Shelby O’Brien leads Newburyport past Amesbury 10-3

(Amesbury MA)  “Hey, she’s human!”

That’s what one of the spectators yelled after Amesbury’s Zoe Fitzgerald ripped a grounder down the line past third baseman Shelby O’Brien in the sixth inning.

Why?  Junior Shelby O’Brien was having a remarkable game in the field and at the bat.  She had handled tough chances and routine chances flawlessly.  She even had started a double play.  But there were equally good things when Shelby batted: a home run, two doubles and four RBI.

In the end, Newburyport defeated Amesbury, 10-3, on a sunny/windy Monday afternoon of Cape Ann League softball.

Meghan Stanton also homered and Stephanie Gleason added a triple as part of Newburyport’s 13-hit barrage.

Amesbury (6-4) had plenty of hits (nine) but were short on the big hit.  The Indians left runners on base in every inning.

Amanda Schell led Amesbury with three hits and two RBI.  She also scored a run.

Lauren Singer also had a big day for the Clippers (7-5) with two hits and three RBI.

Newburyport picked up three runs in the first inning.  Morgan Johnson singled and Carley Siemasko reached on an error (Maddy Napoli) before Shelby launched a 3-run blast over centerfielder Meagan Aponas’ head.

In the third the Clippers added two more runs.  Carley Siemasko ripped a single off of AHS starter Sammy Stone’s glove before Shelby doubled to right center.  Lauren Singer’s single to right tallied both runners.

Behind 5-0, the Indians rallied back in their half of the third.  An infield hit and an infield error (Morgan Johnson) opened the door for Amanda Schell to drive in both baserunners (Alexi Boswell and Lucy Scholz) with a single to right center.

Newburyport put their big bats back to work in the fourth.  Stephanie Gleason tripled to right center and Ashley Hodge singled her home.  The Indians looked to be out of the inning after second baseman Lauren Fedorchak started a nifty double play.  But on this day the runs kept coming for NHS.  After Carley Siemasko walked, Shelby had a wind-blown double to left scoring Carley.  Lauren Singer added another run with a single bringing Shelby home.

Next inning (fifth) the Clippers would add two more to their 8-2 lead against Rachel Cyr who replaced starter Sammy Stone.  Amy Sullivan walked and was the baserunner when Meghan Stanton homered to right center.

Newburyport carried a 10-2 leading into the bottom of the seventh.  Amesbury put three hits together for a run as Autumn Kligerman drove across Amanda Schell but that was it for the Indians.

The win enables the Clippers to sweep the season series with the Indians.  Newburyport pulled out a walkoff 16-15 win in April in Newburyport.

Everyone in the Newburyport lineup either scored a run or had a hit.

Vicki Allman went the distance for the Clippers.  She surrendered nine hits but gave up no extra base hits and allowed only one walk.  Vicki certainly had plenty of run support in this one.

Zoe Fitzgerald had two hits for the Indians.

Amesbury was coming off of a 9-8 eight inning win over a North Reading team that had only lost once.

The sun was very tough for those playing on the right side of the field.

Amesbury returns to action tomorrow at Saugus.  Newburyport will wait until Wednesday to resume play when they will host Ipswich.

It takes ten wins for a team to qualify for the post-season tournament.

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