Sports

Medfield Boys' Tennis Falls to Sharon Again in D2 South Tourney

Warriors' season ends Thursday in 3-2 defeat against Sharon in the MIAA Division 2 South Sectional semifinals.

FRANKLIN – Team depth propelled the to one win away from its second straight state Division 2 final match and ended Medfield High School's season again.

Winning at first and third singles, and second doubles, the Eagles defeated Medfield, 3-2, in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys' Team Tennis South Division 2 semifinals Thursday. The teams played at the Adirondack Club in Franklin due to rain.

"Just a clutch performance from our depth positions," Sharon head coach Matt Freeman said.

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"(At third singles, senior) Aditya (Puttigampala) had huge leg cramps. He stepped up when he needed to. I thought second doubles played their best match of the season. I thought they were outstanding against a good doubles team.

"(At first singles, senior co-captain) Vivek (Nangia) took the clincher at number one, and we knew then we were moving on."

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Medfield and Sharon also met in the . Sharon won that match on their home court, 4-1.

With Thursday's win, Sharon advanced to the South D2 finals at 4 p.m. Saturday at Medway High School against second-seed Hingham, which defeated third-seed Scituate in today's other semifinal, 4-1. Saturday's winner plays the North D2 champion.

, in the 2011 South D2 final. North D2 champion , 5-0, in the title match.

Sharon is the top seed in this year's 18-team bracket. Sharon is undefeated (16-0 regular season, 3-0 in the state tournament) entering Saturday's match.

Medfield is the fourth seed. The Warriors finished the regular season 15-2, and were 2-1 in the tournament.

"Both teams were very, very strong," Medfield head coach Vinnie Joseph said. "When you get to this point in the tournament, both teams are very good, and it can be a real toss-up. Sharon is the defending champions. They certainly carried the mantle (Thursday). I'm very proud of our kids and the way they fought until the end. Hopefully, next year, we can show up again."


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