Freshman Danny Ryan dazzles in Rockport’s 9-2 win over Newburyport

(Newburyport MA)  Freshman Danny Ryan pitched a complete game six hitter as Rockport ended a five-game losing streak and defeated Newburyport, 9-2, on a cold Tuesday afternoon of Cape Ann League baseball.

This was a 2-2 game after four innings before the Vikings (2-6) put some timely hitting together with some Newburyport miscues to garner five runs in the fifth inning.  The visitors added two more runs in the sixth.

The Clippers (3-6) had the bases loaded in the fifth and two on in the sixth but didn’t score.  Credit Danny Ryan.  He struck out Travis Wile to finish the fifth and ended the sixth with a force out.

Senior James Nutter started for Newburyport.  He surrendered an unearned run in the first as Anthony Ciaromitaro scored on 3B Ryan Furlong’s 2-base throwing error.  The Vikings notched a second run in the third inning when Danny Ryan, who had doubled, came home on junior Josh Proposki’s single.

The Clippers got tainted runs in the first and third.  In the first inning, Caleb Stott reached on 3B Joe Scatterday’s throwing error and later scored on a passed ball by catcher Kyle Nelson.   In the third, Scott Webster struck out but reached when the ball eluded the Rockport catcher.  Ryan Furlong’s fielder’s choice brought Scott home.

This game was won/lost in Rockport’s five-run fifth inning.  The Vikings sent ten players to bat and had RBI by freshman Matt Rich, junior Kyle Nelson, and freshman Danny Ryan.  The Clippers inflicted pain on themselves in that inning by serving up two walks, allowing two runs to score on wild pitches, and making a costly error (2B Matt Short).

Rockport put across two more runs against reliever Leighton Paradise in the sixth inning.  A walk, an error (3B Ryan Furlong), and wild pitches enabled freshman Hayden Roller to score.  Later a fielder’s choice by Anthony Ciaromitaro drove in Matt Rich with the second run of the inning.

The Clippers threatened in their fifth and sixth but on this afternoon there was no late-game rally.

The Vikings were flawless in the field after Joe Scatterday’s error on the first Clippers’ batter.

First baseman Stephen Ryan scooped up two bad throws in the final inning.

Josh Proposki was thrown out twice by NHS catcher Scott Webster trying to steal.

Leighton Paradise was pulled from the game after experiencing arm trouble in the seventh inning.

Rockport was 7-12 last season.

Jeremy Grabowski came off the NHS bench and got two of the Clippers six hits.

Will Cataldo hit two deep flies to right field that were caught by Josh Proposki.

Newburyport had won three of four before the loss today.

The Clippers have scored more than five runs only once in nine games.  When the bats are quiet the pitching and defense has to carry the day.  Not today versus Rockport.

Next game (weather permitting) for Newburyport is at Amesbury.  The Vikings will be at Pentucket that day.

Weather?  It was winter weather minus the snow.

Rockport box

Newburyport box

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