The sixth-seeded Fairhaven Blue Devils (18-5) got off to a fast start, scoring three runs in the first against second-seeded Plymouth South (20-3) in a convincing 13-4 Division 2 South semifinal victory at Taunton High.
Junior Cassidy Vuolo led off with the first of her two triples, later scoring on a passed ball. Fairhaven senior Elyse Rebelo went 2 for 4 including a towering homer in the seventh, one of just four earned runs allowed by Panther sophomore pitcher Amelia Freitas.
“We were just focused and wanted to hit,” said Fairhaven coach Cathy Silva. “We got the timely hits and didn’t let up. At this point in the season you’ve got to keep the momentum going.”
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Division 1 North
Methuen 10, Newton North 1 — Junior Jillian McCoy launched a three-run homer in the third inning and fanned 13 in the circle to power the fifth-seeded Rangers (18-4) to the D1 North semifinal win against No. 4 North (19-4) in Lowell. Methuen will play top-seeded Lowell (21-1) in Thursday’s sectional final.
Acton-Boxborough 4, Central Catholic 2 — Coupled with a strong performance from junior Lauren Meinhold (12 strikeouts, 5 hits, 1 earned run) in the circle, sophomore Olivia Comolli’s two-run home run propelled the Colonials (22-1) back to the D1 North final for the first time since 2012.
Acton-Boxborough will face the winner of Thursday’s Methuen/Lowell semifinal on Saturday.
Division 2 South
Norton 3, Greater New Bedford 1 — In the 2018 semifinals, the Lancers stranded a runner on third after failing to execute a squeeze bunt in extra innings against GNB.
In the rematch, Norton (18-4) executed a perfect squeeze bunt to tie the game before a pair of extra-base hits, paving the way for the D2 semifinal win at Taunton High.
Junior Sofia Knopf led off the fifth with a triple, scoring two batters later on the squeeze by Liv Menyo. Seniors Madison Correia and Nicole Grainger hit consecutive RBI doubles for a two-run lead.
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Norton will play Fairhaven in Saturday’s final at Taunton (1 p.m.).
“Last year we tried the squeeze and we missed it by a few inches,” said Norton coach Wade Lizotte. “I didn’t want to leave her stranded at third, so we called for the squeeze and got a break.”
In the field, Norton sophomore shortstop Destiny McGrath made a pair of tremendous plays to take away hits and preserve the lead.
Division 3 North
Amesbury 7, Latin Academy 1 — Freshman Alana Delisle struck out 10 in her second straight complete game to propel the second-seeded Indians (20-3) past the seventh-seeded Dragons (17-7) in a D3 North quarterfinal.
The Indians supplied Delisle with a 4-0 first-inning lead on RBIs from four players.
Amesbury coach Jacquie Waters said that Delisle’s pitching combined with her team’s offensive output boded well for her squad moving forward.
“[Delisle] kept them off balance ... I knew she would be on top of her game,” Waters said. “We were in a bit of a slump hitting, and it was good today to have that open up.”
Amesbury is scheduled to play St. Mary’s in a semifinal Thursday in Lowell.
Division 3 South
Case 6, Rockland 3 — Madyson Medeiros had been hitless in a forgettable 0-for-3 day at the plate.
But with two runners on and no outs in the top of the ninth in a 3-3 game, the senior swung away, connecting for a three-run homer to center field, carrying the 10th-seeded Cardinals (17-6) to the D3 South semifinal win at Taunton High.
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“I told her to see the first pitch and time it up,” said Case coach Shannon Silva. “It did not cross my mind to have Madyson bunt. She’s a clutch player. I knew she was due.”
The Cardinals face top-seeded Monomoy in the sectional final Saturday.
“I was just calm and ready to take on the game,” said Medeiros. “I wanted to do my job.” Medeiros crossed the plate with two outs in the seventh to tie the game when classmate Casey Medeiros doubled to left, keeping their season alive with her second RBI of the game.
Division 2 Central
Hudson 2, Littleton 1 — Maggie Baker laid down a bunt with the bases loaded to score Natalie Bishop in the 10th inning and send the Hawks (19-3) to Saturday’s D2 Central final against Leicester.
Girls’ tennis
Division 2 North
Winchester 5, Newburyport 0 — With their senior captains leading the way, Winchester defeated Newburyport for the second year in a row in Wednesday’s Division 2 North final in North Reading. The Sachems advance to the Division 2 state title match Tuesday against Martha’s Vineyard, the team that beat them last spring, 4-1.
Both Winchester doubles teams won quickly, leaving the clinching victory to third singles and senior captain Nicole Costales, who is bound for Washington University in St. Louis.
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Costales continued her unbeaten season by defeating Newburyport’s River Sava, 6-0, 6-2. The doubles wins came from senior captains Taylor Kenrich and Lauren Chilton (6-2, 6-1) along with Grace Thompson and Maddy Tahnk at second doubles (6-2, 6-0).
Playing at No. 2 doubles last spring, Kenrich and Chilton were the only Winchester winners in the state title match against Vineyard.
‘‘We’re really hungry for Martha’s Vineyard,’’ said the Holy Cross-bound Chilton. ‘‘We faced them last year and lost so we really want to win this year.”
‘‘That’s going to be a big one for us,’’ said Kenrich, who will attend Tulane.
Newburyport finished the spring 15-5. Other Winchester (20-1) winners included sophomore Caroline Fredey at No. 1 singles (6-4, 6-2) and sophomore Olivia DeMichaelis at No. 2 singles (6-2, 5-7, 10-4 tiebreaker).
Division 1 North
Acton-Boxborough 4, Lincoln-Sudbury 1 — At Lexington High, the fifth-seeded Colonials (14-3) repeated as D1 North champions as freshman Niki Surapamenini clinched the victory with a 7-5, 6-3 win at third singles.
After her match, teammates Saanvi Vutukur (second singles) and Ashleigh Parlman (first singles) were locked into marathon matches that lasted two hours and 45 minutes. Vutukur rallied from 4-1 down in the second set to defeat Ella Chase 7-5, 7-5. Parlman fell to Maddie Swire 7-6 (9-7), 6-2.
“The team is really strong and people pull their weight evenly,” Surapamenini said. “Even if we lose one match, the team pulls through and they know that it all depends on them to win the match to make sure that the team wins and moves on.”
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A-B’s Lindsay Ristaino and Arianna Srvistava prevailed 6-0, 7-5 at first doubles and Britteny Zhao and Helen Li won 6-2, 6-2 at second doubles. A-B will play Wellesley in the state semifinals on Monday.
Division 1 South
Wellesley 3, Sharon 2 — Senior Sophia Arts won the decisive third singles match 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, to send the Raiders (20-0) to the Division 1 South championship on Monday.
Division 2 South
Martha’s Vineyard 3, Dover-Sherborn 2 — Martha’s Vineyard advanced to the state title match Tuesday after getting a 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 win by their first doubles team of Molly Pogue and Chesca Potter.
Division 3 South
Cohasset 3, Ursuline 2 — In three-hour, 30-minute marathon at third singles, freshman Gracyn Lord won the deciding match 7-6, 6-7, 6-1 to lead the Skippers (17-3) to the D3 South title against previously undefeated Ursuline. Cohasset will play North champion Weston in D3 state semifinal play Monday.
Division 3 Central
Advanced Math and Science 3, Hopedale 2 — Senior Medha Shekhar won a decisive third set at second singles, 6-2, to lead the Eagles (16-4) to the state semifinal. AMSA will face D3 West champion Lee on Monday.
Boys’ tennis
Division 1 North
Lexington 4, Acton-Boxborough 1 — Junior Kyle McCandless won in straight sets at first singles to lead the Minutemen (22-1) to their second straight D1 North title. Lexington will play either Brookline or Newton North in the state semifinals Monday.
Boys’ rugby
Belmont 31, Lincoln-Sudbury 14 — Junior Jon Brabo picked up a pair of tries to lead the Marauders (7-1) to their second straight D2 state final.
Dan Shulman reported from Taunton, Bob Holmes from North Reading. To report scores, call 617-929-2860/3235 or email hssports@globe.com.