(Byfield MA) Triton can hit and they can score runs.
Today the relief pitching of sophomore Grace Romine kicked in as well to help the Vikings defeat Ipswich, 13-4, on Friday afternoon.
Grace came in for starter Mallory Johnson in the top of the fourth inning.
First batter Grace faced (Rowan Galanis) dropped down a perfect run-producing bunt to give the Tigers a, 4-3, lead.
After that? Ipswich didn’t get a run or a hit the rest of the way, in fact, Grace retired the last ten batters she faced.
“Grace pitched well,” said Triton coach Alan Noyes afterwards. “She pitched well in a loss to North Reading a few weeks ago. She’ll probably get the ball when we play Newburyport on Monday.”
The Vikings (6-5) had hits in every inning and scored in every inning.
“They’ve got good hitters,” said Ipswich coach Paul James post-game.
Kyla Story, Haleigh Harris, and Natalie Indingaro led the Triton attack. Kyla had four hits and four RBI. Haleigh contributed three hits and two RBI, while Natalie had two hits and two RBI.
“We do a lot of hitting,” explained Coach Noyes. “We put in forty-five minutes to an hour every day we practice.”
The Tigers, however, looked strong in this one into the fourth inning.
“We had it close,” recalled Coach James.
Triton errors and hit batsmen put the visitors into numerous scoring situations during the early innings and they capitalized four times.
However, despite some shaky plays, the Vikings also had some defensive gems that limited the Ipswich run production.
Twice in the first four innings, Rowan Galanis was thrown out at the plate.
In the second inning, it was a throw by centerfielder Izzy Oldoni that got the Ipswich senior.
In the fourth inning, when Cassidy Smith tried to steal second, the throw went directly to shortstop Kyla Story instead. Kyla returned the throw to catcher Haleigh Harris catching Rowan trying to score from third.
In the third inning, rightfielder Natalie Indingaro made a nice running catch to rob Maya Williams of a hit.
The Vikings had eight doubles off starter Annabel Morris and those big hits accounted for seven runs driven in.
Senior Gabby McKendry had a two-out, two-run single during Triton’s six-run sixth inning.
Junior Lexi James had two hits and scored three times for Ipswich.
The weather was warm, and the threatening clouds didn’t turn into anything.
The seniors from both schools were honored afterwards.
Freshman Kyla Story continues to impress me with her hitting and her fielding. I’m not the only one.
Coach James: “Triton has a great shortstop.”
Coach Noyes: “At the start of tryouts she hid in the corner. She’s come into her own. She’s the real deal. She had a big game against Lynnfield.”
I asked Kyla afterwards about the game: “Our energy got up after a while. I’ve been practicing a lot. I play in the middle infield for the Northeast Hurricanes.”
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McClelland Miscellanea 