Martha’s Vineyard boys beat Weston, play for state title Thursday

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Jackson McBride, in action against Cape Cod Academy on April 24, won at first doubles, with Natty Schneider, in today's state semifinal against Weston. — File photo by Ralph Stewart

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School boys tennis team got one step closer to winning the first state title in school history. The Vineyarders defeated last year’s champs, the Weston Wildcats, 4-1, this afternoon in Lexington, to win the MIAA Division 3 state semifinal.

M.V. (22-0) will play for the state title against Mass. Central champs Nashoba of Bolton on Thursday, at 3:30 pm, at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury. The Chieftains defeated Lenox, 5-0 in the other state semifinal.

The Vineyarders captured their first south sectional title Saturday and started off well in the semifinal. Justice Yennie won his 42nd consecutive match, 6-1, 6-2 to put M.V. up 1-0. The number one doubles team of Jackson McBride and Natty Schneider made it 2-0, with a 7-6, 6-2 win.

The Wildcats (13-7) got on the board with a win over Justin Smith and Ryan Sawyer at second doubles. Weston looked ready to tie the match at 2-2, after Kent Leonard lost the first set 6-0 to Ethan Chen at first singles. But Leonard battled back to take the next two sets 6-4, 6-2, and the Vineyard punched its ticket to the state final.

Patrick McCarthy won at second singles 6-3, 6-3, to close out another impressive victory in what is already an historic Vineyard season.