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

(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.

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.

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.

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.)