Monthly Archives: May 2014

May 31, 2014 · 8:07 pm

Dan Manning leads Georgetown to 7-3 Division 4 North quarterfinals win over Matignon

Dan Manning had a huge part in the Georgetown win over Matignon

Duncan Hough tags out Brian Raimo for the final out of the game

(Georgetown MA) Georgetown defeated #11 seed Matignon, 7-3, in a Division 4 North quarterfinals matchup on sunny Saturday afternoon.

The win puts the #3 seed Royals (14-7) into the D4 North semifinals for the second straight season. This time around they’ll face #2 seed Boston International next Wednesday.

Senior Dan Manning had a big day for the Royals scoring twice, getting three hits, stealing two bases, and driving in two runs. The Georgetown catcher also gunned out two Warriors attempting to steal.

In defeating the Warriors (6-14), the home team took liberties on the base paths (two double steals) and advantage of Matignon wildness (four hit batsmen).

Georgetown had nine hits and bunched eight of their hits into the first three innings and took a 4-1 lead.

Winning pitcher Pat Slack

The Warriors totaled eight hits and had hits in six innings and left baserunners in each of those innings. Georgetown starter Pat Slack (5 2/3 innings) allowed only two runs.

One of the baserunners gunned down by Dan Manning was JT Nichols in the first inning. The inning started with Nick Valdario walking and JT reaching on 3B Kyle Nelson’s error. Brian Raimo’s sacrifice fly got Nick to third. That was when JT tried to steal and didn’t make it. Cam Monagle followed with an RBI double to the fence in left.

Georgetown got that run back in the bottom of the first inning. Two batters (Ben Noelk and Kyle Nelson) were hit by pitches and both moved into scoring position thanks to a well-executed double steal. Pat Slack’s single to left brought Ben home to tie the score. Matignon starter Jimmy DeAngelo limited the damage to one run by retiring Ryan Slack and Chris Chiklakis to end the inning.

The Royals took the lead for good with a run in the second. Dan Manning singled to deep short and then stole second and third. Kevin Terban’s hot shot over the third base bag scored Dan.

Georgetown picked up two more runs in the third. Pat Slack, after nearly being doubled off first on his brother Ryan’s line drive to second baseman JT Nichols, was driven home on Chris Chiklakis’ shot to the fence in left. When Chris tried to steal third the throw from catcher Kevin Olsen went past third allowing Chris to cross with the Royals fourth run.

Tyler Hanlon reaches third

Matignon (Catholic Central League) cut into their 4-1 deficit with a run in the fourth. Tyler Hanlon singled to deep short and came all the way around on a double by Kevin Olsen to center. CF Mike Goddu dove after Kevin’s long shot and just missed getting it.

Georgetown collected three runs worth of insurance in the 5th inning. The first two Royals (Ryan Slack and Chris Chiklakis) reached and executed the team’s second double steal. Later LF Tyler Hanlon rushed in on Dan Manning’s sinking line drive and had the ball one-hop off of him allowing both G’Town runners to get home. Jared Fernandes came on to relieve Jimmy DeAngelo at this point. A single (Mike Goddu) and a sacrifice fly (Colby Ingraham) produced Georgetown’s seventh and final run.

Matignon put a run on the board against the relief combo (Alex Bornholdt and Duncan Hough) in the final inning. JT Nichols’ fielders choice tallied Jared Fernandes.

The ball gets past a diving Tyler Hanlon (above his foot) in the 5th inning

Weather? After getting caught in the rain at Tewksbury yesterday I was leery of the clouds I saw today but the sun dominated the quick (less than two hours) game.

Mike McPherson hit into the rare 9-6 force out when Georgetown rightfielder Ben Noelk dropped a routine fly in the sixth inning but recovered to force Cam Monagle at second.

Georgetown third baseman Kyle Nelson chased a foul ball out of my sight into the crowd in the Matignon seventh. It sounded as if Kyle introduced himself to a lawn chair but he quickly returned to the playing field.

Jared Fernandes and Cam Monagle paced Matignon with two hits each.

Mike Goddu and Pat Slack had two hits for Georgetown.

Georgetown boxscore

Matignon boxscore

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

JT Nichols steals second

Colby Ingraham

Ben Noelk heads home with the first Georgetown run

Kyle Nelson ventures into the crowd

Pat Slack tries to get back to first

Kevin Terban waits to tag out Mike McPherson

Cam Monagle (#24) gets an unassisted out

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Filed under Georgetown, Matignon

Tagged as Chris Chiklakis, Dan Manning, Pat Slack

May 30, 2014 · 9:41 pm

Shannon McLaughlin and Brooke Hardy lead Tewksbury to 6-0 win over Newburyport in D2 North First Round

Shannon McLaughlin (one hitter with eleven strikeouts)

Brooke Hardy (three hits,three runs, one RBI)

(Tewksbury MA) Shannon McLaughlin allowed just one hit and struck out eleven as Tewksbury defeated Newburyport, 6-0, on a cloudy/rainy Friday afternoon in the first round of the Division 2 North softball tournament.

Tewksbury (15-6) had eleven hits and at least four very loud outs. The biggest Redmen hit was a two-run homer by junior Anna Sessa in the sixth inning that gave Tewksbury its final two runs.

Senior Brooke Hardy also had a big part in the Redmen attack. Brooke singled three times, stole two bases, scored three times, and had an RBI. She has a scholarship to D1 Jacksonville next year.

Shannon McLaughlin (committed to St. Anselm’s) dominated the Clippers (11-10) in the first three innings getting seven strikeouts. Newburyport got its first baserunner with two outs in the third inning when Stephanie Gleason was hit by a pitch.

Tewksbury built up a 3-0 lead in those first three innings.

Brooke Hardy steals second as Morgan Johnston waits for the throw

In the first inning, Erin Walsh hustled a single to center into a double and came home on Brooke Hardy’s grounder up the middle. Brooke stole second and reached third on a passed ball (Shelby O’Brien) and came home on Adrianna Favreau’s single up the middle.

In the third inning, Brooke Hardy beat out a grounder to second baseman (Molly Kelley). When Molly’s throw toward first was wild Brooke reached second. Shannon McLaughlin’s single into right center brought in Brooke with the Redmen’s third run.

Newburyport had a baserunner in both the fourth and fifth innings. Carley Siemasko reached in the 4th on a drop by centerfielder Marissa Doherty while Vicki Allman walked in the 5th.

Teagan Trant (3 hits) scored on the Anna Sessa two-run homer

Tewksbury doubled their lead in the fifth inning. Brooke Hardy singled and stole second with no outs. Two very hard outs followed: sharp grounder by Shannon McLaughlin to shortstop Morgan Johnston and a rope to centerfielder Ashley Hodge. Teagan Trant kept the inning going with a single to right that scored Brooke. Anna Sessa followed with an inside-the-park homer that went over leftfielder Amy Sullivan to the fence. Teagan was running with two outs and scored easily. The Clippers had the ball back in the infield as Anna finished circling the bases.

That 6-0 lead after five innings looked pretty safe the way Shannon McLaughlin was pitching. The big question was whether the Clippers could get a hit off of her. Ashley Hodge took care of that in the top of the sixth flairing a single down the rightfield line. Amy Sullivan bunted Ashley to second but Shannon McLaughlin ended the inning getting two infield popups.

Amy Sullivan runs off with teammates after two catches in the sixth inning

Senior Amy Sullivan made two terrific running/sliding catches in left field in the seventh inning.

In some pretty serious rain, Newburyport put two runners on to start their final at-bats. Meg Stanton walked and Morgan Johnston was hit by a pitch. But three infield outs followed and Tewksbury moves on.

The Redman will face Arlington at Arlington on Sunday afternoon (1PM).

Newburyport, with two seniors (Vicki Allman and Amy Sullivan), will have plenty of experienced players returning for the 2015 season.

Shelby OBrien takes a cut

Tewksbury never recorded an outfield putout in this game.

Teagan Trant had three hits, scored a run, and had an RBI for Tewksbury.

Newburyport High School had its senior prom last night.

Special thanks from me to the wife of Tewksbury coach Leo DiRocco. The rain that started midway through the game had me wishing I had brought an umbrella. Mrs. DiRocco offered me one of several she had in her car.

Anna Sessa (2-run homer)

This is the second time I’ve ever seen Tewksbury play. Last time? Division 2 North finals at UMass Lowell last year when they lost 6-5 to Burlington. Key to that Burlington win was keeping Brooke Hardy off the bases. The Clippers weren’t as fortunate!

We all know that umpires make mistakes. It’s always nice to know that they can admit it and change a call. That change happened when a Tewksbury runner had been ruled safe on a play that was a force-out. It did get straightened out.

Tewksbury is in the Merrimack Valley Conference. Newburyport is from the Cape Ann League.

Tewksbury box

Newburyport box

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

ball drops into the Tewksbury outfield

Brooke Hardy

Molly Kelley takes a throw at second

Pitcher Vicki Allman throws to first baseman Carley Siemasko

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Filed under Newburyport, Tewksbury

Tagged as Amy Sullivan, Anna Sessa, Ashley Hodge, Brooke Hardy, Shannon McLaughlin, Teagan Trant

May 29, 2014 · 7:08 pm

Top Red Sox prospects litter Portland Sea Dogs roster

Mookie Betts and Deven Marrero

catcher Blake Swihart and pitcher Henry Owens

(Portland ME) Do you want to see the top Red Sox prospects? Portland, Maine should be your destination real soon.

The Portland Sea Dogs’ roster (according to MLB.com Prospect Watch) currently has three of the top five Red Sox prospects (Henry Owens, Blake Swihart, and Mookie Betts) as well as #13 Deven Marrero. Highly regarded Sean Coyle is also on the team along with recently arrived Bo Greenwell (Yes, Mike is his father.).

I was at Hadlock Field this morning/afternoon as the Sea Dogs pushed their won/loss record to 35-18 with a 2-1 win over the New Britain Rock Cats.

The Thursday weather for the 11AM start was downright awesome: sunny but not too hot.

Hoping to see some of the six prospects, I was blessed into a game in which all six took part. You talk about photo ops!

Henry Owens

#1 prospect Henry Owens was very impressive. The tall lefty went seven innings facing only twenty-five batters. Henry allowed three hits and kept the Rock Cats from making solid contact most of the time.

This was the first time I have seen #3 prospect Blake Swihart catch. Henry’s control gave Blake an easy-to-handle game.

I came to this game suspecting that it might be a last chance to see Mookie Betts (#5 prospect) in action. I am envisioning Pawtucket in his June future. The Sea Dogs centerfielder had a rare game for him………never got on base.

The best play I saw today? Easily it was what shortstop Deven Marrero did with Kennys Vargas’ grounder up the middle. It would have been a terrific play if Deven had just stopped the ball but he added to it by getting off the ground and getting the out at first. Granted, Kennys Vargas (6’5 – 275 pounds) appears to have David Ortiz-like speed, but the play was remarkable nonetheless. I have read in several places that Deven’s glove is major-league ready. Today I confirmed the fact for myself visually.

This young fan toasted Slugger

Mascot Slugger added to his losing streak as yet another young fan got the best of him circling the bases. This race should be under review because the young fan started halfway up the first baseline. This unfair start put Slugger way behind early and he just didn’t have the closing kick needed to win the race. Of course the way I saw it, the young fan should have been disqualified. I am starting to think these races may be fixed.

Plenty of Maine school kids in the house. There were some educational activities before the game and fun activities during the game. The Portland Sea Dogs management aims to please the attendees and again today they hit the target.

Thanks to Assistant GM Chris Cameron for arranging my visit.

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

Deven Marrero dives back to first

Tony Thomas (former Sea Dog)

Sean Coyle

Mookie Betts signs

Henry Owens

Deven Marrero

Mookie Betts pregame

Blake Swihart

Deven Marrero

Blake Swihart

Nick Kvasnicka

Bo Greenwell

Deven Marrero steals second

pregame rocket launch

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Filed under New Britain Rock Cats, Portland Sea Dogs

Tagged as Blake Swihart, Bo Greenwell, Deven Marrero, Henry Owens, Mookie Betts, New Britain Rock Cats, Portland Sea Dogs, Sean Coyle

May 28, 2014 · 4:33 pm

2014 Cape Ann League All-Star softball team (pictures)

Alexi Boswell

Rachel Cyr

Autumn Kligerman

Jen Nutter

Maddy Crateau

Meredith Kercher

Hannah Travers (#20)

Paige Zeval

Julianna Kostas

Alex Mendelsohn

Kylie Currier

Vicki Allman

Ashley Hodge

Catcher Sophia Warner

Kassidy Kennefick

Maddie Binding

Kayla Parisi

Mara Spears

(Annika Han, Melanie Carter, and Jackilyn Murphy also made the team.)

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Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Georgetown, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Masconomet, Newburyport, Pentucket, Triton

Tagged as Alex Mendelsohn, Alexis Boswell, Annika Han, Ashley Hodge, Autumn Kligerman, Hannah Travers, Jackilyn Murphy, Jen Nutter, Julianna Kostas, Kaddisdy Kennefick, Kayla Parisi, Kylie Currier, Maddie Binding, Maddy Crateau, Mara Spears, Melanie Carter, Meredith Kercher, Paige Zavel, Rachel Cyr, Sophia Warren, Vicki Allman

May 28, 2014 · 1:09 pm

2014 Cape Ann League All-League softball team (pictures)

Amanda Schell (Player-of-the-Year)

Emily Dow (Player-of-the-Year)

Carolyn Lynch

Shortstop Rachel Gallagher

Maddie Kelly

Carley Siemasko

Cassidy Gaeta

Jen Castro and Tarah Reilly

Tyler Feeney

Hannah Lorden

Jess Collins

Kylie Gilroy

(Jackie Whelan of Lynnfield also made the CAL 2014 All-League team.)

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Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Masconomet, Newburyport, North Reading, Pentucket, Rockport, Triton

Tagged as Amanda Schell, Carley Siemasko, Carolyn Lynch, Cassidy Gaeta, Emily Dow, Hannah Lorden, Jackie Whelan, Jen Castro, Jess Collins, Kylie Gilroy, Maddie Kelly, Rachel Gallagher, Tara Reilly, Tyler Feeney

May 21, 2014 · 10:21 pm

Masco gets two in the bottom of the 7th to defeat North Reading 7-6

Jordan Murray about to score the winning run on a wild pitch

Jordyn Murray about to score the winning run on a wild pitch

Tayla Murray slides across with the tying run in the 7th inning

(Topsfield MA) For 2 1/2 innings Masconomet looked like anything but a softball team on a twelve game winning streak.

The rest of the way? The Division 1 Chieftains (17-2) overcame a five-run deficit and overtook Division 2 North Reading, 7-6, with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on a sunny Wednesday afternoon.

The Hornets (14-5) carried a 6-5 lead into the top of the seventh inning and were in an excellent position to pad their lead as they loaded the bases with one out. But Masco’s complete game winner, Emily Dow, struck out Emma Santosuosso and got Bryanne Riley to fly out keeping NR off the scoreboard.

Masconomet celebration begins

Now Masco needed a run to tie and another run to win. They got both. Emily Dow hit a two-strike single on the ground up the middle. Tayla Murray ran for her. Jordyn doubled sending her sister to third with one out. Second baseman Carly Swartz opted to come home with Kylie Currier’s grounder but Tayla Murray slid home safely to tie the score. Her sister (Jordyn) reached third on the play. A fly to center wasn’t deep enough so Jordan held at third with two out. Jordyn did get home standing up on a Kendra Butner pitch in the dirt, that eluded NR catcher Sophia Warner, to give the Chieftains the win.

The victory gives Masco the Cape Ann League Kinney Division title.

Catcher Sophia Warner waits for the throw as Sarah Webster prepares to slide in with the first Masco run

I came away impressed with the Chieftains’ hitting. They collected thirteen hits and everyone in the lineup had at least one of those hits. Eight of the hits came in the final three innings.

Junior Sophia Warren was a perfect four-for-four. She also scored a run and had an RBI for North Reading.

Kendra Butner launched a no-doubter over the fence in left in the NR fourth.

The Hornets did get five runs in the first three innings but they also stranded five runners. Once the Masco bats came to life those stranded NR runners became very important.

Julianna Kostas paced Masco with two RBI. Maddie Kelly, Alex Mendelsohn, Emily Dow, and Kylie Currier had one RBI apiece.

North Reading captains Jen Castro and Tarah Reilly

Cassidy Gaetta, Tarah Reilly, Sophia Warren, and Kendra Butner had the RBI for North Reading.

Errors by shortstop Casey Maidment (fielding) and rightfielder Jordyn Murray (throwing) gave NR two unearned runs in the first inning.

The last Masco loss? 6-5 in nine innings at North Reading. The Hornets scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to send that April game into extra innings.

The other Masco loss? 4-1 to Newburyport in the season opener.

This was the fourth one-run loss for North Reading in the Cape Ann League. The other one-run winners? Amesbury, Lynnfield, and Pentucket

A young Masco fan was hit by a hot grounder. Two North Reading players were quick to bring ice packs. Somewhere they learned that there is more to life than softball.

Emily Dow

Emily Dow played the National Anthem with her trumpet.

A key to the Masco win was limiting 2013 CAL All-League Tarah Reilly to just one hit. As shortstop, Tarah made a sure-handed play to end the sixth inning preserving NR’s one-run lead.

Maddie Kelly (2013 CAL All-Star) had a double, triple and scored a run.

Weather? Perfect with plenty of sunshine.

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

Kendra Butner reaches home after a shot over the fence in left.

attempted steal

Tarah Reilly takes in a popup as baserunner Maddie Kelly ducks out of the way

Emma Santosuosso tries to bunt as first baseman Kylie Currier charges

Cassidy Gaeta

Kendra Butner

Maddie Kelly

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Filed under Cape Ann League, Masconomet, North Reading

Tagged as Emily Dow, Jen Castro, Jordan Murray, Kendra Butner, Maddie Kelly, Sophia Warner, Tarah Reilly

May 20, 2014 · 8:45 pm

Newburyport takes a tight one from Triton 2-1

Jeremy Grabowski (#11) points baserunner Caleb Stott to home

Coach Steve Malenfant congratulates reliever Will Cataldo

(Byfield MA) It was not as if the Newburyport Clippers weren’t in familiar territory.

For the ninth time this season the Clippers found themselves in a one-run game and this time it went their way, 2-1, over Triton on a cloudy/sunny Tuesday afternoon of Cape Ann League baseball.

Newburyport (7-11) is now 5-4 in one-run games.

The loss pushes Triton (7-10) to the brink of elimination from post-season play. The Vikings must win their final three games starting with North Reading on Thursday.

Caleb Stott and Scott Webster combined (twice) to give the Clippers the runs they needed. Caleb reached base in the first and third innings, stole second both times, and scored both times on singles by Scott.

Triton had the makings of big innings in place in the second and sixth innings when they loaded the bases in each inning with one out. The Vikings only came away with one run. NHS starter Cam Beaulieu struck out Michael Talbot and Brad Whitman to end the second. In the sixth, reliever Will Cataldo K’d Jack Germinara and got a ground out from Michael Talbot to keep Triton from getting any runs in that inning.

Adam Chatterton

Junior Adam Chatterton (4-3) certainly deserved a better fate for his complete-game effort. The Triton righty allowed only four hits to go along with ten strikeouts.

Adam was the winning pitcher in Triton’s 4-1 victory over Newburyport in April.

Adam and Billy Mical paced the Vikings with two hits apiece.

Second baseman Matt Short was on the tagging end of Nick Desrocher’s steal attempt in the first inning and came up limping.

Other than Scott Webster’s throwing error in the second inning, the Clippers were flawless in the field.

Chance Carpenter looked like a dead duck when he tried to stretch a single into a double but somehow found a way to get around Brad Whitman’s tag at second. Chance then stole third with one out but Adam Chatterton retired Scott Webster and Ryan Furlong to end the threat.

Billy Mical (#9) scores the Triton run in the second

On Caleb Stott’s single in the fifth inning (that led to Newburyport’s second run) third baseman Billy Mical was in on the grass guarding against a bunt. Billy never had a chance at Caleb’s liner down the line.

Shortstop Caleb Stott was part of Newburyport’s 6-3 double-play that ended the fifth inning.

Junior Will Cataldo set the last five Triton batters down in order to get the save.

Newburyport will host Pentucket on Saturday.

Newburyport box

Triton box

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

Chance Carpenter avoids the tag at second

close play

Scott Webster steals second

Caleb Stott starts a double play

Starter Cam Beaulieu

Justin Cashman

Scott Webster (2 RBI)

Billy Mical tracks a popup

Nick Desrocher slides into second baseman Matt Short

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Filed under Cape Ann League, Newburyport, Triton

Tagged as Adam Chatterton, Caleb Stott, Cam Beaulieu, Chance Carpenter, Scott Webster, Will Cataldo

May 19, 2014 · 8:31 pm

Shelby O’Brien’s 3-run homer leads Newburyport past Triton 5-2

Taylor Johnson tagged out at third base by Meg Stanton as Triton coach Michele Brewer watches

Shelby OBrien hit a 3-run homer in the first inning

(Newburyport MA) Shelby O’Brien’s three-run homer was the big hit for Newburyport in their, 5-2, win over Triton on Monday afternoon.

A huge win for the Clippers (9-8) as they try to qualify for the post-season. They now need one win in their three remaining games to get it done.

The loss ended a three-game slide for the home team. Their next game is at Pentucket on Wednesday.

Triton (5-13) had a five game win-streak in mid-season but have struggled in the games before and after that run of good softball.

The Vikings were missing four starters (Rylee Culverwell, Casey Ross, Christine Ciccone, Julia Hartman) for today’s game. That put inexperienced players into unfamiliar places.

Newburyport scored three in the first inning and two in the third inning. Triton got its runs in the first two innings.

Morgan Johnston and Vicki Allman after the 9th Newburyport win

Senior Vicki Allman pitched a 5-hitter for the Clippers with no walks. After the first two innings, only one Viking (Emma McGonagle) was able to get to second base over the final five innings.

Vicki was hit hard in the first inning in more ways than one. Mara Spears led off with a triple to left center. Third batter (Kylie Gilroy) lined a shot off of Vicki’s left knee. Vicki was able to recover and throw Kylie out but Mara scored and Vicki went down with a sore knee. With backup pitcher Stephanie Gleason nowhere in sight, I’m not sure what NHS Lori Solazzo would have done for pitching if Vicki couldn’t continue. But Vicki did continue and immediately had another liner hit at her which she caught ending the inning.

Newburyport put up three runs of their own in their half of the first. Morgan Johnston beat out an infield hit and Carley Siemasko singled on the ground to right. Shelby O’Brien followed with a high fly deep to the right-field corner. Rightfielder Cailin Fraser had trouble finding the ball because it was over her head, hit high, and influenced by some gusty wind. Shelby was into third before the ball was even picked up and reached home easily.

The Clippers would load the bases after the homer but Mara Spears struck out Shianne Sneider to limit the damage to three runs.

Olivia Lees

Triton got a run back in the second. Sophomore Olivia Lees singled in the hole with two outs and was driven home by Taylor Johnson’s double. The inning ended with Taylor being tagged out by Newburyport third baseman Meg Stanton.

The Clippers added two runs to their 3-2 lead in their half of the third inning. Meg Stanton singled and Molly Kelley walked before junior Shianne Sneider hit an RBI single to right. Ashley Hodge followed with an RBI double to left.

That 5-2 count would hold up the rest of the way. There were few baserunners as the pitchers (Vicki Allman & Mara Spears and later Haley Johnson) threw strikes and had flawless defense behind them.

Weather? We had the Big Three in this one: cloudy, rainy, and sunny. I actually watched quite a few innings from my truck! My only regret was that Shelby’s homer was hit during the rainy part of the game and my camera was staying dry in my truck.

Casey Barlow, Kendra Dow, and Maddy Stanton were on hand to support their former Newburyport teammates.

Triton plays its last game on Wednesday at Saugus.

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

Vicki Allman caught in a rundown

Shianne Sneider (one RBI) reaches 3B as Emma McGonagle awaits the throw

Meg Stanton sets to throw out baserunner Shannon Lyons

Infield grounder gets by second baseman Kylie Gilroy

Mara Spears watches the pitcher

Second baseman Molly Kelley camps under a popup

Haley Johnson

Triton pitcher Haley Johnson throws to 1B Lilly Anderson

Carley Siemasko looks for a popup hit by Mara Spears

Shannon Lyons tracks down a base hit

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Filed under Cape Ann League, Newburyport, Triton

Tagged as Mara Spears, Shelby O'Brien, Vicki Allman

May 15, 2014 · 10:02 pm

Manchester-Essex outlasts Ipswich 10-9 in Cape Ann League baseball

Hunter Flood in the home run trot. The sophomore had five RBI for the Hornets

Liam Logue drives in the 10th ME run

(Ipswich MA) If there is such a thing as a hitters’ duel this was it.

Both Manchester-Essex and Ipswich took plenty of good hacks but it was the Hornets coming away with a 10-9 win on a warm Thursday afternoon.

The Hornets (4-12) took the lead with a 3-run first inning and never trailed. The Tigers (3-12) were within a run with two runners on in both the 6th and 7th innings. ME sophomore reliever Brad Graves got Austin Rubino to pop out to the catcher ending the 6th while junior closer Craig Carter got an infield grounder from Erik Gongas to finish the game.

Today’s game was the last home game for six Ipswich seniors (Jon O’Brien, Erik Gongas, Freddy Cerendolo, Austin Rubino, Ryan Silva and Sean Whooley) and they were recognized by Coach Gardy O’Flynn before the game.

Manchester-Essex jumped into a 7-2 lead after two innings thanks primarily to Hunter Flood. The ME sophomore drove across two in the first with a single and three in the second with a homer over the leftfield fence.

Mike Loebelenz got the win for Manchester-Essex

Ipswich had eleven hits off of Hornets starter (and winner) Mike Loebelenz through five innings. But the Tigers were never able to get more than two runs in any inning despite all the solid raps and trailed 9-7 after five.

The biggest run in the game was the Hornets’ tenth run. The crucial insurance run came in the 7th inning. Brandon Bartlett walked and pinchrunner Chris Carr stole second. Liam Logue’s two-out single through the left side of the IHS infield brought Chris home.

Senior Sean Whooley had four hits and two rbi in his last game on Mile Lane for Ipswich.

Sophomore Alex Morris also had two rbi to go with three hits.

The good crowd on hand saw a very bizarre second inning. After Sean Whooley singled, Mike Savoie grounded to third. ME third baseman Kevin Carter threw wide to second but Sean didn’t realize he was safe. So as he’s jogging off he’s suddenly caught in a rundown between 2B and 3B. No sooner did Sean get tagged out when Mike Savoie is caught in a rundown between 1B and 2B. Fortunately for Mike, the ME rundown ended with a throw into the woods by catcher Dom Cirone that allowed Mike to reach third.

Dom Cirone (3 hits) camps under a popup

Dom Cirone paced the Hornets scoring three times and getting three hits. Hunter Flood and Ethan Ketchum each had two hits. The ME hit total reached twelve off of IHS starter Ryan Silva and reliever Austin Rubino.

ME rightfielder Chuck Otterbein made a terrific running catch on Freddy Cerendolo’s drive in the gap in the third inning.

Manchester-Essex still has a chance to get into the Division 4 post-season tournament. Only the Hornets games versus D4 opponents count toward making the post-season. The Hornets have three games left with D4 opposition (Cristo Rey, Georgetown, and Rockport). ME has to win two of those games to qualify. It’ll be tough since the Hornets have already lost to Cristo Rey and Georgetown this season.

Dan Bennett looks for the plate

The Tigers defeated ME, 12-3, in an earlier meeting.

Today’s winning pitcher (senior Mike Loebelenz) also had victories over Triton and Hamilton-Wenham this season.

Weather? Comfortably warm with clouds showing up to cool things a bit.

Manchester-Essex box

Ipswich box

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

Sean Whooley (4 hits) in a rundown

Jake Long finds a way home

ME closer Craig Carter (#3)

Freddy Cerendolo

Kevin and Sean Whooley

Chuck Otterbein dives into third

Leftfielder Jake Long eyes the home run ball (upper left)

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Filed under Cape Ann League, Ipswich, Manchester-Essex

Tagged as Austin Morris, Craig Carter, Freddy Cerendolo, Hunter Flood, Liam Logue, Sean Whooley

May 14, 2014 · 10:32 pm

Amesbury defeats Lynnfield 6-4 in eight innings in Cape Ann League softball

Amanda Schell and Rachel Cyr race home on a 2-run single by Zoe Fitzgerald in the 8th inning

Second baseman Lauren Fedorchak squeezed the final out

(Lynnfield MA) Converting second chances played a big part in Amesbury’s, 6-4, win over Lynnfield in eight innings on a sunny Wednesday afternoon of Cape Ann League softball.

The Indians (11-4) had the Pioneers (8-9) down by three runs, 4-1, with two outs in the seventh inning. However, a boot by AHS shortstop Maddie Napoli and a dropped popup by second baseman Lauren Fedorchak delivered the tying runs for the Pioneers.

That exciting seventh inning ended for Lynnfield with Malia Roberto, carrying the winning run, getting tagged out at third by Autumn Kligerman.

The visitors had only five hits off of LHS pitcher Sadie Oliver but collected two of them in the extra inning. Amanda Schell singled and Rachel Cyr walked to start the inning. They both moved up on a fielder’s choice and scored easily on sophomore Zoe Fitzgerald’s sharp single up the middle.

Autumn Kligerman tags Malia Roberto to end the 7th inning

Those two runs looked to be enough………..unless you recalled the previous inning in which three runs looked like enough! After two outs Lynnfield had two straight singles (Lauren Guerra and Hannah Travers) and visions of the previous inning started dancing in everyone’s head. But second baseman Lauren Fedorchak was given a second chance to end the game and this time held onto Rachel Buzzotta’s popup to do just that.

Amesbury has won five straight and have made the post-season tournament. For the Indians the final five games will be about getting as high a seed as possible in the Division 3 state tournament.

Lynnfield still has to make the tournament. Ten wins will do it. They must win at least two of their last three games. I like their chances of getting what they need since they’ll be playing three teams (Ipswich, Georgetown, Manchester-Essex) with losing records.

Rachel Cyr

The Pioneers certainly had plenty of hits (ten) off of AHS pitcher Rachel Cyr but stranded ten runners. Why LHS didn’t score more times with all their hits was because three Pioneers (Hannah Travers, Annika Han, and Lauren Guerra) had eight of the ten hits.

Amesbury started the scoring with a tainted run in the second inning. Autumn Kligerman doubled but reached third on a bad relay throw from leftfielder Malia Roberto. Autumn later slide home on a wild pitch by Sadie Oliver.

The Indians started the fourth inning with two straight hits (Meg Aponas single, Amanda Schell double). Rachel Cyr’s sacrifice fly scored Meg. Before the inning was over Amesbury would get two more runners to third (Amanda Schell, Autumn Kligerman) and both would come home on wild pitches.

Amesbury carried a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning. In that inning Annika Han of Lynnfield singled, stole second, and reached third on a passed ball. Malia Roberto’s single into right field put the Pioneers on the board.

The exciting seventh saw Lynnfield rally to tie the score, only to lose in the eighth inning.

Hannah Travers (#20) made a super catch in center field

The good crowd on hand saw a terrific running catch by centerfielder Hannah Travers to take away a double and possibly more from Meg Aponas to end the sixth inning. The LHS junior went straight back and dove to make the catch.

Third baseman Autumn Kligerman had a strong game at third for Amesbury especially in the third inning when the AHS junior had three assists.

Weather? Just terrific. After yesterday’s 50’s I was overdressed for today’s 70’s.

Autumn Kligerman and Amanda Schell each scored two runs for Amesbury.

Amesbury won the previous meeting this season between the two teams, 9-7, on April 11th.

Next game for the Indians is at Rockport on Thursday.

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