SOUTH DEERFIELD — A banner at Goodnow Gymnasium has a new addition, the first of its kind for the school. The Frontier Regional girls tennis team beat Pope Francis, 4-1, in the Western Mass. Class B championship match on Wednesday afternoon.
The win proved historic, giving the Frontier girls tennis team its first sectional championship. A young but talented group girls bonded together to accomplish something unprecedented this season.
Frontier’s No. 1 Doubles Hailey Fernandez and Brooke Charest vs Pope Francis in South Deerfield on Wednesday. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Frontier’s #1 Doubles Hailey Fernandez and Brooke Charest vs Pope Francis in South Deerfield on Wednesday. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Frontier’s #3 Ella Sibley returns a volley vs Pope Francis’ Evelyn Mawby in South Deerfield on Wednesday. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Frontier’s #1 Singles Thanushi Ratnatunge returns a volley vs Pope Francis’ Lauren Casella in South Deerfield on Wednesday. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Frontier’s #2 Kayla Fagan returns a volley vs Pope Francis’ Samantha Williams in South Deerfield on Wednesday. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
The Frontier Regional girls tennis team lines up before its match against Pope Francis, Wednesday in South Deerfield. Credit: PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo
“We have a future ahead of us because we are going to keep maturing,” Frontier coach Andrew Varnon said. “But we have a pretty good present. For us, we concentrated on doubles…you have two points in the basket and you’re looking for a third in singles.”
Frontier received its first ever tennis plaque after the match, pictures and celebrations ensued. The dominant tandem of Brooke Charest and Hailey Fernandez at No. 1 doubles secured yet another win for the Redhawks. The duo fell behind early against Ella Frost and Caroline Lyson, but stormed back to win 6-4, 6-3.
“Communicating worked really well for us,” Charest said. “We helped each other and lifted each up when we were starting to struggle a little bit…we started boosting each up so we could get the points back and keep going.”
Charest and Fernandez, both freshmen, finished their Western Mass. schedule 17-1 this season. They were undefeated in the regular season as eighth graders last season.
“It feels really good,” Fernandez said. “We’ve come really far as a team. We just have play how we play. All the positive mindsets. Just cheering each on.”
Kayla Fagan made quick work of Samantha Williams 6-0, 6-3 in No. 2 singles. With two victories secured, the attention of those in attendance turned to Ella Sibley in third singles.
A win by Sibley would clinch the championship for the Redhawks. With the chants of ‘go Hawks’ echoing throughout the match, Sibley went through the full gamut of emotions against Evelyn Mawby. She won the first set 7-5 and then got rolled in the second set in six straight games.
“I really had to be able to reset my emotions and get out of my own head,” Sibley said. “I like to get in my own head about things. I just took a lot of breaths. Cheer on my team as well because I know that helps me.”
In a forceful manner, Sibley quickly went up 4-0 in the third set. Mawby made a comeback, but the sophomore closed the door with some strong play at the end of the decisive set. The third win clinched the championship, and the celebrating began for Frontier. Sibley won 7-5, 0-6, 7-5.
“Having such a young team,” Sibley said. “Being able to give this to them and they can run with it. It’s the best thing I could do, and I am really happy about it. I am excited for our middle schoolers to move on with this.”
Esther Ehle and Jimin Ahn at No. 2 doubles was the only match remaining after Sibley’s win. As was the norm for the second doubles team, Ehle and Ahn provided another win for the Redhawks. Thanushi Ratnatunge lost to Lauren Casella 6-0, 6-2 in No. 1 singles. Ratnatunge routinely plays the competition’s best player as a sophomore.
“She’s the best player on our team,” Varnon said of Ratnatunge. “And she has a losing record. For me, that tells us that we play like a team. For us, it’s about the whole roster. We aren’t looking to beat you with our top player; we’re going to beat you from the bottom up. Having four courts here, we are often sending that second doubles team out there as a baseball closer.”
Frontier turns its attention to the state tournament. The Redhawks are currently ranked 21st in Division 4 in the latest MIAA power rankings.
Softball
Franklin Tech 7, McCann Tech 1 — The fourth-seeded Eagles upset the top-seeded Hornets in the Western Mass. Class C semifinals in the Berkshires. Franklin Tech faces the winner of third-seeded Greenfield and No. 2 Lenox in the championship game.
Brayleigh Burgh faced down a top-seed and didn’t flinch in the circle for Franklin Tech. Burgh pitched a complete game with six strikeouts.
Samantha Duncan, Charley Knight and Sandra Johnson each had a double for Franklin Tech. Johnson led the team with four RBI, with Knight knocking in two more runs. Lindsey Taylor added two hits, while Ava Worden added a triple.
Baseball
Hopkins Academy 11, Pioneer 0 — The fifth-seeded Panthers lost to the top-seeded Golden Hawks in the Western Mass. Class semifinals in Hadley.
Pittsfield 5, Frontier 0 — The fourth-seeded Redhawks did not survive their trip to the Berkshires against the top-seeded Generals in the Western Mass Class B semifinals.
The Generals scored four runs in the first inning to pull ahead against the Redhawks. Jack Cusson, Henry Drinker and Carter Miller had hits for Frontier. Cusson took the loss on the mound, pitching six innings with three strikeouts.
