Category Archives: Lynnfield

January 5, 2018 · 11:48 pm

Newburyport explodes in the 4th quarter and defeats Lynnfield 68-55

George Coryell (16 pts) guarded by freshman Jack Ford

Ryan Archer (17 pts) in the lane with Billy Arseneault

(Newburyport MA) This game was close into the final quarter, and I thought it would go down to the wire.

Newburyport didn’t let that last-shot thing happen, however, as they exploded in the fourth quarter with thirty-one points and defeated Lynnfield, 68-55 on Friday night in Cape Ann League action.

This game was tied seven times with the final tie (45-45) with 5 ½ minutes left. After that the combination of Ryan Archer long range and George Coryell drives did in the Pioneers.

Ryan’s two 3-pointers and George’s four layups were the major pieces in a 16-6 run for the home team that sealed this one for the Clippers.

“They figured out our weakness (defending on ball) and they took advantage of it,” said Lynnfield coach Scott MacKenzie afterwards.

George Coryell got to the basket four straight times to key the Clippers separation run. I mentioned George to Newburyport coach Dave Clay and all he said was, “Wow!”

Casey McLaren (22 pts) had seventeen in the first half

George took the ball to the basket throughout the game but in the final quarter there was no help from other Pioneers’ defenders. Why? “They paired George Coryell with Casey McLaren on the wing, so we couldn’t offer help,” said Coach MacKenzie, “It was a smart play.”

Anyone playing Newburyport (6-1) knows the trouble 6-5 Casey McLaren can cause. And the junior caused plenty of that in the first half with seventeen points. “Casey kept us in the game in the first half,” said Coach Clay.

Casey has the size to shoot over players and the driving skills to thwart perimeter overplays. What I didn’t see was him posting the undersized Pioneers in close to the basket.

Casey finished with twenty-two points. Teammates Ryan Archer (17) and George Coryell (16) reached double figures.

Billy Arseneault (16 pts) defended by George Coryell

I saw Lynnfield twice last year and was quickly dazzled by #11 (Billy Arseneault). “Billy is a phenomenal plaer,” said Coach Clay. “We did our best to contain him but he’s going to have points.”

Billy ended up with sixteen points. The senior was the Player-of-the-Year in the CAL Kinney Division last season.

Billy not only shoots well but he is also a terrific dribbler and passer. He isn’t Kyrie Irving, but he sure looked like the Celtic guard on some of the plays he made against Newburyport.

Zach Shone led the Pioneers with twenty points. He led Lynnfield in chasing down offensive rebounds.

“They had extra chances,” said Coach Clay, “but it wasn’t due to a lack of effort on our part. We need to work on rebounding in practice.”

Zach Shone (20 pts) and Billy Arseneault

The Pioneers graduated nine seniors off last season’s 18-5 team. “We’re trying to find our bench,” said Coach MacKenzie. “We are really only playing five kids and we got tired at the end of this game.”

Coach Clay has great respect for Scott MacKenzie: “I think Lynnfield has the best coach in the league.”

This is Coach Clay’s first year coaching at the school he teaches at. “I am still trying to get to know the team.”

Newburyport went from a 5-point third quarter to a 31-point fourth quarter.

Lynnfield (4-2) certainly didn’t help themselves at the foul line missing twelve of twenty-eight attempts. It is always a challenge shooting free throws with the Nbpt student section under the basket. Matt Mortellite missed four straight facing the hostile crowd in the second quarter.

It was the first time I have seen Newburyport cheerleaders at a basketball game.

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

Casey McLaren shoots a jump shot

Noah Van Schalkwyk

Ryan Archer shows a left hand while Billy Arseneault tries to avoid a foul

Casey McLaren launches from the wing

Casey McLaren gets to the rim

Zach Shone (20 pts) gets past Ryan MacDonald

Twelve Lynnfield misses from the foul line

Billy Arseneault passing

Shooting in Newburyport traffic

Billy Arseneault uses a screen

Jason Ndansi shoots against Parker McLaren

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Filed under Lynnfield, Newburyport

Tagged as Billy Arseneault, Casey McLaren, George Coryell, Ryan Archer, Zach Shone

February 17, 2017 · 11:40 pm

Newburyport stuns Lynnfield 67-55

Billy Arseneault (16 points) tries to get past Cam MacRae (14 points)

Casey McLaren (18 points) eyes the hoop

(Newburyport MA) Newburyport turned in an impressive win on Senior Night as they took down Lynnfield, 67-55.

The Pioneers (15-2) had a twelve-game winning streak snapped.

The Clippers (14-3) took the lead in the first two minutes and never gave it back.

The Pioneers went down by thirteen (34-21) three minutes into the second half but battled back to within three points (39-36) in the final two minutes of the third quarter.

Nick Rogers (18 points) ends the third quarter with a three. (Ball is above the scoreboard)

Nick Rogers (18 points) pushed the NHS lead back to nine (47-38) with a pair of three’s.

Cam MacRae and Zack Shone (14 points)

Later, Cam MacRae (14 points) strung five points in a row to boost the advantage to double digits (57-44) with 3:35 to go and sealed Lynnfield’s fate.

Lynnfield hadn’t lost since December (non-league Melrose) but were in trouble early versus Newburyport because top scorer Louis Ellis was a foul magnet. Two minutes into this game he had two fouls. LHS coach Scott McKenzie had to bench him for the rest of the quarter. Two minutes into the second quarter Louis picked up his third foul. Again, he was benched for the rest of the quarter.

Did it affect Lynnfield? For sure! The Pioneers tallied just eighteen points TOTAL in the first half. Louis played only four of the sixteen minutes.

Over a year ago, in the MIAA tournament, Louis collected a career-high thirty-four points against Newburyport to help oust the Clippers from the post-season.

What I’m trying to tell you is that when Louis Ellis is on the bench for twelve minutes of the sixteen-minute first half, and then is held to two points in the second half, Lynnfield is in trouble.

Brendan Powers gets off a shot in the lane

Credit Newburyport for much of the Lynnfield trouble. They constantly took the ball to the basket.

After halftime, Louis Ellis was back on the court but another starter, Dan Jameson, wasn’t. He was sick.

And then there was the Lynnfield foul shooting. A very unfortunate six-for-eighteen. I swear that I saw the Pioneers’ terrific point guard (Billy Arseneault) put a free throw in off the backboard. Things didn’t make sense for Lynnfield on this night.

Again, credit Newburyport for taking advantage despite a dreadful first half shooting-wise of their own. Casey McLaren ended up with eighteen points but fourteen of them came in the second half after an apparent lid was removed that gave him trouble in the first half.

Casey McLaren (18 points) takes the last shot of the first half

Despite tough shooting the Clippers had a 23-15 halftime lead.

Consecutive three’s starting the second half, by Casey McLaren and Nick Rogers from in front of the NHS bench, put the visitors down by eleven (29-18).

The best moments for Lynnfield were in an 11-2 run later in the 3^rd quarter that included several spin moves down the lane by Billy Arseneault (16 points). That collection of good offense narrowed the NHS advantage to three (39-36) with plenty of game left.

Nick Rogers ended that third quarter with a three and added another one (he had four in the game) early in the final quarter. LHS fell back away from one-possession territory and never got that close again.

Lynnfield had defeated Newburyport 67-48 on December 23^rd. The Pioneers raced off to a 20-5 first quarter lead. Billy Arseneault had twenty points in that game.

Newburyport made seven of its eight triples in the second half.

Good crowd with many there to honor the Clippers seven seniors.

Luis Ellis - Long night for a talented player

Louis Ellis – Long night for a talented player

Both teams used zones and man-to-man’s.

There were plenty of drives to the basket and attempted three’s.

Newburyport has now won fourteen of the last fifteen games.

In contrast to the Pioneers’ weak free throw shooting, Newburyport cashed thirteen of sixteen FT attempts.

Both teams are in Division 3. No doubt both teams will have home games in the MIAA tournament. There is also the possibility that they will meet for the 3^rd time this season in the tourney.

Lynnfield box

Newburyport box

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

Robbie Shay

Louis Ellis

Dan Jameson tries to shoot over Casey McLaren

Nick Roger’s step-back three gives Newburyport a 37-25 lead

Newburyport was thirteen for sixteen from the foul line

Zack Shone (14 points)

Bryant Dana in the lane

Tussle on the floor

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Filed under Lynnfield, Newburyport

Tagged as Billy Arseneault, Cam MacRae, Casey McLaren, Louis Ellis, Nick Rogers

January 27, 2017 · 11:46 pm

Lynnfield runs streak to eight with 52-46 win over Triton

Billy Arseneault (22 points) guarded by Dylan Shute

Liam Spillane’s collects a rebound

(Byfield MA) Lynnfield defeated Triton, 52-46, on Friday night in Cape Ann League action.

The Pioneers (11-1) have now won eight straight. Their lone loss was in December to non-league Melrose.

The Vikings (8-4) started slow and ended even slower. In between? Wow! They dropped five 3’s (three by Colin Brennan and two by Will Parsons) on the visitors in third period and turned a 32-24 halftime deficit into a 42-41 lead at the end of the 3^rd.

Triton was still close enough to taste it after Jack McCarthy put in a runner in the lane with 3 ½ minutes left in the game. The Vikings, at that juncture, were then only down by one, 45-44.

The rest of the way belonged to Lynnfield. Led by Billy Arseneault (22 points) the Pioneers tallied the next seven points to gain outcome-deciding separation.

Junior Billy Arseneault had a hand in all seven crucial points. He started with a triple, followed with a drive down the left side of the lane, and then missed a free throw. On this night, even the missed free throw turned out good for LHS as Lou Ellis snared the rebound and put in the rebound.

Triton ended up with a 4-point final quarter and I’m guessing you don’t win very often doing that.

Lou Ellis defends Colin Brennan

A factor in the Triton drought was the move by Pioneers’ coach Scott McKenzie to put Lou Ellis on Colin Brennan (16 points) in the final quarter. Lou is taller than Colin and he made the clean looks vanish for the Triton junior.

Both teams had players willing to take the ball to the basket.

One concern for Triton going into this game was if they could rebound against Lynnfield. It turns out that they could. What they couldn’t do was make shots in the last quarter.

Key player in the game? Easily Billy Arseneault: Clever off the dribble and able to make 3’s, jump shots, and layups. In the last minute, he had a steal and there were assists earlier. Other than that…………..

Jack McCarthy (12 points) and Will Parsons (10 points) struggled to finish around the basket. Along with Liam Spillane, the Vikings had chances in close but they weren’t falling on this night.

Lou Ellis ended up with seventeen points getting thirteen of them in the first half. His late-game defense was significant.

Mike Carangelo (11 points) also reached double figures for the Pioneers.

Both teams played man-to-man for the most part with an occasional zone defense tossed in.

Lynnfield box

Triton box

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

Liam Spillane

Lou Ellis takes a three from the corner

Triton cheerleaders

Bryant Dana

Mike Carangelo

Jack McCarthy with the ball

Colin Brennan

Will Parsons among Pioneers

Liam Spillane on the ball

Chris Trotta got the worst of a collision

Billy Arseneault covers Gabe Butts

Colin Brennan (16 points) to the hoop

Lou Ellis (17 points)

Billy Arseneault steals from Jack McCarthy.

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Filed under Lynnfield, Triton

Tagged as Billy Arseneault, Colin Brennan, Lou Ellis, Will Parsons

October 31, 2015 · 9:03 pm

Manchester-Essex (girls) and Masco (boys) win Cape Ann League XC championships

Masconomet captains with 2015 championship plaque

Manchester-Essex: 2015 Cape Ann League cross country champions

Maddie Quigley (Triton) finishes first

(Topsfield MA) The Manchester-Essex girls and the Masconomet boys came out winners at the Cape Ann League cross country championships held Saturday at Bradley Palmer State Park.

Maddie Quigley (Triton) and Joe Molvar (Newburyport) were the top finishers in each division.

The ME girls edged arch-rival Hamilton-Wenham in several head-to-head races within the race to get the title, 40-50. During the regular season HW got by ME by a one slim point to keep their dual-meet streak (129 straight) alive.

The Masco boys had too much depth for the rest of the CAL field. Newburyport took the top two spots (Joe Molvar and Jack Carleo) but the Chieftains still won, 60-73. Masco’s Daniel Cosgrove finished third.

Senior Maddie Quigley was behind fast-starting Emily DeMarco (Ipswich) for part of the race but had a good lead over Eve Feuerbach (ME) at the finish. Maddie finished 7^th in 2014.

Joe Molvar near the finish

Senior Joe Molvar trailed teammate Jack Carleo for part of the boys’ race but also ended up with a commanding lead over his Clippers’ teammate at the end.

An important last-second rally by ME’s Holly Fossa got her past HW’s Olivia Horgan and into sixth place.

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

Boys top finishers

Jack Carleo and Joe Molvar

HW coach Steve Sawyer gets “special” award

Maddie Quigley comes forward to get award afterwards

Grace Sousa (Georgetown) 10th

Girls top finishers

Jack Carleo (Newburyport) 2nd

Daniel Cosgrove (Masco) 3rd

Eve Feuerbach (ME) 2nd

Grace Moroney (HW) 4th

Evelyn Lantz (ME) 5th, Olivia Horgan (HW) 7th, Holly Fossa (ME) 6th

Hailee Gibadlo (Amesbury) 9th

Chris Chabot (Amesbury) won the boys JV title

Emily DeMarco (Ipswich) 10th

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Filed under 2015 Cape Ann League XC Championships, Amesbury, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Manchester-Essex, Masconomet, Newburyport, North Reading, Pentucket, Triton

Tagged as Eve Feuerbach, Jack Carleo, Joe Molvar, Maddie Quigley, Manchester-Essex, Masconomet

June 6, 2015 · 9:50 pm

Amesbury recovers to win First Round softball 14-5 over Lynnfield

Zoe Fitzgerald races to first with the final out.

Annika Han scores the first Lynnfield run

(Amesbury MA) The #1 seed Amesbury recovered from a 3-run Lynnfield first inning and went on to defeat the Pioneers, 14-5, in Round One of the D3 North softball tournament on Saturday afternoon.

The Indians (18-3) will now face another Cape Ann League team (Rockport) in the quarterfinals on Monday afternoon at Amesbury’s newly named Chris Perry Field.

The #16 seed Pioneers (13-9) came out of the gates hitting AHS starter Hayley Catania hard getting three hits and three runs in the first inning. After that the Indians freshman scattered five hits (and two runs) while striking out five.

Meanwhile the Amesbury bats were loud and never seemed to quiet down against LHS starter senior Sadie Oliver. Everyone in the Indians lineup had hits in Amesbury’s fourteen-hit afternoon. Also, every batter scored at least one run. It was quite the hitting show.

Sam Stone paced Amesbury with three hits. Autumn Kligerman and Zoe Fitzgerald each homered. Autumn’s was down the left-field line and seemed to roll forever. Zoe’s was a blast over leftfielder Leigh Guerra.

Seniors Hannah Travers and Kelly Hosterman each had two hits for Lynnfield.

Very impressed with LHS centerfielder Annika Han. The Lynnfield junior had a quick jump on fly balls and registered six putouts.

Maddie Napoli on her way to a terrific running catch

Another defensive standout was Amesbury shortstop Maddie Napoli. The AHS sophomore recovered from a first-inning bad throw to stay clean the rest of the way. Maddie turned in the play-of-the-game in the 4^th inning with a running catch toward the left-field foul line off the bat of Olivia DeLuca. In the promising Pioneers’ (two on, nobody out) sixth, Maddie caught an LHS baserunner off second base.

Sadie Oliver tossed a 2-hitter in Lynnfield’s 12-0 win over O’Bryant in the preliminary round.

Amesbury defeated Lynnfield in April (8-3), May (9-1), and today in June.

Amesbury box

Lynnfield box

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

Hayley Catania was the complete game winner

Hannah Travers had two hits for Lynnfield

Kelly Hosterman had two hits

AHS shortstop Maddie Napoli

LHS pitcher Sadie Oliver

Lauren Fedorchak

tough chance in left field

LHS coach Peter Marinelli visits his pitcher

Kelly Dillon (#6) after interfering with Lauren Fedorchak (#15)

close play at second

AHS coach Chris Perry puts the stop on baserunner Hayley Catania

Kelly Dillon fires to first

Autumn Kligerman jumps for joy at the end of the game

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Filed under Amesbury, Lynnfield

Tagged as Annika Han, Autumn Kligerman, Hannah Travers, Hayley Catania, Kelly Hosterman, Maddie Napoli, Sadie Oliver, Sam Stone, Zoe Fitzgerald

June 2, 2014 · 10:26 pm

Pentucket’s Ryan Kuchar 2-hits Lynnfield in 3-1 Division 3 North quarterfinals win

Ryan Kuchar and Bobby Barry celebrate the win over Lynnfield

Ryan Kuchar pitched a 2-hit, complete game for the Sachems

(Lynnfield MA) Ryan Kuchar pitched a complete game, 2-hitter as Pentucket defeated Lynnfield, 3-1, in the Division 3 North quarterfinals on Monday afternoon at sunny Lynnfield.

The Sachems (15-8) now move to the semifinals on Wednesday afternoon (4PM) at Fraser Field (Lynn) against another Cape Ann League opponent, Hamilton-Wenham. Pentucket and HW split 2-1 games during the regular season.

Both Lynnfield hits (Greg Basilesco and Nick Pascucci) were in the third inning when the Pioneers (15-7) picked up their run.

Pentucket ended up with seven hits and had runners in scoring position in the first, second, and fourth innings but Lynnfield pitcher Dave Johnson escaped each time.

The escaping ended in the 5th and 6th innings as the Sachems collected two tarnished runs in one inning and an untarnished insurance run in the other inning.

Ryan Kuchar was the big story as he kept Lynnfield from getting anything going on offense except in the third inning.

Greg Basilesco scored for Lynnfield

In that third inning, Greg Basilesco singled to right and reached third base after two straight fielders’ choices. Nick Pascucci’s bloop single to short center earned him the RBI.

Down 1-0, Pentucket had a great chance in the fourth inning. John Sirois’ single was followed by a Greg Basilesco (3B) error on a grounder. A fielder’s choice moved the runners to second and third with one out. But pitcher Dave Johnson retired Bobby Hallowell and Kiernan Haley and the Pioneers still had their 1-0 lead.

The top of the fifth turned out to be the game-decider. Pat Beaton led off with a double to left. It is not usually a good idea to try for third when a grounder is hit to the shortstop………but Pat tried it and got away with it because third baseman Greg Basilesco dropped the throw from shortstop Jordan Roper. Lynnfield then tried to turn two on DJ Englke’s grounder to third but could only get the force at second. Pat Beaton scored on the play to tie the game. Still only one out. Ryan Kuchar singled getting DJ to second. The Sachems then pulled a double steal on a pitch in the dirt that catcher Traverse Briana had no chance to do anything with. The next play will be a bad memory for the Lynnfield faithful for a long time. John Sirois hit a grounder to short with two outs. From where I was standing, shortstop Jordan Roper didn’t handle the ball cleanly, and then threw high to first. It looked as if first baseman Spencer Balian came off the base reaching up for the throw and that was why John Sirois was safe. Not so according to the infield umpire. I heard him tell LHS coach John O’Brien that the runner had beaten the throw anyhow. The play was huge because if John is out the inning is over. If he’s safe, which was the ruling, the Sachems have a second run.

Bobby Hallowell in with the third Pentucket run

Nothing controversial about the Sachems third run. Bobby Hallowell tripled to right in the sixth inning and was driven home by Pat Beaton’s two-out bouncer up the middle.

Lynnfield had some two-out excitement in the seventh when Spencer Balian reached on a bad-bounce error by third baseman Bobby Barry. Greg Basilesco next hit a grounder at shortstop Pat Beaton that also took a bad bounce but the PHS shortstop reacted quickly and got an assist on the final out of the game.

Weather? When you can have sun, a little breeze, and no bugs you can’t ask for much more.

Good setting at Lynnfield to watch a game. They have a gradual hill behind the backstop.

DJ Englke tagged out by catcher Traverse Briana on a failed suicide squeeze attempt

Pentucket made an unsuccessful attempt at a suicide squeeze in the fifth inning.

Ryan Kuchar pitched a no-hitter a month ago against Rockport.

Many of my pictures have construction vehicles in the background. A number of new playing fields are getting constructed.

North Reading coach Frank Carey was part of the crowd. His Hornets are still alive in D3 North.

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

Ball gets past 3B Greg Basilesco

Ryan Battaglia stretches out on a shot to right

Bobby Hallowell tries for third

Pat Beaton

Shortstop Pat Beaton throws to first for the final out

Dave Johnson

Jordan Roper

Kiernan Haley handles a grounder

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Filed under Cape Ann League, Lynnfield, Pentucket

Tagged as Bobby Barry, Bobby Hallowell, Dave Johnson, DJ Englke, Jordan Roper, Pat Beaton, Ryan Kuchar

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 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.)

Amanda Schell at third

Sadie Oliver

Zoe Fitzgerald – two rbi in the 8th inning

Third baseman Autumn Kligerman throws to first baseman Zoe Fitzgerald

Maddie Napoli looks for the handle

MacKenzie Comeau

Rachel Buzzotta

AHS coach Chris Perry instructs Meg Aponas

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Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Lynnfield

Tagged as Amanda Schell, Autumn Kligerman, Rachel Cyr, Sadie Oliver, Zoe Fitzgerald

May 13, 2014 · 9:49 pm

Lynnfield edges Amesbury 3-1 in Cape Ann League baseball

Winning pitcher Greg Basilesco (#18) after the game

Shortstop Jordan Roper fields a grounder

(Amesbury MA) Junior Greg Basilesco tossed a complete game, four-hitter as Lynnfield defeated Amesbury, 3-1, on an overcast Tuesday afternoon of Cape Ann League baseball.

Greg kept the Indians off the bases and faced only nineteen batters during the last six innings. Amesbury left only two runners on base.

Lynnfield (11-5) had seven hits against AHS starter Nick Hawrylciw and stranded runners (12 runners total) in every inning.

Both teams scored in the first inning. The Pioneers added single runs in the third and sixth innings.

The Indians (5-11) hurt themselves with wild pitches and over-aggressive base-running.

In the Lynnfield first, junior Nick Pascucci walked and took second on a Nick Hawrylciw wild pitch. Nick Pascucci headed for third on a grounder to shortstop Jared Dupere. Normally that’s a bad move but Jared opted to throw to first and Nick reached third with two outs. The second wild pitch of the inning by Nick Hawrylciw allowed Nick Pascucci to score Lynnfield’s first run.

Amesbury came right back in their half of the first to tie the score. Ben Cullen doubled to left center and Mac Short delivered him with a sharp grounder up the middle.

Jordan Roper

The Pioneers took the lead for good in the third. Jordan Roper doubled down the left field line and raced home on junior Jake Rourke’s liner up the middle. Jake’s hit was tipped by pitcher Nick Hawrylciw but not enough to keep in from reaching the outfield.

Ben Cullen ran into an out on the bases in the Amesbury third. Ben singled, and stole second with one out. He was on his way toward third but pitcher Greg Basilesco sniffed out what Ben was up to and ran right at him between 2B and 3B. Ben was eventually tagged out by shortstop Jordan Roper.

The Pioneers came close to more runs in the 4th and 5th innings. Ryan Battaglia was tagged out at the plate in the 4th inning. In the fifth, Nick Hawrylciw escaped a bases-loaded, one-out situation with a force-out at home and a strikeout.

Jared Dupere doubled to lead off the Amesbury fifth but Greg Basilesco retired the next three Indians.

The Pioneers added an insurance run in the sixth inning. A hit batsman (Ryan Battaglia) and a walk (Jack Fraulini) set up a pitching change for Amesbury with Levi Burrill taking over. Levi advanced the two runners with a wild pitch and intentionally walked Jordan Roper to load the bases with two outs. Next batter Jake Rourke was hit by a pitch driving across Ryan Battaglia with the third Lynnfield run.

Ben Cullen caught in a rundown

Now down 3-1, Amesbury had Ben Cullen back on base with a walk. The AHS senior stole second and, because catcher Danny O’Leary’s throw went into center field, was able to reach third with one out. On Mac Short’s infield out Ben started for home and was caught (and out) for the second time on the bases.

Scary moment in this game was when LHS shortstop Jordan Roper chased a high foul popup along the line in left in the sixth inning. Jordan went into a slide knowing a fence was coming up but ended up sliding into one of the poles holding up the scoreboard. Both coaches were out there in a hurry as well as the Amesbury High School medical staff. To the relief of everyone, Jordan was up and back playing in a few minutes.

Jake Rourke drove in two of Lynnfield’s runs. Jordan Roper paced the Pioneers with two hits.