Published April 22, 2020
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
MADDIE BURKE and the entire class of 2020 are hoping to get back on the field this spring. (Dan Pawlowski File Photo)
LYNNFIELD — Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, high school sports have been put on hold throughout the country. In Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has tried to work out a shortened schedule if school returns in early May.
Under normal conditions, the lacrosse season would have started in late March while the other sports would have debuted in early April.
The ones most affected by this are the seniors who, a few months ago, could never envision their final months of high school ending up like this.
Breanna Serabian is the lone senior on the Lynnfield High softball team. The center fielder was named to the Cape Ann League All-Star team for the first time last spring and she was looking forward to this season.
“It is pretty disappointing,” she admitted. “We were going to play 20 games instead of the 18 we played last year. I am not going to be playing in college so this is my last chance to play organized softball.”
Last season, the Pioneers reached the Division 3 North semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Austin Prep 7-4. Lynnfield ended up with a final overall mark of 14-8.
“A lot of people didn’t expect us to win a lot of games last year,” said Serabian, who will be going to Salem State this fall. “This year we have a really good team coming back.”
During the downtime, she has been practicing with her younger sister playing catch four to five times a week. They also have the luxury of a hitting machine they are using in their backyard.
Serabian is also pleased with the effort the MIAA is making to try to get a season in.
“I am happy with what they are doing as long as we get any chance to play,” she said.
Off the field, she is concerned about missing the rite of passage of being a senior. As of now the prom, senior trip and graduation are up in the air. The prom is scheduled for June 3 while gradation is set for June 5.
Jason Stelman is a senior on the Pioneers tennis team. Last spring, they lost, 3-2, to Weston in the Division 3 North semifinals to finish at 15-4. They were the Cape Ann League Kinney division champions
“It is extremely disappointing,” said Stelman. “I was going to be one of the captains but, from the people I have talked to, it doesn’t look good for us returning.”
Stelman, who played second doubles and went 8-5 last spring, was also high on his team’s expectations coming into the season.
“We would have been very successful and we had good chemistry,” he stated. “I think we could have won the (Cape Ann League Kinney division) title again.”
Stelman is trying to stay in shape if the season does get started by running and working out with his older sister.
Stelman will be going to Florida State this fall.
He admits that if the season and, all of the Senior Week events get canceled, it will be a tough pill to swallow.
“It is taking a toll on me already,” he said about the last month. “I am grateful to the MIAA to trying to put something together.”
Maddie Burke is a senior midfielder-attacker on the Pioneer girls’ lacrosse team.
“It is pretty disappointing and with New Hampshire canceling school last week I think that Massachusetts will do the same,” she said.
Burke is also pleased with the MIAA for working to try to put a plan in place and she has been playing catch with her brother and running to keep in shape the past month.
Off the field, the Zoom calls with her teammates and the online classes have given her help and structure during this time.
Burke, who will be going to UNH in September, would also like to play a game against the Lynnfield Alumni team later on in the summer if there is not a season so her squad can at least play one time together.
With New Hampshire closing schools for the year last week things don’t look good so these three will be watching when Governor Baker makes his decision about the rest of the school year.
