GREENFIELD — The Turners Falls boys tennis team stayed undefeated after a 4-1 win over Greenfield on Davis Street on Tuesday afternoon. The Thunder (7-0, 6-0 Tri-County) enter the final stretch of the season with matches against Frontier Regional and Tri-County foe Hampden Charter.
Even with an unblemished record, the Thunder still have a focus on fundamentals. Sportsmanship is another focal point for Turners Falls. The matches against Hampden Charter are pivotal to their league championship chances.
Noah Kolodziej of the Turners Falls boys tennis team goes to the forehand against Greenfield, Tuesday in Greenfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Noah Kolodziej of the Turners Falls boys tennis team goes to the forehand against Greenfield, Tuesday in Greenfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Ben Russell of Greenfield makes a return against Turners Falls, Tuesday in Greenfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photoi 
Colby Shepard of Greenfield goes to the forehand against Turners Falls, Tuesday In Greenfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Mario Pareja of Turners Falls goes to the forehand against Greenfield, Tuesday in Greenfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo
“Continued technical improvement is a real thing,” Turners Falls coach Steve Touloumtzis said. “Some of the people are playing beautifully, hitting the ball well…they are playing good tennis so I’d like to see them continue… Continued great sportsmanship. It’s been excellent.”
First singles player Noah Kolodziej is undefeated in singles competition this season. Kolodziej got the win against Greenfield’s Ben Russell 6-1, 6-0. During the PVIAC Individual Tournament this past weekend, Kolodziej impressed the tennis community across Western Mass with his performance.
“I am hitting my forehand well,” Kolodziej said. “I am taking every game point by point rather than worrying about it so much. My mentality has improved. I have been playing more like myself. Less fluctuating game to game.”
Russell is a freshman playing No. 1 singles for Green Wave (0-7, 0-7 Tri-County). Since the season began when there was still snow on the ground, Russell’s game has seen improvement.
“At the beginning of the season I was rarely able to get my first serves in,” Russell said. “Now I can pretty consistently get them in. My forehand has gotten a lot stronger.”
The Green Wave do not have an upperclassman on the roster. The focus for the Wave is continued improvement and to foster a love for the game.
“Have fun” Greenfield coach Rick Miner said. “Tennis is a lifelong sport. You can play into your nineties if you want, and to learn. Be better next and the week after and improve. I hope that they continue playing in the summer time. The courts are free. You can come here anytime you want. Call your friends, come have fun and play.”
Mario Pareja of Turners Falls defeated Colby Shepard at No. 2 singles 6-1, 6-0. Greenfield got its lone win of the match at No. 3 singles when Julian Cavanagh outlasted Vaughn LaValley 6-2, 6-2.
The Thunder swept doubles competition, starting with Nethanel Martin and Daniel Lapinski taking down Conor O’Connell and Ian Degen 6-1, 6-0. No. 2 doubles closed down the match when Connor Glennon and Noah Blanchard defeated Tyler Peterson and Maddan Garcia 6-2 (10-4).
Belchertown 3, Frontier 2 — The Orioles edged the Redhawks in Belchertown in Valley Wheel play. Frontier (4-7, 1-5) got wins from Casey Bestler (6-1, 6-3) and Xavier Fripp (6-4, 6-1).
Girls tennis
Frontier 4, Chicopee Comp 1 — The Redhawks completed a season sweep of the Colts in a Pioneer League match up on the road. Kayla Fagan beat Sam Medina at No. 2 singles 6-1, 6-0. Ella Sibley picked up another win in singles competition with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over AJ Rivera. Brooke Charest and Hailey Fernandez improved to 13-0 on the season with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Lena Koffi-Tessio and Alex Barnett at No. 1 doubles.
Baseball
Amherst 2, Mahar 1 — Freeland Ringer pitched well on the mound, but the offense couldn’t help enough in the Senators’ (2-11, 1-6) loss to the Hurricanes in Orange. Ringer pitched seven innings in the Bi-County North match up. Ringer gave up two hits with five strikeouts.
Softball
Mohawk 7, Lee 6 — Sadie Wilcox struck out 11 hitters in the circle for the Warriors in a Valley Wheel win over the Wildcats in Buckland. Juniper Totino had a monster day at the plate, going 4-for-4. Maddie Finn added two more hits for Mohawk (7-6, 3-4).
Pioneer 15, Smith Vocational 1 (five innings) — The Panthers pounded the Vikings in Northampton in an independent matc up. Cobi Tyminski and Jaeylyn Boliski combined for eight strikeouts in the circle. The duo only surrendered two hits. The offense had 15 hits for Pioneer. Laylah Goulston (two RBI) , Amy VanDoren (two RBI) and Kiara Gruszkowski (two doubles) each had multiple hits. Evy Lewis added a couple RBI for the Panthers (7-6).
Boys track & field
Mohawk 98, Athol 33 — The Warriors out-ran the Bears in an Intercounty matchup in Buckland. Cole Raffa was a winner in the 110-hurdles (19.2) for Mohawk. Tanner Biagini placed first in the 100-meter (11.2, PR) while Peter Healy added another win in the mile (5:10.7).
Karim Thompson took first in the long jump (19.5) and the triple jump (40-1) for Athol. Nicholas LeBlanc won the shot put (42-4) and the discus (153-9) for the Bears.
Volleyball
Longmeadow 3, Frontier 0 — The Lancers swept the Redhawks at Goodnow Gymnasium in a East League match up. Set scores were 25-13, 25-10 and 25-20. Ethan Rivera led the offense with 13 assists. Nate Rivera added 11 kills and 16 digs for Frontier (0-14, 0-9 East).
