stone gathered his team for its annual end-ofseason celebration last week. Sports Lynnfield girls tennis celebrates another successful season GIRLS TENNIS By Mike Alongi Nearly every year for the past 40 years, Lynnfield girls tennis coach Craig Stone has hosted an endof-year celebration to honor all the hard work his teams have put in each and every season. That hard work has led to an extraordinary streak of 38 straight seasons with a berth in the state tournament, with the 2021 season being the most recent. So after missing a year due to the pandemic, the Pioneers gathered for their annual banquet to celebrate their season. But this season was obviously a very different one for all teams, and the Pioneers were no different. After not playing tennis during the pandemic-canceled 2020 season, Lynnfield came into 2021 with only three players who had varsity experience. Eventually, the Pioneers would have five starters who played their first varsity match during the 2021 season. Lynnfield went 9-4 on the year and earned a No. 5 seed in the Division 3 North tournament, where the Pioneers eventually fell to No. 4 Swampscott by a 3-2 margin in the quarterfinal round. “Obviously, there was great concern over the kind of season we might have, but there was also great enthusiasm and energy as to how we would fill gaps, who would step up and what new players would make an impact.” It turns out that there wouldn’t be too much trouble filling the gaps or getting new talent. In fact, Stone referred to his group of first-time starters — Lauren Grava, Genna Gioioso, Ava Buonfiglio, Emily Goguen and Gabi Mellor — as “The Fab Five.” And that’s only the firsttime varsity players, as returning players Anna Radulski, Emma Gallucci and Megan Nevils contributed to the team in a number of ways on and off the court. Gallucci wrapped up her career on the highest of notes, going 7-6 in doubles play. A Cape Ann League All-Star in her first two seasons on the team, Gallucci finished her Pioneers career with a 44-11 record — good enough to place her in the top 50 all-time in school history. Radulski was simply unbeatable in 2021, going 13-0 on the year (12-0 doubles, 1-0 singles). A junior, Radulski was named a CAL All-Star for her efforts this season. Two other varsity players also had solid seasons, as Sarah Breslow went 9-5 and Maddy McCarthy went 8-5. During the celebration, the Pioneers also honored three sub-varsity players — Leticia Marafon, Alana Villair and Sarah Lombardi — for their continued dedication to improving on the court. But with every end-ofseason celebration comes a look ahead to next year, and Stone is no different. “I’m looking forward to the 2022 season and the challenges it will bring, as well as the impact that our returning players will have,” said Stone. “As I like to say, the first practice of the 2022 season starts the day after the season, and all the time they put into their games over the summer improves them as a player and makes us better as a team.” North Shore Navigators teaching the next generation By Mike Alongi When the January family took over the North Shore Navigators in 2019, one of the main goals that they had in mind was to give back to the local community. After the pandemic put some of those plans on hold for a year, the Navs launched their first youth camp this week with a three-day gathering for kids ages six through 12. “The main thing we wanted to do is give back to the kids and give them a reason to come out to the ballpark,” said Derek January, who serves as the team’s president and general manager. “We have a lot of high-level, talented players on this team and we want to be able to use them as a conduit to bring fans, and especially kids, out to enjoy the game of baseball.” The event, which ran Monday through Wednesday at Fraser Field, drew nearly 80 kids and featured Navigators players and coaches running drills and giving lessons each day. While many of the kids at the camp hailed from Swampscott, Lynn, Lynnfield and the surrounding towns, kids from as far away as Chelmsford, Andover, Melrose and Wakefield also came to learn from the Navs players. “We’ve really marketed the team out more and tried to reach as many people as we can, because we’d like to give back to all the people who have given to us over the years,” said January. January said that the idea was put into motion after a number of Navs players approached him prior to the season and said they’d be interested in helping out with a youth camp. Knowing that the words of a young college player may resonate more with the kids than the words of a coach, January jumped at the opportunity. “These kids come out and watch these players perform on the field and they’re mesmerized by it, and then they meet them in a clinic and they hang on every word the guys say,” said January. “The guys might be saying the same thing that the kids’ Little League coaches are saying, but the words stick more when they’re coming from a player.” The camp was a big success in its first year, so much so that January is already planning two camps for next summer — a 6- to 12-year-old camp and a 14- to 17-year-old camp. At the end of the day, January’s hope is to make the North Shore Navigators and Fraser Field the place to go for young kids and young baseball players for years to come. “At the end of the day, I’d rather have 500 kids at the ballpark than 500 adults any day,” said January. “I want kids to be able to say that they grew up around the park and the team, and these camps are just one of the many things we have planned to make that a reality.” PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Brayden Denham of Wakefield, right, races North Shore Navigators player Aaron Groller down the first base line during the youth camp at Fraser Field last week.
JULY 8, 2021 WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 11 Looking back at spring sports in Lynnfield FILE PHOTOS | SPENSER HASAK Left: Lynnfield senior Dante Gesamondo pitches against Ipswich. Right: Jack Bird follows through on a swing during a Lynnfield baseball game in May. FILE PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Lynnfield’s Mariella Calvani looks for an open teammate as she brings the ball downfield. FILE PHOTOS | JULIA HOPKINS Left: Lynnfield’s Ava Gamache tries to beat out a throw to first in a game against Triton. Right: Lynnfield pitcher Reilly Ganter was one of two seniors for the Pioneers this year. FILE PHOTO | JULIA HOPKINS Lynnfield’s Jack Calichman makes a cut before scoring a goal against Hamilton-Wenham. 2 Large Cheese Pizzas $17.99 FILE PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Lynnfield’s Jen Flynn, right, taps sticks with teammate Molly Murphy after Murphy’s second-period goal against Triton earlier this year. Pizza • Hot & Cold Subs • Dinners • Salads • Sandwiches • Side Orders • Pasta Dinners • Fish Dinners • Calzones • Homemade Soups & Chowder We deliver!
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