Category Archives: Newburyport

November 2, 2018 · 10:03 pm

George Coryell OT goal gets Newburyport past Weston 2-1

Weston and Newburyport await a corner kick

George Coryell with Ryan Archer and Brady O’Donnell

(Newburyport MA) “On to Lynnfield!”

George Coryell said it to me after the game as the Newburyport Clippers took out Weston 2-1 in overtime on Friday afternoon.

The Division 3 First Round win moves NHS (10-4-5) on to a rematch on the road on Sunday against the Pioneers.

#1 seed Lynnfield promises to be a more motivated opponent than they were earlier this week in a 3-0 loss to the Clippers. Entering that game, the Pioneers had already clinched the #1 seed whether they won or lost at Newburyport. Sunday’s rematch should have a much higher intensity level.

Senior George Coryell had two goals for #8 Newburyport. One tied the score in the second half and the other was the game-winner 5+ minutes into overtime.

GK Aiden Guthro and Brian Hall (7)

The Wildcats had dribblers, passers, and plenty of opportunities. That they didn’t win was a surprise to Weston coach Andrey Asparouhov. “We had control the whole game. I still don’t know how we lost the game. It’s unbelievable.”

The Wildcats (8-7-4) took a one-goal lead on a rebound conversion by Clayton Mullen with seven minutes left in the first half.

That lead looked to be enough, but not to Coach Asparouhov. “We knew that we needed the second goal to close out the game, but we couldn’t get it.”

Newburyport coach Shawn Bleau changed the Clippers approach later in the second half. “We went with an offensive lineup later in the second half and got a goal off it.”

Adrian Hadley (17) and Ronan Harrington (6)

Offensive lineup? “It meant putting George (Coryell) up top with three forwards.”

George scored the tying goal and how it happened was even a blur to him when I asked him about it.

Teammate Jack Healy credited freshman Max Gagnon for setting George up for the second-half break in. “Max placed the ball over the defense,” explained Jack. “He did the same thing on the overtime goal.”

According to Coach Bleau, “Their keeper made an incredible save on George’s break-in in the second half. Then Ryan Archer put the ball back in the box and George finished it.”

Coach Bleau continued with the offensive attack in the overtime. “It worked to get us the tying goal, so we decided to go for the win and not get to penalty kicks.”

Opening up the attack meant loosening up their defense but on this afternoon the strategy was gold for the home team.

George’s game-winner followed a foot race with defender Andres Castillo. “We made a bad pass and they had the speed to take advantage of it,” said Coach Asparouhov.

I will guess, based on what Jack Healy told me, that Max was the interceptor as well as the one who sent George on his way to the game-winner.

George gained separation from his defender and slid the ball past onrushing Weston GK Edward Pomianek.

“It feels good to get a win in the playoffs,” said Jack Healy afterwards. The Clippers lost 1-0 to Bedford in the first round last year. Prior to that, the last Newburyport playoff win was in 2012.

“It was a team effort,” said George Coryell. “Everyone playing together and trusting each other. We knew that these guys were good. Now it’s on to Lynnfield.”

Newburyport goalie Aiden Guthro won’t have fond memories of the Weston goal. On that goal, Brian Hall took a hard shot from the left. The normally sure-handed goalie (Cape Ann League All-Star) had the ball go through his hands and there was Weston’s Clayton Mullen rushing in looking for just such a rebound. In the net it went. “I’m glad that the goal didn’t decide the game. Aiden will get to play some more,” said Coach Bleau.

The game was physical at times. A number of times the Wildcats questioned non-calls.

Chris Connor (8) heads

With 7:24 left in regulation, the referee called time and brought the captains and the coaches together and sorted out how the rest of the game would, and would not, be played. It seemed to settle things down.

Brian Hall (7) and Jack Healy (11)

On one of my pictures of George Coryell, in the final rush to get a shot the defender clearly has a handful of his shirt.

Very impressed with Weston’s Brian Hall. The senior had the size and athleticism to create trouble in the box. He was in GK Aiden Guthro’s space several times as my pictures show.

The teams did their post-game handshake after regulation instead of trying it after an exciting/devastating overtime ending.

Mild temperatures (50’s) with occasional drizzle.

Football game, also against Weston, was slated for later in the evening.

Weston plays in the Dual County League while Newburyport is in the Cape Ann League.

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

Aiden Guthro chases a ball in the box

Andres Castillo

Brian Hall chats with the referee

Celebrating the Weston goal

Clayton Mullen

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Filed under Newburyport, Weston

Tagged as Aiden Guthro, Brian Hall, Clayton Mullen, Coach Andrey Asparouhov, Coach Shawn Bleau, George Coryell, Jack Healy, Max Gagnon

November 1, 2018 · 9:24 pm

Newburyport sweeps the CAL cross country championships

Lindsay MacLellan of North Reading (first)

Sam Acquaviva of Newburyport (first)

(Amesbury MA) The Newburyport Clippers had a big day at Woodsom Farm taking the Cape Ann League cross country titles in the boys and girls division.

Led by Sam Acquaviva and John Lucey, the Clippers added the CAL championship to their undefeated regular season.

“Sam is Sam,” said NHS coach Don Hennigar of his CAL championship repeat winner. “That was the best race of John’s life. To finish second in this league is so good.”

The misty/muddy conditions worried Sam although he ran most of the race alone. “There was a lot that could go wrong in the conditions. I always assume that the other runners will come back.”

On teammate John Lucey finishing second? “It was nice to have John behind me. It was unexpected. He had a great race.”

John Lucey (2nd)

Newburyport won the race by forty points: (1) Sam Acquaviva, (2) John Lucey, (6) Dreese Fadil, (9) Cam Lasson, (17) Peter King.

Other top ten finishers: (3) Tyler Stranc, (4) Peter Lopata, (5) Sebastian Gilligan, (7) Will Kenny, (8) John Astrofsky, (10) Keegan Ritchie.

The totals in the girls’ race were much closer: Newburyport (68), Triton (76), Hamilton-Wenham (80).

The point scorers for Newburyport were; Ellie Schulson (4^th), Lindsey Roberts (7^th), Lucy Gagnon (14^th), Olivia D’Ambrosio (20^th), Caroline Wilson (23^rd).

Clippers coach Don Hennigar: “Ellie Schulson (4^th) and Lindsey Roberts (7^th) were above and beyond today. This was probably the best race Lindsey has ever had.”

Junior Lindsay MacLellan of North Reading was the upset winner. Last year’s winner, Eva Feuerbach of Manchester-Essex, finished second.

Eve Feuerbach (2nd)

Don Hennigar: “That girl from Manchester-Essex doesn’t get beat very often and the girl from North Reading (Lindsay MacLellan) won by a lot. Most people would call that an upset.”

I asked Lindsay MacLellan how she won the race. “A lot of mud. A lot of heart. I’m a hilly person so this was the kind of course I like. I gained separation (from Eva Feuerbach) at 2.75 miles.”

The win by Newburyport avenged a meet loss they had to Triton during the regular season.

Other top ten finishers; (3) Ellie Gay-Killeen, (5) Phoebe Rubio, (6) Lana Crosson, (8) Ava Cote, (9) Jemma Shea, (10) Sarah Harrington.

The race was held at Woodsom Farm in Amesbury. Originally scheduled for Saturday at Bradley Palmer State Park but the weather forced a change. The weather actually wasn’t all that great at Woodsom today.

Second-place finisher John Lucey: “It was a tough race for everyone. I was able to plot the best course through the mud in some sections. Coming down the hills was dangerous in some places.”

John ran much of the race with no one near him ahead (Sam Acquaviva) or behind (Tyler Stranc). How do you stay tuned in? “I kind of get delusional. Then I keep going because I think someone’s right behind me.”

Excellent job done by Amesbury AD Glenn Gearin and his staff handling the parking and other logistical issues.

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

Newburyport’s Katherine Sheehy and Annie Siemasko accept the first-place trophy

Girls start

Ellie Gay-Killeen (Triton) 3rd

Ellie Schulson (Newburyport) 4th

Phoebe Rubio (Pentucket) 5th

Lana Crosson (Masconomet) 6th

Lindsey Roberts (Newburyport) 7th

Ava Cote (Hamilton-Wenham) 8th

Jemma Shea (Hamilton-Wenham) 9th

Sarah Harrington (Triton) 10th

Boys start

Sam Acquaviva shows off the Woodsom Farm mud

Tyler Stranc (Triton) 3rd

Peter Lopata (Pentucket) 4th

Sebastian Gilligan (Masconomet) 5th

Dreese Fadil (Newburyport) 6th

Will Kenny (Manchester-Essex) 7th

John Astrofsky (Lynnfield) 8th

Cam Lasson (Newburyport) 9th

Keegan Ritchie (Triton) 10th

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Filed under Hamilton-Wenham, Lynnfield, Manchester-Essex, Masconomet, Newburyport, North Reading, Pentucket, Triton

Tagged as Eve Feuerbach, John Lucey, Lindsay MacLellan, Sam Acquaviva

October 30, 2018 · 9:29 pm

Newburyport finishes regular season with 2-0 win over Lynnfield

Thomas Buston (12) pressures goalie Aiden Guthro

Eamon McElhinney (4) and Nate Bass (8) battle near the goal

(Newburyport MA) A win would have given Lynnfield the most wins they’ve ever had in a season.

But there was a bigger picture, and that changed the tone of today’s matchup with Newburyport.

The seedings for the post-season tournament are in and Lynnfield is #1. That position would not be affected by this afternoon’s game.

“The kids wanted to win it,” said Lynnfield coach Brent Munroe, “but it wasn’t a meaningful game for us.”

Dangerous play

The Clippers also had a position in the tournament sewn up too. So you had two teams in their own versions of “spring training” mode.

Newburyport won the game 2-0 getting second-half goals from Andrew Moreland and Ronan Harrington.

The Clippers (9-4-5) had lost 3-0 to the Pioneers (14-2-2) in September.

“That loss fueled us to come back here and play better,” Newburyport goalie Aiden Guthro told me afterwards.

Despite playing everyone who was dressed to play, the Pioneers put plenty of pressure on the Clippers. “They have some great players,” said Aiden. “I can’t say enough about everyone in the back.”

The most dangerous of the Lynnfield forwards was senior Nate Bass. He was a master at winning 50/50 balls and dribbling past players. His best chance was a break-in from the right in the second half. Aiden came out to challenge, and may have deflected the shot, as it rolled just wide left late in the game.

While the Clippers may have had fewer chances, they did cash in two of them.

Andrew Moreland (17) celebrates with teammates

Senior Andrew Moreland collected his fourth goal of the season less than minute into the second half. “The ball bounced back to me after a throw-in,” explained Andrew. “I was at the corner of the box when I got the ball. I deliberately drove it into the upper right corner.”

Harry Bovee (9) and Andrew Moreland (17) eye an incoming ball

“That first goal surprised us,” said Coach Munroe. “It was a long shot to a good spot. Our goalie had no chance. I’m not sure that he knew that the shot had been taken.”

Lynnfield carried the play after Newburyport’s first goal but couldn’t find the equalizer.

In the last two minutes the Clippers were awarded a free kick from straightaway. Senior Ronan Harrington took the kick.

“Ronan is probably the best free-kick taker in the Cape Ann League,” said Aiden. “Anywhere inside of twenty yards he’ll put it in the top corner. I felt confident with him taking the shot.”

Ronan sent his shot into the same upper corner that Andrew Moreland had earlier.

The Clippers came away with a satisfying 2-0 win.

Brent Munroe: “We’ll be the #1 seed in the tournament and hopefully we’ll play our best soccer during the next two weeks starting Sunday.”

Jon Luders

Jon Luders: “It was good to get guys minutes. I still don’t like losing. You want to win no matter what. Now we’re on to the tournament.”

The Pioneers had gone nine straight games without a loss prior to today’s game.

The Clippers haven’t lost in six of their previous seven games.

Newburyport’s stadium is a terrific place to watch a soccer game with its elevated viewing on both sides. I was on the turf surface which is also very good.

I wanted to talk to Newburyport coach Shawn Bleau after the game, but he “opted” to go to the parent/teacher open house being held indoors. As a former teacher, I know that there are some things you don’t miss!

Over the past five years against each other, both teams have won three times and lost three times and there have been four ties.

The shutout was GK Aiden Guthro’s ninth of the season. He holds the Newburyport career shutout record with twenty-three of them.

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

Joe Cibelli

Jack Healy (11), Eamon McElhinney (4), Ronan Harrington (6), Harry Bovee (9)

Jack Healy (11) and Thomas Buston (12) vie for a corner kick

Trying to contain Nate Bass

Ronan Harrington

Nate Bass (8) gets into a kick with Ronan Harrington (6) nearby

Jack Healy

George Coryell

Nate Bass threatens

Chris Connor

Aiden Guthro leaps to save

Aiden Guthro and Jack Healy celebrate the win

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Filed under Lynnfield, Newburyport

Tagged as Aiden Guthro, Andrew Moreland, Coach Brent Munroe, Coach Shawn Bleau, Nate Bass, Ronan Harrington

October 22, 2018 · 10:08 pm

Triton volleyball sweeps Newburyport 3-0 in rematch

Colleen McCarthy (5), Mia Berardino (13), and Caitie Rooney (15) had big games for Triton

Newburyport seniors honored before the match

(Newburyport MA) Call it the curse of Senior Night if you will.

The Clippers celebrated their seniors and then lost three straight sets to rival Triton on Monday night in Cape Ann League volleyball.

“It was extremely disappointing,” said NHS coach Lori Solazzo afterwards. “We didn’t come out the way we usually do.”

Evelyn Pearson

The Vikings (4-12) took advantage of Newburyport subpar play in game one as they broke an 8-8 tie with ten straight points. Evelyn Pearson was the server for Triton during the run. Caitie Rooney tipped in several winners for the Vikings. The Clippers (4-13) lost the first set, 25-12.

The second set was much more competitive after Triton raced off 22-14. Paige Volpone and Colleen McCarthy paced the Vikings to what looked like a comfortable spread. But sophomore Abby Gillingham served the home team into contention and forced a Triton timeout. The Clippers would get to within a point (24-23) on big plays by Melaina Lucci and Sydney Yim. The visitors nailed down the final point after a lengthy, exciting volley to grab the second set 25-23.

Sophomore server Sydney Yim carried the Clippers to leads of 10-4 and 21-13 in the third set.

Abby Gillingham up to block

“We didn’t give up even though down 21-13 in the third set,” recalled Triton coach Bob Van Etten. “We just picked away and came back and took it.”

The Vikings put nine unanswered points together and after a Colleen McCarthy winner led, 22-21. An Abby Gillingham block gave Newburyport the serve with a 24-23 deficit but again after a long volley the Vikings gained the point they needed to win the set and the match.

Viking captain Caitie Rooney was excited about the win. “A win over Port is always a big win. Everyone stepped up especially Mia (Berardino), Evelyn (Pearson), and Colleen (McCarthy). Those were our hitters and they played like out of the park tonight.”

Coach Van Etten: “It was very much a team effort but Caitie Rooney had an outstanding match.”

Coach Solazzo: “We let them in several times, point by point. Volleyball is such a team sport that you have to trust that your teammate will be where they’re supposed to be. Once that trust gets lost it gets into your head and you fall apart a little.”

Caitie Rooney serves

The Vikings and the Clippers met previously on October 1^st. Triton took that one 3-1. “It was a close match that could have gone either way,” recalled Coach Van Etten.

Newburyport is in its second season of volleyball. Last year the brand-new Clippers finished 1-15. Their win? The last game of the season against Triton. Excited? “It was a five-set match and it was like winning the World Series for us,” said Coach Solazzo.

Full disclosure. This was the first volleyball game I have ever covered. If you’re looking for digs, reception errors etc., you’ve come to the wrong place. Even taking pictures was a challenge because the game is very fast, and the players closest had their backs to me. It was an adventure for sure, but I enjoyed it.

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

Triton wins the match

Triton wins a set

Abby Gillingham blocks

Caitie Rooney

Clippers coach Lori Solazzo

Colleen McCarthy

Colleen McCarthy serves

Jess Rosseau (8)

Julianne Heath

Julia Vachon (9) blocks Linda Freeman (26)

Julia Vachon

Kalli Doyle and Grace Shelley

Maggie Bowen

Paige Volpone

Senior Skylar Sneider

Sydney Yim (15), Melaina Lucci (5), and Abby Gillingham (15)

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Filed under Newburyport, Triton

Tagged as Abby Gillingham, Caitie Rooney, Coach Bob Van Etten, Coach Lori Solazzo, Colleen McCarthy, Evelyn Pearson, Paige Volpone

October 10, 2018 · 10:35 pm

Newburyport boys and Triton girls stay undefeated in CAL cross country

(Newbury MA) And then there were two.

Three teams came into this afternoon’s boys/girls cross country meet undefeated.

Now only the Triton girls (7-0) and the Newburyport boys (8-0) are unbeaten.

Both squads dominated the top finishers at Old Town Hill in Newbury on a very hot/sunny Wednesday afternoon.

Ellie Gay-Killeen won by almost a minute

Sam Acquaviva wins another race

Ellie Gay-Killeen and Sarah Harrington were 1-2 for Triton while Sam Acquaviva, John Lucey, and Dreese Fadil were 1-2-3 for Newburyport.

The Triton girls won 25-30 while the Newburyport boys won 22-33.

“Our girls were tough in the heat,” said Vikings coach Joe Colbert. “The conditions were brutal. We run this course well. It was a great win for us because Newburyport (7-1) is a very good team.”

The 3.1 mile course gave the Clippers problems. “It was super hilly,” said 4^th place finisher Ellie Schulson afterwards. “The sun was in your eyes when you were going up the hill and you couldn’t see your footing. I fell down.”

Ellie Schulson

“They had those two girls up front that are tough to beat,” added NHS coach Don Hennigar. “If you go 1-2 it doesn’t seal it but it’s awfully tough to come back. On another day, at another place, it could all be different since the teams are that close.”

The race winner (Ellie Gay-Killeen) agreed with the consensus about the conditions: “It was a tough, tough race but I have always gained ground on the hills here. I was not on my best pace at all but we’re still undefeated.” Ellie finished nearly a minute ahead of teammate Sarah Harrington.

Coach Colbert said he wasn’t surprised by the 1-2 finish although he said that Newburyport runners (Lindsey Roberts and Ellie Schulson) pushed Sarah Harrington.

Coach Colbert gave credit to Kylie Lorenzo (5^th) and Kerry Powers (7^th): “Kylie and Kerry had huge days for us. They passed some girls in the end and it really made a difference.”

Senior Sam Acquaviva hasn’t lost a race in Massachusetts in a while and that run of top finishes continued today. “I wanted to get the lead early and keep it,” Sam told me afterwards. “The course was tough. As a team we wanted to win this one badly and we did.”

Sam told me that he had just taken a visit to MIT. “I like the cross country team there,” he said, “but to get into MIT is a task unto itself. I am interested in engineering, so it would be a good fit for me.”

Dreese Fatil finished 3rd

Getting the top three places was key for the Clippers. “They all stepped up,” said Coach Hennigar. “Dreese Fatil getting third was huge for us. To beat Triton on their course was special.”

Keegan Ritchie, Diego Fernandez, and Tyler Stranc finished 4-5-6 for Triton (6-2) but to win this meet they needed someone to break into the top three and that didn’t happen on this afternoon.

All sorts of side things went on during today’s meet. The heat caught up to several participants and several ambulances were put to use. There also was a vehicle accident on Newman Street during the meet.

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

Triton girls team picture

Triton boys team picture

Kylie Lorenzo 5th

Sarah Harrington 2nd

Lindsey Roberts (3rd) and Ellie Schulson (4th) finish together

Keegan Ritchie 4th, Diego Fernandez 5th, and Tyler Stranc 6th

Caroline Walsh 6th and Kerry Powers 7th

Cam Lasson 7th

Ellie Gay-Killeen leads early with Sarah Harrington close behind

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Filed under Newburyport, Triton

Tagged as Coach Don Hennigar, Coach Joe Colbert, Dreese Fatil, Ellie Gay-Killeen, Ellie Schulson, John Lucey, Sam Acquaviva, Sarah Harrington

October 10, 2018 · 9:25 pm

Triton’s Ellie Gay-Killeen: More than a runner

Ellie Gay-Killeen

(Newbury MA) I went to an important cross country meet today between two of the area’s top teams (Triton and Newburyport) but came away marveling at the wonderful actions of one of the participants.

The grandparent in me said, “What she did is role model material. Write about it and later do a separate entry on the running results.” And so I will.

The temperatures were in the 80’s at Old Town Hill in Newbury where Wednesday afternoon’s meet was held.

“It seems as if every time we run this season, it’s been hot, but it doesn’t make it any easier doing it,” said Clippers coach Don Hennigar afterwards.

Most of the Cape Ann League courses are in the woods where, even on a hot day, it’s shady.

So the heat was on. It would have negative effects on many of the participants.

For Newburyport senior Katherine Sheehy the heat turned nightmarish and down she went about fifty yards from the end of the 3.1 mile race.

There were adults quickly on the scene and medical help was soon there. But beyond that there came a runner from Triton.

I wanted to talk to that runner because she had minutes before won the girls’ race. But she wouldn’t leave the side of a Newburyport girl stretched out near the finish line.

I then assumed that the Newburyport girl was a friend of hers. After all there is plenty of interaction between the teams.

Finally an ambulance arrived and the Newburyport runner was lifted to the ambulance with the Triton runner on hand making sure that the Newburyport girl was taken care of.

A few minutes later I was able to talk to the Triton runner (Ellie Gay-Killeen) about what had happened. This is what she told me: “I didn’t really know the girl very well, but I’ve known her from track. I think her name is Katherine (Sheehy). I would always try to help someone in that situation. It’s good sportsmanship. Seeing a girl down for forty-five minutes makes my heart throb. I stuck with her the whole time to make sure she was okay. I don’t know her well but she’s a talented athlete. Seeing her collapse before the finish line meant she was obviously hurting, so I had to do something. Someone said that I shouldn’t touch her, or I’d be disqualified but I didn’t care. She needed help, so I ran over and helped her.”

Remarkable stuff from a high school freshman, don’t you think? The young lady is already the kind of caring person you must admire. I’m quite sure that most of you parents and grandparents out there would agree with that.

Ellie Gay-Killeen – Thanks for exhibiting such care and kindness. You are indeed a good role model.

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Filed under Newburyport, Triton

Tagged as Ellie Gay-Killeen, Katherine Sheehy

July 31, 2018 · 10:49 pm

Ruben Sanca and Amanda Nurse win 10-mile Yankee Homecoming race

Amanda Nurse female champion

Ruben Sanca male champion

(Newburyport MA) Ruben Sanca and Amanda Nurse captured titles in the 59^th Yankee Homecoming 10-mile race on Tuesday night.

Both titlists won by over a minute under warm but breezy conditions. The race starts and ends at Newburyport High School.

The 10-mile race was interesting to watch in the early going because a 5K race with 1631 entrants started on the same route ten minutes earlier.

Despite the ten-minute head start, one mile into the race the best of the 10-milers started to overtake 5K stragglers.

I annually position myself one mile into the race on High Street near the Cushing Museum. Trying to get an unobstructed picture of the leading 10-milers is always a challenge with runners from both races intermingling.

Dan O’Flynn leads at one mile and will win the 5K event

I did get a good look, however, at the leaders of the 5K race. Actually, I should say leader because Dan O’Flynn of Ipswich had a nice lead at one mile.

Ruben Sanca (1967) follows the motorcycle.

Amanda Nurse at the Cushing Museum

Winners in either the 5K or the 10-mile race are ALWAYS in/near the front after a mile. That held true today for Dan O’Flynn, Ruben Sanca, and Amanda Nurse.

After I see the runners from both races at one mile, I walk back to Newburyport High School to catch the top runners in the 10K.

Two things I noticed about the ten mile race; one before the race and the other later when I checked the results. First, the gap between finishers was large. Ruben Sanca won by over a minute. The gap between 3^rd and 4^th was 2 ½ minutes! I can recall a race, that finished in the back, where three runners were all within sight battling for the win in the last fifteen yards.

Second was that there wasn’t a single top-ten repeater from last year in this year’s race. How does that happen? We’re talking a complete turnover in a race that pays money!

I hoped to chat with the men’s winner afterwards, but he had left. At 6’2” I think I would have spotted him if he was anywhere nearby.

After seeing my one-mile pictures, I might have asked if he had brought a runner along to help him set a fast pace in the early going. My picture of Ruben at one mile has a runner with him who never finished. Maybe the other runner went out too fast? Maybe he was a pace setter?

Amanda Nurse

I did track down Amanda Nurse, who was the women’s winner. This was Amanda’s first time in the race. She had been to Newburyport before but only to visit the waterfront. She was treating the race as a training event as she prepares to run the Berlin Marathon in Europe in September. I asked her how she won the race (27^th overall): “I started out with one other woman and then I just found a pack of men that I was able to stay with. I averaged something like 5:55 for the first half. I started to feel a little tired when I hit that first hill (up from the Chain Bridge rotary). I just stuck with it and started to separate from some people. I ran on my own for the last three miles.”

I mentioned the turnover of runners in the 10-mile race. One of the runners, Justin Freeman, who finished 7^th, was the winner in the 2011 YH 10-miler that I covered.

There were 1631 starters in the 5K and it seems to draw a good collection of local runners. I found three schools (Amesbury, Triton, Pentucket) with runners (Brian Abel, Colin Brennan, Peter Lopata, Will Coppola) near the front.

I did homework on some of the top finishers.

Ruben Sanca – from Cape Verde and is training for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, put into the UMass Lowell Hall of Fame in 2017, runs for Whirlaway.

Dan Vassallo – business consultant at Gravoc in Peabody, runs for Central Mass Striders.

Garrett Kenyon – ran at Creighton University.

Jason Reilly – from Rhode Island, 114th in Boston Marathon.

Jerry Lanning – went to Colorado State, runs for the Greater Boston Track Club.

Mark Hegarty – went to Springfield Cathedral and UMass Lowell, runs for Whirlaway.

Eric Mendoza – history teacher in Boston, went to Gonzaga, runs for the Greater Boston Track Club.

Jackie Solimine – 2^nd woman in 10-mile, named UMass Lowell’s scholar/athlete of the year in 2017, finished with 3.88 GPA majoring in mechanical engineering, runs for Whirlaway.

McGrath Bissaillon – went to Providence, father coaches Amesbury track (?).

Chris Mahoney – went to UMass Amherst, is a biopharmaceutical scientist, runs for the Central Mass Striders.

Race Results

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

Amanda Nurse nears the finish line

Ruben Sanca heads for the finish

Justin Freeman leads the way over several top-ten finishers at one mile in the 10-mile race

Jackie Solimine – 2nd female, 10 mile race

Caroline Turner – 3rd female 10 mile race

Brian Abel (2), Colin Brennan (224), Peter Lopata (1310), Will Coppola (2651)

Joe Rand, Steve Dowsett, Eric Salvo 5K runners

Dan O’Flynn

Heather Page finishes the 5K

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Filed under Newburyport, Yankee Homecoming

Tagged as Amanda Nurse, Caroline Turner, Chris Mahoney, Dan O'Flynn, Dan Vassallo, Eric Mendoza, Garrett Kenyon, Jackie Solimine, Jason Reilly, Jerry Lanning, Justin Freeman, Mark Hegarty, McGrath Bissaillon, Ruben Sanco

June 2, 2018 · 8:16 pm

The Clippers are alive and well!

The Clippers finished their late-season run to the tournament today.

Casey McLaren – Two-hitter with nine K’s

Casey McLaren – Triple that drove in two runs

(Newburyport MA) Struggling along with a 3-10 record after their May 10^th loss to Masco, any tournament plans were dreams of the highest order.

Needing seven straight wins to qualify for the post-season, the Clippers completed that remarkable accomplishment with a 3-0 victory over Essex Tech on Saturday afternoon.

Coach Mark Rowe said that his team’s approach changed after that 10^th loss. “We talked in the dugout the next day and I told them that our chances of making the tournament were slim, but they weren’t none. We changed our focus to only the next game and not beyond it. We ended up beating several teams that had defeated us in our first meeting.”

Junior Casey McLaren didn’t do it all for the Clippers (10-10) today but he came close! He drove in Newburyport’s first two runs in the third inning with a triple to the fence in right center. On the mound he struck out nine, allowed only two hits, and started a 1-6-3 double play.

Ken Hodge scores an insurance run in the 5th inning

“When he (Casey) throws strikes, with his speed, he is going to put himself in a good spot,” said Coach Rowe. “Today he was dominant and overpowering.”

Essex Tech coach Jed Beauparlant agreed: “We ran into a pretty good pitcher today. He had us off balance.”

Casey told me afterwards, “My fastball was on and for part of the game I had a good curveball.”

The Clippers got an insurance run in the fifth inning. After Ken Hodge walked, the Hawks decided to intentionally walk Casey. Made sense since Casey had tripled in his previous at-bat while Tommy Greene (the next batter) had popped out twice. What made “sense” didn’t work out for ET, however, as Tommy laced a run-scoring single down the line in right.

The Hawks (7-12) had only four baserunners in the game and three of them were cut down on the bases. Andrew Fournier had ET’s first hit on a beautiful bunt in the third inning but was thrown out attempting to steal. Will Preshon was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning but later was taken out in the middle of a well-turned 1-6-3 double play. The killer for the Hawks was in their 6^th when Ben Condon tripled to the fence with two outs. Four pitches later Ben thought that the count was 3-2 and when Chris Masta swung and missed Ben ran toward home thinking the inning was over. That miscue got him caught in a rundown in which he was tagged out by catcher Ken Hodge to end the inning. “You have to be mentally engaged,” said Coach Beauparlant afterwards. “He thought the count was 3-2.”

Hawks starter Jack Christianson

Coach Beauparlant liked the work of his freshman starter Jack Christianson. “That was a good experience for him. It was nice that his brother (seniorDylan) was the catcher.”

The Clippers left nine runners stranded and had four hits.

Senior Ken Hodge scored two runs for NHS.

Casey McLaren afterwards: “We’ve won seven in a row but every one has been a battle. Nothing was easy. We had to beat teams we had already lost to. I feel bad for whoever has to play us in the first round!”

Coach Rowe: “I’m very happy for the kids. They got to play today in front of a great crowd.”

Former NHS coach Bill Pettingill was in the house.

Weather? Over in Amesbury it rained three different times before the three o’clock start time. I came over after the third rain shower just to see if it might still be played. Arrived just before the first pitch. Had to scramble a bit to get this one covered but was glad to see the tourney-clincher.

Jed Beauparlant: “I’m proud of the way my guys battled after being eliminated from the playoffs last week.”

The tourney selections come out on Tuesday. Certainly the Clippers will be at the bottom of the seeding and will face one of the top seeds. As Casey suggested, that high seed could get more than they bargain for.

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

Ben Condon on his way to third

Ben Condon caught in a rundown

Walker Barkiewicz makes a putout

Chris Masta and Parker McLaren

Tommy Greene drove in a run

Ben Condon talks to Coach Beauparlant

Andrew Wellman

Shortstop Tommy Murphy reaches for a low throw as Andrew Fournier tries to steal second

Tommy Murphy holds on after being upended by Andrew Fournier

SS Chris Masta throws to first

Ken Hodge scored two runs

3B Ty Coglin throws to first

Max Faigen

Play at first

Clippers dugout

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Filed under Essex Tech, Newburyport

Tagged as Ben Condon, Casey McLaren, Chris Masta, Jack Christianson, Ken Hodge, Tommy Greene

May 29, 2018 · 9:07 pm

Senior Paige Gouldthorpe shuts down Masco 12-0 on Senior’s Day

Pitcher Paige Gouldthorpe tossed to 1B Courtney Walsh five times in this game

The Clippers had baserunners all afternoon

(Newburyport MA) Newburyport pitcher Paige Gouldthorpe made her last appearance at Pioneer Park a good one.

The Clippers (11-7) took Masco out, 12-0, via the mercy rule in the sixth inning on a sunny Tuesday afternoon at Pioneer Park.

“Paige looked good on the mound, which was key to this win,” said NHS coach Bob Gillespie afterwards.

Paige registered eight strikeouts, walked none, and gave up only four singles.

Masco (5-14) was their own worst enemy in this one yielding thirteen walks and committing three errors during the game.

Surprisingly, Newburyport did not have a huge inning, although they were rolling in that direction in the sixth inning with four runs and counting as the game was called.

Liv Salvatore had five RBI including a bases-clearing double in the 2nd inning

Junior Liv Salvatore was the hitting star for the home team driving across five teammates. Her bases-loaded double cleared the bases and gave Newburyport a 5-0 lead in the second.

Masco coach Frank Kowalski used three pitchers (Alex Locke, Olivia Molloy, and Liv Filmore) during the game.

The Clippers started their half of the first with four straight baserunners. Meg Winn reached on an error (3B Vanessa Hurley) and the others were walked. A run was forced in and a quick pitching change happened.

Olivia Molloy came on in relief and got three groundouts and the Clippers were held to a two-run inning.

An error by 3B Vanessa Hurley extended the second inning, loading the bases. This was when Liv Salvatore drove home three unearned runs with a double.

Meanwhile, Paige Gouldthorpe was throwing hard with good control. The senior scattered four hits and handled five grounders. Masco had only one fly ball out in the game.

The Chieftains brought on Liv Filmore in the 5^th inning and the Clippers batted around. Three walks and three hits (Paige Gouldthorpe, Annie Siemasko, Callie Caponigro) led to three runs. The inning ended with the bases filled with Clippers.

The Clippers combined one hit with four walks and a Chieftain error in the 6^th inning to get the four runs needed to end this game early.

Annie Siemasko reached base five times

Both Liv Salvatore and Annie Siemasko reached base all five times they batted. Both had two hits.

Sophia Cicilla, Gabby McSweeney, Brianna Mellilo, and Sheila Caputo had the hits for Masco.

Callie Caponigro came off the Newburyport bench to get two hits and drive in two runs.

Paige Gouldthorpe on the game: “That’s two shutouts in a row for us. It’s a confidence builder going into the tournament.”

Paige on Pioneer Park: “I started learning the game here. I was in 3^rd or 4^th grade. This is the mound where I started pitching from. There are good memories here for me.”

It was Senior’s Day and I thought I would get recognized but instead they honored Paige, Courtney Walsh, and Sarah Linehan.

Masco senior Gabby McSweeney

In a nice gesture, the Clippers recognized the seniors on the Masco team before the game. Paige sang the National Anthem.

Clippers coach Bob Gillespie: “We needed this one to get ready for the playoffs next week. We hit the ball, played good defense and Paige was on her game.”

Newburyport had eight days off before today’s game and may have that many days off again before the tournament starts. “Maybe we’ll get in an alumni scrimmage before the tournament,” said Coach Gillespie.

Good crowd on hand. I suspect that many of them were connected to the NHS seniors.

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

Lily Andrews

Double play

Mikayla Vincent

3B Vanessa Hurley chases a grounder

Paige Gouldthorpe slides into 2B as shortstop Gabby McSweeney takes the throw

Paige Gouldthorpe pitches

Third base coach Bob Gillespie sends Maddie Duford home

Trouble in the Masco infield

Courtney Walsh looks at a pitch from Liv Filmore

Callie Caponigro (11) off of 2B after driving in two runs

Seniors Paige Gouldthorpe, Courtney Walsh, and Sarah Linehan

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Filed under Masconomet, Newburyport

Tagged as Annie Siemasko, Liv Salvatore, Paige Gouldthorpe

May 27, 2018 · 9:41 pm

Newburyport wins Spofford Tournament 2-1 over Georgetown

Brendan Willis tags Tommy Greene on the leg during a rundown.

(Georgetown MA) The Newburyport Clippers won the Bert Spofford Tournament, 2-1, over Georgetown on Sunday afternoon.

The tourney win was important but the way the Clippers reacted to the victory was also about post-season dreams being kept alive for yet another day.

The Clippers were 3-10 on May 10^th with zero margin of error left for the remaining seven games. Remarkably, they have won six straight since then including an unlikely one today.

Kyle Greenler

Casey McLaren

Why unlikely today? The Royals (11-7) started D1 commit Kyle Greenler on the mound. Kyle throws hard, throws strikes, and is good enough that Elon University (North Carolina) gave him a scholarship to pitch for them next year.

How did the Clippers win? The Clippers had junior Casey McLaren pitching for them.

Kyle and Casey dominated batters all game long.

“It was great to have a championship game with two of the top pitchers in the Cape Ann League going,” said NHS coach Mark Rowe afterwards. “We tip our hat to Kyle (Greenler). He did a great job as did Casey for us.”

Kyle recorded thirteen strikeouts (seven of them looking) while Casey had eleven. Georgetown had six hits while Newburyport had five hits.

Kyle told me after the game, “It was two good teams and one did better than the other. Between Casey and I we probably had 20+ strikeouts. All respect to Casey. He’s pretty good.”

Junior Tommy Murphy drove in both Newburyport runs.

Junior Tommy Murphy was the hitting star for Newburyport driving in both runs with two singles. Sophomore Tim Chianca knocked in the Royals run.

The visitors tallied their first run in the second inning. “We made a mistake early and they took advantage of it,” recalled Georgetown coach Phil Desilets.

That early mistake was a bad throw to first by catcher Tim Chianca on a drop after a strikeout. That error put Tommy Greene on second base and he would score from there on a 2-out bloop single by Tommy Murphy.

The Clippers added to their lead in the fourth inning. A walk (Casey McLaren), a single (Tommy Greene) and a sacrifice bunt (Parker McLaren) put two runners in scoring position with one out.

3B Tommy Long started a rundown that led to an out

After Kyle Greenler K’d Kyle Therrien, Tommy Murphy faced the Royals ace with two out and two on. Tommy hit a grounder to deep short (Brendan Willis) and Tommy, sliding head first into first, beat the cross-diamond throw allowing Casey McLaren to score NHS’s second run. The play continued as 1B Ethan Block caught Tommy Greene off third and Tommy was eventually tagged out on the leg in a rundown by Brendan Willis to end the inning. Newburyport, however, now had a 2-0 lead.

Georgetown got one of those runs back in their half of the 4^th. Brendan Willis (CAL All-Star last year) singled, took second on a fielder’s choice, and third on a wild pitch with one out. Tim Chianca’s single to left brought home Brendan.

Things got very tense during Georgetown’s last at-bats. After a strikeout (Justin Ziolkowski), Jake Adamsky and Cam Martin singled. But Casey McLaren dashed any late-game Royals’ heroics by getting Max Girouard looking and a groundout (4-3) to end it.

“It’s tough to lose because this tournament means a lot to us,” said Coach Desilets. “However, we have to turn the page because we’ve got bigger things ahead.” The Royals have games left with Swampscott and Masco before they start in the D4 tournament.

2B Jack Doyle sets to record the final assist of the game

An improved defense was a key to the win according to Coach Rowe: “We made the plays we needed to bail us out of jams. That hasn’t always been the case this year. When we play good defense we usually have good results.”

The Clippers (9-10) will need to win next Saturday (at Essex Tech) to continue their season beyond twenty games. One certainty is that Casey McLaren will be doing the pitching for Newburyport.

Scariest moment of the game? In the Georgetown 4^th inning, right fielder Walker Bartkiewicz, chasing a foul ball, ran through a fence and totally disappeared from view. You suspected the worst when several Georgetown coaches joined Newburyport players and coaches rushing over to see where Walker was and if he was okay. Fortunately, out came his glove and he followed shortly, apparently unharmed.

Pitcher Kyle Greenler turns a suicide squeeze bunt into a double play

The Clippers had two runners in scoring position with one out in the sixth inning. Pinch hitter Ken Hodge then tried to execute a suicide squeeze bunt but got under it a little and pitcher Kyle Greenler snagged it and turned a double play.

The pitching was impressive. Both could throw heat for strikes and batters had to be set for it. Both also had sharp breaking stuff and most of the caught-looking’s were on that type of pitch.

The weather turned back to early April all over again. You wonder why New Englanders have so many clothes in their closets? We have to be prepared for all seasons year round! Yesterday 80’s. Today 50’s!

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