On the tourney trail

SPORTS

HIGH 5
Highlighting the top performances from Saturday and Sunday's state tournament action:

Neil Hesek, Algonquin baseball: Senior right-hander struck out a staggering 17 Milford batters in eight shutout innings as the Tomahawks defended their Division 1 Central crown with a 10-0 win over the Scarlet Hawks. Algonquin (18-5) will play East Longmeadow in a state semifinal Wednesday.

Kaitlin Andrews, Hudson softball: Junior right-hander tossed a five-hit shutout as the Hawks defended their Division 2 Central title with a 2-0 win over Oxford. Hudson (22-1) will play Drury in a state semifinal Tuesday.

Derek Lowe and Matt Miller, Lincoln-Sudbury baseball: Lowe (8.1 innings), a sophomore right-hander and Miller, a senior left-hander, teamed up on a seven hitter in Lincoln-Sudbury's 3-1 win over Peabody in the Division 1 North final. Miller also plated a pair of runs with a single in the final seventh inning. L-S (22-1) will play BC High in a state semifinal Tuesday.

Andrea Cediel, Needham tennis: Freshman netted clinching 6-4, 6-4 victory at third singles in the Rockets' 3-2 win over Bay State Conference rival in the Division 1 South final. Needham will play Andover in today's EMass final at Newton North.

Kristy Benoit, Shrewsbury girls' lacrosse: Senior attack collected three goals and six assists as the Colonials exploded for 10 second-half goals in a 15-14 win over arch-rival for the Division 1 Central title. Shrewsbury (16-1-1) play at Longmeadow in a state semifinal Tuesday.

Steve Lesnikowski, Algonquin boys' lacrosse: Sophomore middle scored the winning goal, breaking a 3-3 third-quarter deadlock, to lift the Tomahawks past Shrewsbury 5-3 in the Division 2 Central final. Algonquin (13-8) will host a state semifinal on Wednesday.

Natick boys' volleyball team: Led by junior hitter Shaun Sibley (20 kills) and senior setter Tim Lee, the Redmen (24-1) captured the state title with a 25-20, 25-21, 25-19 win over Bay State Conference rival Newton North on Saturday night.

Brian Racca, Algonquin track & field: Senior leaped to New England title in the triple jump, soaring 45 feet to edge Mike Hartfield of Manchester, Conn.

WHAT'S ON TAP
A look at today's tournament games:

* Weston girls' lacrosse at Winchester: Wildcats shoot for Division 2 North title against the host Sachems at 5:30.

* Needham girls' tennis vs. Andover: Fresh off Sunday's South title win, the Rockets try to halt Andover's 42-match winning streak in a Division 1 state semifinal at Newton North (3:30).

* Westborough girls' tennis vs. Longmeadow: Rangers play perennial Western Mass. power Longmeadow in Division 1 state semifinal at Shrewsbury (3:30).

* Westborough boys' tennis vs. Longmeadow: After ending St. John's reign in Central Mass., the Rangers face Longmeadow in a Division 1 state semifinal at Ludlow (3:30).

-- Craig Larson