Category Archives: Newburyport

May 20, 2014 · 8:45 pm

Newburyport takes a tight one from Triton 2-1

Jeremy Grabowski (#11) points baserunner Caleb Stott to home

Coach Steve Malenfant congratulates reliever Will Cataldo

(Byfield MA) It was not as if the Newburyport Clippers weren’t in familiar territory.

For the ninth time this season the Clippers found themselves in a one-run game and this time it went their way, 2-1, over Triton on a cloudy/sunny Tuesday afternoon of Cape Ann League baseball.

Newburyport (7-11) is now 5-4 in one-run games.

The loss pushes Triton (7-10) to the brink of elimination from post-season play. The Vikings must win their final three games starting with North Reading on Thursday.

Caleb Stott and Scott Webster combined (twice) to give the Clippers the runs they needed. Caleb reached base in the first and third innings, stole second both times, and scored both times on singles by Scott.

Triton had the makings of big innings in place in the second and sixth innings when they loaded the bases in each inning with one out. The Vikings only came away with one run. NHS starter Cam Beaulieu struck out Michael Talbot and Brad Whitman to end the second. In the sixth, reliever Will Cataldo K’d Jack Germinara and got a ground out from Michael Talbot to keep Triton from getting any runs in that inning.

Adam Chatterton

Junior Adam Chatterton (4-3) certainly deserved a better fate for his complete-game effort. The Triton righty allowed only four hits to go along with ten strikeouts.

Adam was the winning pitcher in Triton’s 4-1 victory over Newburyport in April.

Adam and Billy Mical paced the Vikings with two hits apiece.

Second baseman Matt Short was on the tagging end of Nick Desrocher’s steal attempt in the first inning and came up limping.

Other than Scott Webster’s throwing error in the second inning, the Clippers were flawless in the field.

Chance Carpenter looked like a dead duck when he tried to stretch a single into a double but somehow found a way to get around Brad Whitman’s tag at second. Chance then stole third with one out but Adam Chatterton retired Scott Webster and Ryan Furlong to end the threat.

Billy Mical (#9) scores the Triton run in the second

On Caleb Stott’s single in the fifth inning (that led to Newburyport’s second run) third baseman Billy Mical was in on the grass guarding against a bunt. Billy never had a chance at Caleb’s liner down the line.

Shortstop Caleb Stott was part of Newburyport’s 6-3 double-play that ended the fifth inning.

Junior Will Cataldo set the last five Triton batters down in order to get the save.

Newburyport will host Pentucket on Saturday.

Newburyport box

Triton box

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

Chance Carpenter avoids the tag at second

close play

Scott Webster steals second

Caleb Stott starts a double play

Starter Cam Beaulieu

Justin Cashman

Scott Webster (2 RBI)

Billy Mical tracks a popup

Nick Desrocher slides into second baseman Matt Short

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Filed under Cape Ann League, Newburyport, Triton

Tagged as Adam Chatterton, Caleb Stott, Cam Beaulieu, Chance Carpenter, Scott Webster, Will Cataldo

May 19, 2014 · 8:31 pm

Shelby O’Brien’s 3-run homer leads Newburyport past Triton 5-2

Taylor Johnson tagged out at third base by Meg Stanton as Triton coach Michele Brewer watches

Shelby OBrien hit a 3-run homer in the first inning

(Newburyport MA) Shelby O’Brien’s three-run homer was the big hit for Newburyport in their, 5-2, win over Triton on Monday afternoon.

A huge win for the Clippers (9-8) as they try to qualify for the post-season. They now need one win in their three remaining games to get it done.

The loss ended a three-game slide for the home team. Their next game is at Pentucket on Wednesday.

Triton (5-13) had a five game win-streak in mid-season but have struggled in the games before and after that run of good softball.

The Vikings were missing four starters (Rylee Culverwell, Casey Ross, Christine Ciccone, Julia Hartman) for today’s game. That put inexperienced players into unfamiliar places.

Newburyport scored three in the first inning and two in the third inning. Triton got its runs in the first two innings.

Morgan Johnston and Vicki Allman after the 9th Newburyport win

Senior Vicki Allman pitched a 5-hitter for the Clippers with no walks. After the first two innings, only one Viking (Emma McGonagle) was able to get to second base over the final five innings.

Vicki was hit hard in the first inning in more ways than one. Mara Spears led off with a triple to left center. Third batter (Kylie Gilroy) lined a shot off of Vicki’s left knee. Vicki was able to recover and throw Kylie out but Mara scored and Vicki went down with a sore knee. With backup pitcher Stephanie Gleason nowhere in sight, I’m not sure what NHS Lori Solazzo would have done for pitching if Vicki couldn’t continue. But Vicki did continue and immediately had another liner hit at her which she caught ending the inning.

Newburyport put up three runs of their own in their half of the first. Morgan Johnston beat out an infield hit and Carley Siemasko singled on the ground to right. Shelby O’Brien followed with a high fly deep to the right-field corner. Rightfielder Cailin Fraser had trouble finding the ball because it was over her head, hit high, and influenced by some gusty wind. Shelby was into third before the ball was even picked up and reached home easily.

The Clippers would load the bases after the homer but Mara Spears struck out Shianne Sneider to limit the damage to three runs.

Olivia Lees

Triton got a run back in the second. Sophomore Olivia Lees singled in the hole with two outs and was driven home by Taylor Johnson’s double. The inning ended with Taylor being tagged out by Newburyport third baseman Meg Stanton.

The Clippers added two runs to their 3-2 lead in their half of the third inning. Meg Stanton singled and Molly Kelley walked before junior Shianne Sneider hit an RBI single to right. Ashley Hodge followed with an RBI double to left.

That 5-2 count would hold up the rest of the way. There were few baserunners as the pitchers (Vicki Allman & Mara Spears and later Haley Johnson) threw strikes and had flawless defense behind them.

Weather? We had the Big Three in this one: cloudy, rainy, and sunny. I actually watched quite a few innings from my truck! My only regret was that Shelby’s homer was hit during the rainy part of the game and my camera was staying dry in my truck.

Casey Barlow, Kendra Dow, and Maddy Stanton were on hand to support their former Newburyport teammates.

Triton plays its last game on Wednesday at Saugus.

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

Vicki Allman caught in a rundown

Shianne Sneider (one RBI) reaches 3B as Emma McGonagle awaits the throw

Meg Stanton sets to throw out baserunner Shannon Lyons

Infield grounder gets by second baseman Kylie Gilroy

Mara Spears watches the pitcher

Second baseman Molly Kelley camps under a popup

Haley Johnson

Triton pitcher Haley Johnson throws to 1B Lilly Anderson

Carley Siemasko looks for a popup hit by Mara Spears

Shannon Lyons tracks down a base hit

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Filed under Cape Ann League, Newburyport, Triton

Tagged as Mara Spears, Shelby O'Brien, Vicki Allman

May 5, 2014 · 8:51 pm

Shelby O’Brien leads Newburyport past Amesbury 10-3

Celebrating begins as Shelby OBrien (#11) crosses home in the first inning

Shelby OBrien was flawless in the field and started a double play

(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 finishes her run around the bases

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.

Amanda Schell (3 hits and 2 rbi)

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.

Alexi Boswell at second base

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.)

Pitcher Vicki Allman (#4) congratulates her teammates after the game

Lauren Fedorchak about to tag Amy Sullivan

Vicki Allman in her pitching motion

Centerfielder Meagan Aponas tracks a fly ball and rightfielder Alexi Boswell looks on

Pitcher Sammy Stone readies to fire to first

Shelby OBrien bats

Morgan Johnson sets to throw to first

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Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Newburyport

Tagged as Amanda Schell, Meghan Stanton, Shelby O'Brien, Vicki Allman, Zoe Fitzgerald

May 4, 2014 · 8:38 pm

Newburyport holds off Amesbury 5-4 in Cape Ann League baseball

Scott Webster congratulated after recording the final out

Spencer Fournier takes the final swing of the game

(Amesbury MA) Amesbury changed dugouts, uniforms and even had some help from the sun but it wasn’t enough as Newburyport defeated the Indians, 5-4, on a sunny/cloudy Sunday afternoon.

With the victory Newburyport (4-7) ended a three-game winless streak. The Clippers claimed four runs in the first inning and the eventual game-winner in the fourth inning.

Amesbury (3-9) saw its losing streak reach eight. The Indians tallied twice in the first and sixth innings.

After the 4-run first, AHS starter Zack Fitzgerald yielded just a run and three hits the rest of the way.

Travis Wile flips the ball to pitcher James Nutter covering first

James Nutter (5 1/3 innings) and Scott Webster (1 2/3 innings) handled the pitching for Newburyport. They allowed only five hits and two walks. Scott struck out the last two Indians to preserve the win.

Newburyport loaded the bases in the first inning with no outs. Scott Webster drove in two of the baserunners (Caleb Stott and Chance Carpenter) with a single to left center. An Amesbury attempt to get the second runner at home allowed the other two NHS runners to end up in scoring position. Later in the inning Dan Baribeault’s two-out, two-strike single to right delivered both Ryan Furlong and Scott Webster.

Ben Cullen heads for home

Amesbury came back in the bottom of the first to load the bases with one out. Spencer Fournier’s fly ball scored Ben Cullen from third. On that play the NHS throw from the outfield came home but the throw (catcher Scott Webster) back to second was wild and the two runners ended up in scoring position. A passed ball (Scott Webster) allowed Pat Scanlon to cross with Amesbury’s second run.

So after one inning both teams, in my opinion, had given up an extra run. At that point I envisioned a lot of runs the rest of the way. But it didn’t go that way thanks to good pitching and sound defense.

The Clippers collected their important fifth run in fourth inning. Caleb Stott reached on a perfect bunt and then stole second. Caleb took third on Chance Carpenter’s fielder’s choice and scored on Ryan Furlong’s single to deep short.

Ryan Furlong and catcher Mac Short collide at the plate

Newburyport came close to a second run in that fourth inning but a good throw by shortstop Ben Cullen to catcher Mac Short nailed Ryan Furlong at the plate.

Amesbury entered their sixth down 5-2 but added two runs with help from the sun. After NHS starter James Nutter put two batters on with a hit batsman and a single, Scott Webster came on in relief. After a strikeout, a wild pitch put two Indians in scoring position with two outs. Then on an afternoon in which the sun was in and out, it popped out on a routine Brad Kelleher fly ball to centerfielder Chance Carpenter. The result was that the two-out, routine fly ball turned into a two-run single. Both Jared Dupere and Zack Fitzgerald came across. Ben Cullen lined to Dan Baribeault to end the sixth but the Indians were within one run, 5-4.

Mac Short walked with one out in the Amesbury seventh but then Scott Webster caught Nick Hawrylciw looking and Spencer Fournier swinging to give NHS their 4th win.

Caleb Stott steals second

Caleb Stott and Chance Carpenter paced Newburyport with two hits apiece.

Mac Short singled twice for Amesbury.

Third baseman Dan Baribeault played his second game with the Newburyport varsity and drove in two runs.

Weather? Plenty of sun and plenty of clouds with a couple of sprinkles.

Amesbury was 11-9 last year while Newburyport was 15-8.

Amesbury’s next game is Tuesday at North Reading. Newburyport will be at Masconomet on Monday.

Newburyport box

Amesbury box

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

Scott Webster

Pat Scanlon

Dan Baribeault

Zack Fitzgerald

Mac Short prepares to throw to first

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Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Newburyport

Tagged as Caleb Stott, Chance Carpenter, Dan Baribeault, James Nutter, Mac Short, Ryan Furlong, Scott Webster, Zack Fitzgerald

April 30, 2014 · 8:49 pm

Solid performance earns Newburyport 10-3 victory over Georgetown

Carley Siemasko gets congratulated by teammates after homer in the third inning

Vicki Allman struck out nine Royals

(Newburyport MA) Newburyport put together a nice mix of pitching, hitting, and fielding to defeat Georgetown, 10-3, on Wednesday afternoon at cold and breezy Cashman Park in Cape Ann League softball.

The Clippers (6-4) seemed fully recovered from an excruciating 5-4 loss to Manchester-Essex on Monday.

NHS pitcher Vicki Allman retired the first ten Royals she faced and ended up with nine strikeouts. The senior walked one batter and allowed only one extra base hit.

Carley Siemasko led a 13-hit Newburyport attack with three hits including a home run and five RBI. Junior Ashley Hodge also had three hits for the Clippers. This was a game in which Newburyport didn’t have any walks. Maybe they didn’t want to stand in the cold any longer than they had to??

The Clippers defense also had a good game with only one error (shortstop Morgan Johnson).

Danielle Quercia

Georgetown pitcher Danielle Quercia kept Newburyport off the scoreboard in the first inning by striking out Stephanie Gleason with two runners in scoring position.

The Clippers broke through in the second inning. A throwing error by GHS rightfielder Maggie Noelk enabled Lauren Singer to score. Later, Jade Carpenter’s fielder’s choice brought Vicki Allman across.

The visitors unraveled defensively in the third inning with three errors. Those miscues combined with five Newburyport hits paved the way for eleven Clippers to bat and six of them to score.

This was the inning Carley Siemasko homered. The ball went over leftfielder Gianna Faragi’s head and rolled to the fence. Later in the same inning, Carley singled to drive in two more runs.

Molly Kelley was called out for interfering with shortstop Kylie Hayward in that six-run third.

The Royals (2-6) cut into their 8-0 deficit with runs in the 4th and 5th.

Carley Siemasko (5 RBI)

In the 4th, Jen Nutter reached third after a bunt single, fielder’s choice, and a stolen base. Freshman Kylie Hayward’s bunt single delivered Jen with the first G’Town run.

In the 5th, two singles (Danielle Quercia and Hannah Jannell) were followed by Morgan Johnson’s error on a hard-hit grounder by Maddy Crateau that Danielle came home on.

Carley Siemasko had two more RBI in the Newburyport fifth. Both Ashley Hodge and Amy Sullivan singled and moved into scoring position. Carley did the rest.

Georgetown ran into outs in the 6th and 7th innings. Samantha Newbury was picked off first after Molly Kelley caught a popup in the sixth. In the seventh, Shelby O’Brien speared a line drive at third and caught Hannah Jannell off of first before she could get back.

Kaylie Sapienza triples

The Royals, despite the double play, did get a run in the seventh inning. Junior Kaylie Sapienza opened with a long triple to left. Hannah Jannell then placed a full-swing blooper in between the pitcher and the second baseman getting Kaylie home.

Injuries to Dana Edwards, Emily Fraser, and Meghan Stanton kept them out of today’s game.

Georgetown is scheduled to be at Pentucket tomorrow. Newburyport will be at Rockport on Friday.

The Royals have lost five of their last six games.

Danielle Quercia and Hannah Jannell had two hits for Georgetown. The Royals ended up with eight hits.

Vicki Allman and Ashley Hodge each scored two runs.

Jen Nutter made a nice catch in centerfield in the first inning to prevent a run from scoring.

Weather? After being at Newburyport High School on Tuesday, today at Cashman wasn’t that bad. It certainly helped that today’s softball game lasted 75 minutes while the baseball game on Tuesday was more than twice as long.

Newburyport box

Georgetown box

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

shortstop Morgan Johnson

Ashley Hodge (3 hits)

Amy Sullivan slides home

Jen Nutter eyes a popup

Maddy Crateau

Shelby OBrien sets to throw to first

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Filed under Cape Ann League, Georgetown, Newburyport

Tagged as Carley Siemasko, Danielle Quercia, Hannah Jannell, Vicki Allman

April 29, 2014 · 10:04 pm

Freshman Danny Ryan dazzles in Rockport’s 9-2 win over Newburyport

Danny Ryan pitched a complete game six hitter for the Vikings

Hayden Roller slides for home as Leighton Paradise covers the plate

(Newburyport MA) Freshman Danny Ryan pitched a complete game six hitter as Rockport ended a five-game losing streak and defeated Newburyport, 9-2, on a cold Tuesday afternoon of Cape Ann League baseball.

This was a 2-2 game after four innings before the Vikings (2-6) put some timely hitting together with some Newburyport miscues to garner five runs in the fifth inning. The visitors added two more runs in the sixth.

The Clippers (3-6) had the bases loaded in the fifth and two on in the sixth but didn’t score. Credit Danny Ryan. He struck out Travis Wile to finish the fifth and ended the sixth with a force out.

Anthony Ciaromitaro (#18) heads for third

Senior James Nutter started for Newburyport. He surrendered an unearned run in the first as Anthony Ciaromitaro scored on 3B Ryan Furlong’s 2-base throwing error. The Vikings notched a second run in the third inning when Danny Ryan, who had doubled, came home on junior Josh Proposki’s single.

The Clippers got tainted runs in the first and third. In the first inning, Caleb Stott reached on 3B Joe Scatterday’s throwing error and later scored on a passed ball by catcher Kyle Nelson. In the third, Scott Webster struck out but reached when the ball eluded the Rockport catcher. Ryan Furlong’s fielder’s choice brought Scott home.

Shortstop Caleb Stott gets pulled off second by a high throw from Matt Short

This game was won/lost in Rockport’s five-run fifth inning. The Vikings sent ten players to bat and had RBI by freshman Matt Rich, junior Kyle Nelson, and freshman Danny Ryan. The Clippers inflicted pain on themselves in that inning by serving up two walks, allowing two runs to score on wild pitches, and making a costly error (2B Matt Short).

Rockport put across two more runs against reliever Leighton Paradise in the sixth inning. A walk, an error (3B Ryan Furlong), and wild pitches enabled freshman Hayden Roller to score. Later a fielder’s choice by Anthony Ciaromitaro drove in Matt Rich with the second run of the inning.

The Clippers threatened in their fifth and sixth but on this afternoon there was no late-game rally.

The Vikings were flawless in the field after Joe Scatterday’s error on the first Clippers’ batter.

First baseman Stephen Ryan scooped up two bad throws in the final inning.

Caleb Stott has the tag waiting for Josh Proposki

Josh Proposki was thrown out twice by NHS catcher Scott Webster trying to steal.

Leighton Paradise was pulled from the game after experiencing arm trouble in the seventh inning.

Rockport was 7-12 last season.

Jeremy Grabowski came off the NHS bench and got two of the Clippers six hits.

Rightfielder Josh Proposki catches a deep fly

Will Cataldo hit two deep flies to right field that were caught by Josh Proposki.

Newburyport had won three of four before the loss today.

The Clippers have scored more than five runs only once in nine games. When the bats are quiet the pitching and defense has to carry the day. Not today versus Rockport.

Next game (weather permitting) for Newburyport is at Amesbury. The Vikings will be at Pentucket that day.

Weather? It was winter weather minus the snow.

Rockport box

Newburyport box

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

Freshman Matt Rich scored two Rockport runs

Travis Wile strikes out in the fifth inning

Leighton Paradise

Freshman Hayden Roller fires from deep short

Danny Ryan (two hits and an RBI)

Matt Short leaps for a blooper

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Filed under Cape Ann League, Newburyport, Rockport

Tagged as Danny Ryan, Hayden Roller, Matt Rich

April 25, 2014 · 5:17 pm

Pentucket suffers tough 7-4 loss to Newburyport in Cape Ann League softball

Pentucket pitchers walked five in the Clippers 5-run second inning

Vicki Allman struck out six batters including two in the seventh inning

(Newburyport MA) Newburyport caught two Pentucket runners at home in their, 7-4, win over Pentucket on Friday morning in Cape Ann League softball.

The Clippers (5-3) turned a five-walk second inning into five runs and held off the Sachems (4-3) the rest of the way thanks to clutch defensive plays and the pitching of Vicki Allman.

Pentucket was coming off a tough loss yesterday to North Andover as a 2-0 lead evaporated because of a 10-run sixth inning nightmare. Today’s loss may have been just as painful.

After Newburyport loaded the bases in the second inning with one out, PHS starter Carley Desjardins walked Morgan Johnston, Ashley Hodge, and Amy Sullivan to force across three runs. Coach John Walsh brought in sophomore Sarah Stewart and she walked Carley Siemasko to send in a 4th NHS run. The consecutive walks ended as Shelby O’Brien flied to right bringing Ashley Hodge in with the 5th Clippers’ tally.

The Sachems had the makings of a big inning in the 4th when third baseman Shelby O’Brien’s error was surrounded by two singles (Maddy Ammon & MK Corrado). After NHS pitcher Vicki Allman K’d Carley Desjardins, Sydney Snow’s grounder tallied Maddy Ammon with Pentucket’s first run. On Sydney’s grounder, second baseman Molly Kelley opted to try for a play at the plate but Maddy beat the throw. This left the bases still loaded with only one out. Here’s where Vicki Allman’s clutch pitching kicked in. She got Nikki O’Rourke to popup and K’d Jenny Nelson to limit the damage to one run.

Meghan Stanton flips to second baseman Molly Kelley

The Sachems were right back threatening for more runs in the 5th inning. A bad throw by shortstop Meghan Stanton and an infield out put pinchrunner Amy McDonnell on third with one out. Newburyport first baseman Carley Siemasko followed with two huge defensive plays. Maddy Ammon hit a grounder to third that Shelby O’Brien fielded okay but her throw reached first on several hops. Huge play Number One: Carley scooped out the low throw to get the out at first. The runner at third (Amy McDonnell) opted to try for home. Huge play Number Two: Carley fired a strike home to catcher Lauren Singer to nab Amy on a very close play. The unfortunate bottom line for Pentucket was that they came away with no runs.

That wasn’t the case with Newburyport as they added two runs to their 5-1 lead in the bottom of that same fifth inning. Meghan Stanton singled and took second on a wild pitch. Vicki Stanton singled to left scoring Meghan and got all the way to third base when leftfielder Jenny Nelson bobbled the ball. Jade Carpenter ran for Vicki and raced home on Morgan Johnston’s infield grounder.

Tyler Feeney circles the bases as leftfielder Amy Sullivan throws in to Meghan Stanton

Now down 7-1 after five innings, the Sachems had their most productive inning of the game as they pushed three runs home. They could have had more…..but more on that later. Junior Tyler Feeney led off by crushing a ball over leftfielder Amy Sullivan’s head and quickly circling the bases for a homer.

Pentucket was then able to get MK Corrado (3 hits) and pinchrunner Corie Lucier to second and third with one out. Nikki O’Rourke followed with a hard-shot single to centerfield that scored two runs and went by centerfielder Ashley Hodge to the fence. Ashley quickly retrieved the ball as Nikki circled the bases. Ashley relayed to shortstop Meghan Stanton who threw a strike home to nab Nikki in a second close play at the plate. This was the second time in the game that Newburyport turned an error into an out at the plate. How often does that happen?

Carley Siemasko catches the final out

The Sachems threatened again in the seventh but came away empty. Maddie Binding led off with a triple over Ashley Hodge’s head in CF. With batters 2-3-4 coming up it wasn’t hard to envision a big inning. Vicki Allman, however, struck out both Kassidy Kennefick and Maddy Ammon looking and then got Tyler Feeney (home run in previous inning) to pop out to Carley Siemasko.

Clearly a tough defeat for Pentucket. They have been a 5-14 team the last two seasons but certainly look this time around to be much better than that. They surely need to be a little more patient on the bases!

Maddy Ammon started a double play

Newburyport hit into a double play in the first. Sachems’ second baseman Maddy Ammon made a nice catch on an infield popup to short center and doubled baserunner Amy Sullivan off of first.

Both teams will be back in action on Monday at home. Pentucket hosts Lynnfield while Manchester-Essex comes to Cashman Park.

I saw at least one girl on the Pentucket side visibly upset as the game turned Newburyport’s way. I trust that someone will remind the young lady that no one person ever loses a team game.

I learned (indirectly) at today’s game that Vicki Allman will be attending Regis College (Weston MA) next year.

Weather? It went from sunny to cloudy but with little wind. I wonder if yesterday’s wind had an influence on the Pentucket/North Andover game.

Newburyport box

Pentucket box

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

Meg Hubbard

Sarah Stewart

Meghan Stanton slides in with the 6th Newburyport run

Maddie Binding (2 hits)

Carley Desjardins

Amy Sullivan puts down a bunt

Shortstop Kassidy Kennefick dives for a grounder

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Filed under Cape Ann League, Newburyport, Pentucket

Tagged as Carley Siemasko, Kassidy Kennefick, Maddie Binding, Mary Kate Corrado, Tyler Feeney, Vicki Allman

April 21, 2014 · 5:54 pm

8-run second inning keys 11-2 Chelmsford win over Newburyport

Taylor Rowsell scores the 8th Chelmsford run

Amy Sullivan tagged out at the plate by Carly Rennie

(Newburyport MA) Chelmsford defeated Newburyport, 11-2, in non-league softball game on a sunny Monday morning.

This game was settled in the second inning. How? Any time you have an inning in which one team slugs three triples and the other team commits four errors you can be sure the damage will be significant. And it was.

Chelmsford (7-1) sent twelve batters to the plate in that second inning and eight of them crossed home plate before the inning was over.

Catherine Nestor, Carly Rennie, and Libby Mercuri each tripled over outfielder’s heads in the decisive frame off of NHS starter Vicki Allman. Because the Lions were such good hitters, it was imperative that the Clippers limit the CHS at-bats with tight defense. Not in this inning. Infielders Molly Kelley, Jade Carpenter, and Meghan Stanton all picked up errors.

Abby Desrosiers (scholarship to Merrimack)

I’m going to beat that error thing to death but it was such a big part of this game. Chelmsford scored a run in the first on an attempt by Abby Desrosiers to steal third. The throw from catcher Lauren Singer went past third baseman Jade Carpenter enabling Abby to continue on home with the Lions’ first run.

Ahead, 9-0, after two innings, Chelmsford put runners on first and second with one out in the third inning with Stephanie Gleason now pitching for Newburyport. A throwing error (Meghan Stanton) loaded the bases and Carly Rennie singled to center driving in two more runs.

A week ago Newburyport (3-3) was able to get a win over Amesbury, 16-15, because the Clippers were able to put an eight-run inning together. Not against Chelmsford. CHS coach Bruce Rich used three pitchers (Jackie Arndt, Meg Dugas, and Erin O’Keefe) and kept NHS away from a big inning.

The Clippers had five hits and stranded six baserunners in the first three innings but came away with no runs. CHS starter junior Jackie Arndt K’d Lauren Singer to end a two-on, two-out situation in the first. In the second, NHS had two more on (singles Molly Kelley and Vicki Allman) with only one out but Jackie escaped by striking out Morgan Johnston and getting Ashley Hodge to pop to shortstop Abby Desrosiers. In the third inning the Clippers had a walk (Amy Sullivan) and two hits (Carly Siemasko and Lauren Singer) and came up empty again as rightfielder Catherine Nestor nailed Amy Sullivan at the plate after Lauren’s single.

Carly Siemasko (3 hits and an RBI)

Newburyport avoided the shutout with unearned runs in the sixth and seventh innings. An error by shortstop Abby Desrosiers in the sixth gave NHS an extra out and the Clippers loaded the bases. Carly Siemasko drove in the Newburyport run singling to deep short. Outfielders McKenzie Lalumiere and Catherine Nestor ended that inning (bases loaded) nearly colliding on a fly ball to right center. McKenzie, however, came away with the catch.

The NHS run in the 7th came after a second Abby Desrosiers error enabled Meghan Stanton to reach. The Clippers would get runners on first and third. With two outs the runner on first got in a rundown while Meghan scampered home from third.

Freshman Meg Dugas pitched 3 1/3 innings while senior Erin O’Keefe recorded the last two outs for the Lions.

Junior Carly Siemasko reached base all four times getting three hits and a walk.

Meg Dugas had three hits for Chelmsford. Carly Rennie knocked in three runs to pace CHS in that category.

Catherine Nestor made several terrific plays in right field

Catherine Nestor made a couple of tough catches in right field for the Lions.

Abby Desrosiers will be playing for Division 2 Merrimack next year.

Meghan Stanton made a nice catch on Abby’s liner in the seventh inning.

Division 1 Chelmsford was 9-10 last season. They’re in the very strong Merrimack Valley Conference.

Next game for Newburyport is tomorrow (Tuesday) at Triton (10AM).

Wonderful weather at Cashman Park.

Chelmsford box

Newburyport box

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

McKenzie Lalumiere and Catherine Nestor converge

Shianne Sneider

CHS coach Bruce Rich

Erin OKeefe

rundown scramble in the 7th inning

CHS starter Jackie Arndt

Lauren Singer makes a nice catch on a foul popup

Shannon Garrity

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Filed under Chelmsford, Newburyport

Tagged as Carly Rennie, Carly Siemasko, Catherine Nestor, Coach Bruce Rich, Erin O'Keefe, Jackie Arndt, Megan Dugas

April 17, 2014 · 10:37 pm

Masconomet stays undefeated with 5-2 win against Newburyport

Tom Budrewicz (#11) heads home with second Masco run on Scott Webster balk

Will Twiss (six hitter with eight strikeouts)

Will Twiss (six hitter with nine strikeouts)

(Newburyport MA) Both teams continued to go in the direction they have been going.

Masconomet ran its winning streak to five as they defeated winless Newburyport, 5-2, in a cold Thursday afternoon/evening of Cape Ann League baseball.

The inexperienced Clippers (0-4) hung with Masco through four innings (2-2) before the Chieftains tallied two in the 5th and one in the sixth to pull away.

A key to the Masco win was the pitching of senior Will Twiss. Will allowed six hits with nine strikeouts and retired the last seven Clippers he faced. He only walked one batter.

Scott Webster started for NHS and lasted 4 1/3 innings. The sophomore struck out seven but also allowed six walks. During his stint runs were scored on a balk and a wild pitch. It was feast or famine!

Leighton Paradis tossed the final 2 2/3 for Newburyport and he was charged with an unearned run. Elias Varinos’ sharp single to left in the sixth inning got past Tom Isabel allowing Sam Hamburger to score all the way from first with Masco’s fifth run.

Caleb Stott leads off third in the first inning

Newburyport put up a run in the first. A double by Caleb Stott and a bloop single by Ryan Furlong had the Clippers in nice shape with no outs. Masco gave up an unearned run when catcher Mike Manni’s throw to second, as Ryan Furlong attempted to steal, was wild and Caleb Stott reached home from third. Will Twiss retired the next three batters (2 K’s and a groundout) to limit the damage.

The Chieftains took a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Joe Klingensmith singled and stole second. Tom Budrewicz tripled to the fence in right center scoring Joe. Pitcher Scott Webster balked Tom home. Masco would load the bases after that with two walks and a hit batsman but Scott Webster K’d Dan Dempsey and had Sam Hamburger fly out to end the threat.

The Clippers pulled even in their half of the fourth inning. A walk and steal by leadoff batter James Nutter was followed by a single by Scott Webster. Tom Isabel put the ball in play and James came in from third with the tying run.

Elias Varinos caught in a rundown after driving in the 5th Masco run

The visitors collected the game winners in the fifth with two runs. Elias Varinos (2 hits) doubled to the right field corner leading off. Scott Webster then served up a wild pitch, a walk (Joe Klingensmith), and another wild pitch and Elias was home with Run #3.

Leighton Paradis relieved Scott Webster and walked Mike Manni to load the bases. Chris Rich’s sacrifice fly delivered Joe Klingensmith with the fourth Masco run.

The Chieftains collected their fifth run after a single and an outfield error in the sixth inning.

Scott Webster (seven strikeouts)

Newburyport pitching only allowed four hits but the walks (nine) and pitching miscues (wild pitches/balk) spoiled things for the Clippers.

The Clippers return tomorrow (Friday) for a 10AM game versus nonleague Beverly (2-3). Maybe that elusive first win will turn up.

Ryan Furlong paced the Clippers with two hits. Sophomore Elias Varinos had two of Masco’s four hits.

Masco was 19-6 last season and reached the Division 2 state semi-finals. They have won the Division 2 North title three times in the last six years. Their last state title was in 2000.

Joe Klingensmith and Tom Budrewicz made the Cape Ann League All-League team last year. Greg Dougherty was a CAL All-Star.

Greg was rung up three times by Newburyport pitching.

Masco’s next game is at 10AM on Saturday at Saugus.

Tom Isabel made a terrific catch in the first inning on a deep fly to left center by Greg Dougherty. The wind may have helped keep it in the park.

Joe Klingensmith (D1 scholarship to UMass Amherst)

Joe Klingensmith has a scholarship to D1 UMass Amherst next season. He had four homers and seventeen RBI last season. He had a hit (single) and scored two runs today against the Clippers.

You get used to fans complaining about balls and strikes even though they’re usually in poor position to see where the pitch ends up. Today the complaints were a bit different: “That was a strike. It’s cold out here!”

And cold it was. Winter is not over. Even the sun doesn’t help if the wind is blowing. “You want some cheese with that whine?”

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

Joe Klingensmith about to turn third

Tom Budrewicz (CAL All-League)

Dan Dempsey

James Nutter slides into second

Tom Isabel takes a cut

Leighton Paradis

Greg Dougherty (CAL All-Star in 2013)

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Filed under Cape Ann League, Masconomet, Newburyport

Tagged as Caleb Stott, Greg Dougherty, Joe Klingensmith, Leighton Paradis, Scott Webster, Tom Budrewicz, Will Twiss

April 14, 2014 · 10:20 pm

Newburyport gets wild 16-15 walkoff win over Amesbury

Morgan Johnston walks home the winning run for Newburyport

Maddie Napoli puts the tag on Lauren Singer

(Newburyport) Newburyport batted around in two of the last three innings and overtook Amesbury, 16-15, on a very windy Monday afternoon in Cape Ann League softball.

The Clippers (2-2) were down by two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but a two-run single by Lauren Singer tied things at 15-15. A catcher’s interference call followed loading the bases and pitcher Rachel Cyr’s walk to Morgan Johnston forced across the game winner.

This game was anything but smooth. The 20-30 MPH gusty winds made every ball in the air an adventure. Infield popups dropped among players. Outfield flies sailed over the heads of outfielders. In fact, line drives right at players were dropped.

Lucy Scholz races to third

Things weren’t much better on the ground. Part of the trouble for the infielders was the steady collection of baserunners serving up distractions. There were way too many throws to the wrong bases.

The Indians (2-1) dominated the first four innings. They led, 8-3, and already had eleven hits off of NHS starter Vicki Allman while AHS starter Rachel Cyr was limiting the Clippers to just three hits.

Newburyport turned things around in the fifth inning. They sent twelve players to the plate and collected eight runs on just four hits. Junior Morgan Kelley tripled in two of the runs. Amy Sullivan scored twice.

Alexi Boswell

Amesbury hit the ball hard all game and finished with seventeen hits. Five of the hits came in their sixth inning and they made Newburyport’s 11-8 lead disappear in a six-run inning. The Indians sent eleven batters to the plate. Alexi Boswell had two hits in the inning.

Newburyport went quietly in their sixth inning and trailed, 14-11.

The Indians added another run in the seventh as Amanda Schell hit a ball sharply to right. NHS rightfielder Morgan Johnston looked to have a chance on the ball but it got by her to the fence. Amanda was able to circle the bases for Amesbury’s fifteenth run.

Sammy Stone pitched the scoreless sixth for the Indians and 2/3 of the seventh inning.

In the seventh Newburyport got down to its final out before five straight Clippers reached to win on a walkoff walk by Morgan Johnston.

One reason for the Clippers win may well have been that despite getting hit hard pitcher Vicki Allman only walked two.