May | 2013 | McClelland Miscellanea

Monthly Archives: May 2013

May 2, 2013 · 8:06 pm

Newburyport defeats Manchester-Essex 3-0 on James Nutter’s six-hitter

Connor MacRae and Colby Morris both scored on Ryan Shorts single in the second inning.

James Nutter tossed a six-hitter in his first start of the season.

(Newburyport) The Clippers (5-4) put together their second straight shutout as they defeated Manchester-Essex, 3-0, on a chilly Thursday afternoon of Cape Ann League baseball.

Senior James Nutter tossed a complete game, six-hitter in his first start of the season. Another first-time starter (Evan Habib), had a complete game, three-hitter against Ipswich on Monday.

The visiting Hornets (2-7) have now lost six of seven including two in extra innings. They did, however, knock off defending D4 state champs Georgetown last Saturday.

Newburyport collected two runs (one unearned) in the second inning and another run in the third. That turned out to be more than enough on this day.

The Clippers loaded the bases in the second inning on an error (first baseman Max Nesbit throwing), a single down the third-base line (Colby Morris), and a bunt single (Mike Sweeney). Senior Ryan Short hit a ground single up the middle driving in Connor MacRae and Colby Morris.

A throwing error cost Manchester-Essex a run in the second inning

It looked as if the Clippers might add more runs after Andrew Fiascone walked. However, a double-steal attempt nabbed Mike Sweeney at third. Then a popout to first (Ian Michaels) turned into a double play when Ryan Short, who broke for the plate, couldn’t get back to third. But Newburyport did get two runs.

Their third run came in the next inning. Brian Fiascone doubled to right center leading off. Colton Fontaine’s sacrifice fly moved Brian to third and Connor Wile’s fly to center brought Brian home.

Brandon Bartlett

Hornet pitcher Brandon Bartlett allowed just one hit (Mike Sweeney single) over the final three innings but his teammates couldn’t break through against James Nutter.

ME’s Max Nesbit started the game with a double but James whiffed the next three Hornets to escape.

Clippers leftfielder Mike Sweeney, in the fourth inning, tried unsuccessfully to make a running catch but recovered quickly and gunned down the batter (Craig Carter) at second base.

After Corey McCollum singled in the fifth inning with one out, a bunt attempt (Henry Gedney) was caught in the air by James Nutter. His quick toss to first baseman Connor MacRae doubled off Henry Gedney to end that inning.

Second baseman Brian Fiascone took Mike Sweeneys throw and waits for baserunner Craig Carter

The visitors had two men on in the last inning with two outs before leftfielder Mike Sweeney made a running catch in foul territory to end it.

Newburyport’s next game is tomorrow night (6:30PM) at Rockport. ME returns to action next Tuesday at Pentucket.

A little over a year ago (April 26th) on the same site, Manchester-Essex defeated the defending D3 state champs, 5-2, ending the Clippers 18-game winning streak.

Max Nesbit catches a popup as Ryan Short starts back to third

Brian Fiascone and Mike Sweeney each had two hits for Newburyport.

Craig Carter and Corey McCollum each had two hits for the Hornets.

Shortstop Colby Morris made a nice play on a slow grounder in the second inning.

First baseman Connor MacRae made a nice scoop of a low throw (Colton Fontaine) in the fourth. Connor also put his body in front of a grounder in the final inning recording an unassisted putout.

James Nutter was on one of the winning relay teams for the 2013 D4 state indoor track champion Clippers.

Ryan Short drove in two runs

The weather? Where did the 70 degrees and sunny disappear to?

Newburyport boxscore

Manchester-Essex boxscore

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Brandon Bartlett chases a bunt as Colby Morris runs for second

Colby Morris

Kevin Carter

Craig Carter tags out Brian Fiascone

Brian Fiascone reaches third base.

Amesbury defeats Newburyport 18-0 in mercy-rule shortened game

Amanda Schell (#16) had five hits, 5 RBI, and scored four times for Amesbury

Amanda Schell (#16) had five hits, five RBI, and scored four times for Amesbury

(Newburyport) “When she was good
She was very, very good
But when she was bad
She was horrid!” (part of a nursery rhyme by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Now that you know the score it will take very little imagination to place “Amesbury” and “Newburyport” in the rhyme.

The two teams played a week ago and Amesbury won, 4-1. Who saw an 18-0, mercy-rule game coming? I will admit to being stunned by the way this game went!

Indians jam the base paths

The Indians (9-1) had only six hits two days ago in a loss to Triton against Mara Spears. But today they battered the Clippers Vicki Allman for eighteen hits………and most of them were hard hit.

The big story out of this game was Amesbury’s second inning. The Indians sent eighteen batters to the plate and collected twelve hits and scored thirteen times. Amesbury had two triples (Amanda Schell), a double (Alexi Boswell), and singles galore.

The normally sure-handed Clippers shortstop Kendra Dow had three miscues in the Newburyport nightmare. It actually took two terrific outfield plays (Ashley Casellini and Lea Tomasz) to keep the visitors from getting more runs.

The Indians had gotten a run in the first inning as Cassie Schultz’s double brought in Amanda Schell. So the Clippers found themselves down, 14-0, after 1 ½ innings.

trouble in the field

The big question then was, “How does the Mercy Rule work in the Cape Ann League?” The answer was that it’s twelve runs after five innings played. So Newburyport obviously had its work cut out for it to extend the game beyond five innings. It didn’t happen on this afternoon.

As I suggested in the opening paragraph, Amesbury had everything going well including pitching, fielding (no errors), and hitting.

Starter Carolina Merrill gave up four hits in four innings. The Clippers (5-4) had two on (Kendra Dow and Lea Tomasz) with one out in the first inning but the AHS senior struck out Carley Siemasko and Jackie Krusemark to end the threat.

Rachel Cyr pitched the fifth getting two strikeouts.

shortstop Amanda Schell

Junior Amanda Schell had a Cape Ann League Division 2 Player-of-the-Year game for Amesbury. The AHS shortstop handled six chances in the field without error. She was more impressive at the plate going five-for-five and driving in five runs. She also scored four runs. Remarkable performance!

Cassie Schultz reached base all five times she batted getting three hits and adding three RBI.

Freshman Lauren Fedorchak also had three hits. The second baseman scored three times.

Alexi Boswell registered three RBI on two hits. The junior crossed home twice.

Kendra Dow had two of Newburyport’s four hits.

Newburyport has now lost four straight games to Amesbury.

close play at second

Both teams return to action on Friday. The Clippers visit Lynnfield. Amesbury, the top team in the CAL D2, will host North Reading, the top team in the CAL D1. That matchup should be a good one.

The weather was remarkable.

This game was originally scheduled for 7PM under the Cashman Park lights.

Amesbury boxscore

Newburyport boxscore

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)