Category Archives: Newburyport

May 20, 2013 · 10:29 pm

Newburyport rallies past Triton 9-5 in Cape Ann League softball

Casey Barlow (3 hits) caught in a rundown.

Catcher Julia Hartman waits for the throw as Kendra Dow tries to score.

(Salisbury) The Newburyport Clippers scored the last seven runs of the game and defeated Triton, 9-5, at Lions Park on a nice Monday night.

The Clippers (12-5/9-4) have now won six of their last seven games and are still in the hunt for the Cape Ann League Division 1 title. They trail D1 leader North Reading (10-3) by a game and are looking for help from Masconomet which hosts the Hornets on Wednesday.

This was yet another tough loss for Triton (7-9). The Vikings have now dropped five straight after being a promising 7-4 not too long ago. Fielding miscues were the primary culprit in the loss to Newburyport.

Seniors Kelsey Trudel and Cory Simons converge on a popup

Triton closes its season tomorrow at Manchester-Essex. The Hornets (1-13) won their opening game and haven’t won since. One of the teams tomorrow will be ending a losing streak.

The keys to the Newburyport win were clutch hitting and errorless defense. The Clippers rapped fourteen hits off of Triton’s Mara Spears and only left five baserunners.

The infield defense of Kendra Dow (SS), Jackie Krusemark (2B), and Carley Siemasko (1B) was flawless.

Kendra’s best play and was a catch of Kylie Gilroy’s hard-hit liner that put an end to Triton’s three-run third inning.

Carley took care of two potential doubles down the first baseline off the bats of Mara Spears and Kelsey Trudel.

The solid Clippers defense enabled pitcher Vicki Allman to retire eleven of the last twelve batters she faced, including nine straight. The only Vikings baserunner over the final four frames was Cory Simons.

And while the Vikings were held scoreless over the final four innings the Clippers pounded two doubles (Lauren Singer and Casey Barlow) and eight singles collecting seven runs over the final four innings.

Rylee Culverwell injured on this play

It certainly hurt the Vikings to have #3 hitter Rylee Culverwell leave the game injured in the third inning. Freshman Rylee’s bat was missed the rest of the way as well as her excellent defense at third.

Of the seven, last-four-innings, runs for Newburyport only five of them were earned. A bobble at third (Casey Ross) and a single that turned into a 2-base error (CF Ashley Shute) allowed the two extra runs.

Newburyport opened the scoring in the second inning. Ashley Hodge and Vicki Allman singled and both Ashley and Vicki’s pinch-runner (Molly Stanton) came home on 2B Kylie Gilroy’s two-out error.

Triton put together a single (Kylie Gilroy), double (Cara Orlandi), and a single (Julia Hartman) to tie the score, 2-2, in the second.

Rachel McCarthy caught stealing

The Vikings jumped ahead by three (5-2) in the third. A double (Cory Simons) and three singles (Rylee Culverwell, Kelsey Trudel, Lily Anderson) were keys. However, the promising inning ended when pinch runner Rachel McCarthy was tossed out trying to steal and the next batter’s line drive was taken by NHS shortstop Kendra Dow. The Viking would have only one hit the rest of the way but at the moment they had a 5-2 lead after three innings.

Newburyport pulled ahead for good with four runs in the fourth. A big hit was Kendra Dow’s two-out double to the CF fence driving in a pair.

In the fifth, Casey Barlow (3 hits) hit a rope to center and reached third with no outs when the ball skipped by CF Ashley Shute. Ashley Hodge’s sacrifice fly delivered Casey with the Clippers seventh run.

Lea Tomasz

Newburyport added to its 7-5 lead with two more runs in the seventh inning. The Clippers went double (Lauren Singer), single (Lea Tomasz), double (Casey Barlow), and single (Ashley Hodge) to get the pair of runs.

Lily Anderson made an excellent play on a foul popup in the fourth inning.

Rylee Culverwell had her right arm in a sling afterwards. I believe that her injury occurred when she slid home scoring Triton’s fourth run.

Casey Barlow paced the Newburyport hitters with three. Lauren Singer, Lea Tomasz, Ashley Hodge, and Vicki Allman had two hits each.

Senior Cory Simons led Triton with two hits. Teammate Kelsey Trudel scored two runs for the Vikings. Both of these quality players will be suiting up for their last game tomorrow.

Lions Park was a nice setting. The infield was smooth and the outfield was green. One of the bank of lights went out in the seventh inning but most of the fast-paced game was played in daylight.

Triton is a team that certainly has had some highs and lows. They are the only team to beat Amesbury (4-3). They defeated Newburyport the last time they met. But then there’s the loss early in the season to 2-12 Ipswich.

Newburyport boxscore

Triton boxscore

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

Carley Siemasko and Cory Simons

Ashley Hodge settles under a flyball

pitcher Mara Spears

Pitcher Vicki Allman

Cara Orlandi

shortstop Kelsey Trudel

Casey Ross

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Filed under Newburyport, Triton

Tagged as Carley Siemasko, Casey Barlow, Cory Simons, Kelsey Trudel, Kendra Dow, Mara Spears, Rylee Culverwell, Vicki Allman

May 16, 2013 · 10:33 pm

Newburyport rallies to defeat Triton 8-7 in Cape Ann League baseball

Scott Webster struck out four and earned a save against Triton

Nick Desrocher (#2) hit a 3-run homer over the centerfield fence.

(Byfield) Plenty of excitement in this one.

Newburyport ended a three-game losing streak defeating Triton, 8-7, at windier-than-usual Triton on Thursday afternoon.

The game had runs, hits, errors, clutch relief pitching, and controversy.

(It was also the game where my camera stopped working and it surely wasn’t from lack of use!)

The Clippers (8-7) had a nice 6-1 lead going into the bottom of the third inning. However, a 2-out error by shortstop Colby Morris enabled the Vikings to add four runs to the two they already had scored in the inning. After three innings, the home team had a 7-6 lead.

Newburyport would regain the lead in the fifth inning with two runs. One scorer (Mike Sweeney) reached on an error (Jon Seward) and another (James Nutter) was hit by a pitch.

Those two Clippers runs provided the one-run margin that held up for the winners.

The hero for Newburyport was reliever Scott Webster. The freshman righty came on with the bases loaded in the fifth and two outs. He fell behind 3-1 to leadoff batter Dmitri Hunt before getting him to ground out.

Triton came very close to tying the game in the sixth. A two-out walk to Nick Cornoni was followed by a double over rightfielder Ryan Short’s head. The Clippers were fortunate that the double bounced over the fence because with two outs Nick probably would have tied the game if the ball had stayed in play. But it didn’t and Scott fanned pinch hitter Matt Souliotis to escape with Newburyport’s one-run lead (8-7) still in place.

Brian Fiascone

Controversy was a big part of the Newburyport half of the seventh inning. One sure way to create “excitement” if you’re umpiring is to make one call and then change it in a one-run game. But that’s what happened. Blame Brian Fiascone. Thinking there were three outs (there was only two) after grounding into a force play, Brian left the field and headed for the Clippers bench. Both coaching staffs realized what had happened and Brian scampered back to first……..barely and was called “safe.” The Triton coaching staff had a bad reaction to the call and got the two umpires to discuss it. Next thing we knew Brian was “out.” Now it was Newburyport’s turn to get a bad reaction. A protest was going to be filed by NHS coach Steve Malenfant and in addition Connor Wile and Andrew Fiascone were kicked out of the game for their comments.

But the “out” call stood and the inning was over.

The bottom of the seventh was all Scott Webster. He K’d the side getting Nick Desrocher (who had hit a 3-run homer in the third) as the final out to earn the save.

Justin Cashman

Justin Cashman surrendered ten hits and took the loss for the Vikings but five of the eight runs against him were unearned by my figuring. Second baseman Jon Seward had a rough day in the field with three errors.

Conditions were tough in the field. The combination of bright sun, gale-force winds, and swirling dust gave both teams trouble.

Two errors in the first inning (Jon Seward and Brad Whitman) allowed the Clippers to get off to a 3-zip lead.

Triton got one back in the bottom of the first. A two-base throwing error by third baseman Colton Fontaine, a fielder’s choice, and a wild pitch (Evan Habib) enabled Dmitri Hunt to score.

In the second inning, Newburyport added a pair of runs. Smart base-running was the key. James Nutter walked, stole second and came home on Colton Fontaine’s single. Colton took second on the throw in and scored from there on Colby Morris’ single to left.

Catcher Bob Wolcik waits for Chance Carpenter

The Clippers ran into an out in the third but came away with their sixth run. Chance Carpenter went from first to third on a wild pitch. However, his attempt to get home on, what looked to be, a suicide squeeze failed because he left early and was tagged out easily. But with two outs Ryan Short walked, took second on a passed ball, and rode home on James Nutter’s single to center.

Triton started the third with a walk (Cote Wolcik) and three straight singles (Justin Cashman, Nick Cornoni, and Adam Chatterton) and had two runs in with two outs. Colby Morris’ error led to the third Vikings run and then Nick Desrocher delighted the sizable Triton crowd with a 3-run blast to straightaway center. No question the wind helped. It was Nick’s first home run.

The Clippers capitalized on an error and a hit bats man in the decisive fifth inning to set the stage for an RBI double (Colton Fontaine) and an RBI sacrifice fly by Brian Fiascone.

James Nutter (#6) scored the 8th Newburyport run

Colton Fontaine scored a run, had three hits, and drove in two runs. Colby Morris had two hits while James Nutter scored two runs.

Adam Chatterton had two of Triton’s five hits and an RBI. Nick Desrocher walked twice and had the 3-run long one.

Jake Barlow filled in for Connor Wile behind the plate in the seventh inning.

The Clippers defeated Triton, 4-3, at Newburyport on April 19th.

Both teams return to action on Saturday (10AM). Triton hosts Pentucket while Newburyport hosts Hamilton-Wenham.

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

Triton wind/dust

Rough day in the field for second baseman Jon Seward

James Nutter slides into second

Dmitri Hunt scores the first Vikings run

Colby Morris slides back to first as Adam Chatterton waits to apply the tag

Brad Whitman reaches first on a bad throw

3B Billy Mical and slider Chance Carpenter

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Filed under Newburyport, Triton

Tagged as Brian Fiascone, Colton Fontaine, James Nutter, Nick Desrocher, Scott Webster

May 8, 2013 · 9:50 pm

Newburyport takes down Rockport 9-3 in Cape Ann League softball

Catcher Shelby OBrien gets Hannah Lorden at the plate.

Meghan Stanton gets home on a wild pitch

(Newburyport) That’s three straight for the Clippers.

Newburyport (8-4) rallied from a two-run deficit to defeat Rockport, 9-3, on a dry-wet-dry Wednesday afternoon at Cashman Park.

The Vikings (4-7) put two runs up in the first inning but had a quiet final six inning thanks to the pitching of Vicki Allman.

Vicki allowed six hits in the game but more important was that she didn‘t walk anyone. The visitors had few scoring opportunities.

On the other hand, Newburyport had baserunners in all six innings thanks to nine hits and seven walks.

The Clippers tied the score in the third inning and then added three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good.

Kendra Dow

Carley Siemasko

Kendra Dow (3 hits/3 runs/2 RBI) and Carley Siemasko (3 hits/1 run/1 RBI) were the hitting stars for NHS.

Hannah Lorden paced Rockport with a triple, single and run scored.

In the opening inning, Kayla Parisi’s fielder’s choice drove in Meghan Tupper. Later, Mollie Watson came home on Emily Fauld’s RBI single up the middle.

The Clippers had two runners on in both the first and second but came away empty. Pitcher Hannah Lorden ended the Clippers scoring chance in the second by spearing Molly Kelley‘s liner up the middle.

Newburyport tied the game in the third inning. A throwing error at the end of a single (Kendra Dow) and a double (Meghan Stanton) produced a run. Meghan Stanton would later add a second run when she came home on a wild pitch.

Molly Kelley steps on home as catcher Mollie Watson chases a bad throw

The Clippers broke the game open in the fourth inning with some “exciting“ base running. A walk by Shelby O’Brien and a single by Molly Kelley gave NHS two baserunners with one out. Next batter Kendra Dow put a high, outside pitch on a line down the first baseline. Kendra is very fast and the other two baserunners…….not so much. By the time Kendra rounded third she and the other two baserunners were all between third and home. A good throw from the outfield to home would have nailed at least two of them I suspect. But on this day, the throw was up the third baseline and all three runners crossed home safely.

The Vikings cut a run off that 5-2 deficit in the fifth. Hannah Lorden tripled over Ashley Casellini’s head in left and when the throw back in was off target the Vikings had a run.

Meghan Tupper slides in with the first Rockport run

The Clippers got that run back in the bottom of the fifth. Carley Siemasko singled, advanced to third via a walk and a wild pitch and came home on Jackie Krusemark’s sacrifice fly.

Newburyport added to their 6-3 lead with three more runs in the sixth inning. They loaded the bases with no outs and Lea Tomasz drove in Molly Kelley with a sacrifice fly to left. Carley Siemasko then singled in Kendra Dow. Later in the inning, after the bases were again loaded, Meghan Stanton raced home on a wild pitch.

The six-run spread was more than enough the way Vicki Allman was pitching. She faced only six batters in the final two innings.

In the sixth inning, after Kayla Parisi singled, her pinch runner (Rachel Davis) was doubled off first on a line drive to second baseman Jackie Krusemark.

Mollie Watson

Junior catcher Mollie Watson has already been a Cape Ann League All-League player twice. Watching her stop a lot of pitches in the dirt showcased her defensive skills. She also threw out Casey Barlow trying to steal second base.

Isobel MacCrate made a nice catch in left field in the first inning for the Vikings.

Rockport lost CAL All-Leaguer Gabby Munoz to Pingree.

The Clippers recovered nicely from a humiliating loss (18-1) a week ago at Cashman Park to Amesbury. With their eighth win, the Clippers need just two wins in their final eight games to qualify for post-season action.

Newburyport will be at Georgetown on Friday afternoon. Rockport will be hosting North Reading tomorrow.

The weather was hard to figure. I had my camera put away for part of the game because of drizzle. Cameras and scorebooks never do well in rain!

Newburyport boxscore

Rockport boxscore

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

Kendra Dow throws to first

Emily Faulds caught in a rundown with Meghan Stanton

Molly Kelley

Pitcher Hannah Lorden

Third baseman Meghan Stanton ready to toss to first

Pitcher Vicki Allman set to throw to first

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Filed under Newburyport, Rockport

Tagged as Carley Siemasko, Hannah Lorden, Kendra Dow, Meghan Stanton, Meghan Tupper, Mollie Watson, Vicki Allman

May 7, 2013 · 9:18 pm

Connor MacRae (13 K’s) pitches Newburyport past Amesbury 4-1

Chance Carpenter scores the fourth Newburyport run

Connor MacRae

(Newburyport) Have some sympathy for Amesbury, would you!

Saturday afternoon the Indians faced the hitting machine (20 hits) known as North Reading. This afternoon they faced the K-Master Connor MacRae and fanned thirteen times.

Newburyport (7-4) defeated Amesbury, 4-1, on Tuesday afternoon in weather that needed no improvement.

Andy Reidy pitched very well for Amesbury recording eight strikeouts and allowing only six hits.

Senior Connor MacRae not only had the 13 K’s but also had two hits and scored a run for the Clippers.

Amesbury (6-6) errors in the third and fourth innings led to Newburyport runs and questionable base-running snuffed out a promising Indians rally in the last inning.

Ryan Short gets third on an infield error

In the third inning, Ryan Short (2 hits/RBI/run scored) doubled over Devlin Gobeil’s head in centerfield. Third baseman Zack Fitzgerald then fumbled Ian Michaels’ grounder and Ryan reached third with one out. Five days ago the suicide squeeze failed against Manchester-Essex. Not today. Brian Fiascone put a bunt in play and Ryan scored the Clippers first run without drawing a throw.

In the fourth inning two more Newburyport runs would score. A walk by Connor Wile was followed Connor MacRae’s deep-shot double to right. The throw in from the outfield (John Pesci) sailed over third base allowing Connor Wile to score and Connor MacRae to take third. Connor MacRae came home when Mike Sweeney flaired a single over Amesbury’s drawn-in infield.

Down 3-0, Amesbury collected a tainted run in the fifth inning. Zack Fitzgerald reached on shortstop Colby Morris’ bobble to lead off the inning. Zack got to second on Matt Napoli’s single and scored on two passed balls by NHS catcher Connor Wile.

The Clippers added a run in the sixth thanks to the speed of Chance Carpenter. Chance pinchran for Colby Morris. When the speedy junior took off for second, pitcher Andy Reidy threw to first. By the time first baseman Shawn Bannon’s throw reached second, Chance was easily there. Ryan Short’s single to left center drove home the Clippers’ fourth run.

John Pesci reaches third as Tommy Connors single heads for centerfielder Ian Michaels

Amesbury’s questionable base-running happened in the last inning. The Indians had two runners (John Pesci and Adam Ivancic) on with one out down three runs. Tommy Connors singled sharply up the middle to centerfielder Ian Michaels. John Pesci tried to score but Ian Michaels’ throw home was there in plenty of time to record the second out of the inning. So instead of bases loaded with one out, the Indians had two on and two out. Connor MacRae then K’d Devlin Gobeil to end the game.

Newburyport has now won four straight and five of their last six games. They next play on Thursday at Georgetown.

Andy Reidy allowed six hits and struck out eight.

Amesbury has now lost two straight after winning three straight. They will be hosting Triton on Thursday.

Tommy Connors and Matt Napoli led Amesbury with two hits each.

I distinctly heard Amesbury assistant coach Thom Connors tell his team as they watched Newburyport go through pregame practice, “Good arm in center.”

Devlin Gobeil had the Golden Sombrero.

Connor MacRae struck out at least one Indian in each inning. He K’d the side in the third.

Andy Reidy struck out five Clippers in a row including three straight in the fifth inning.

Former AHS principal Les Murray found time in his busy schedule to take this game in.

Newburyport boxscore

Amesbury boxscore

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

Zack Fitzgerald fields a grounder as Ian Michaels races to third

Zack Fitzgerald reacts to a high throw

Colby Morris looks for the handle

dust or high heat?

Shawn Bannon

Mac Short

Connor Wile

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Filed under Amesbury, Newburyport

Tagged as Andy Reidy, Chance Carpenter, Connor MacRae, Mike Sweeney, Ryan Short, Tommy Connors

May 2, 2013 · 8:06 pm

Newburyport defeats Manchester-Essex 3-0 on James Nutter’s six-hitter

Connor MacRae and Colby Morris both scored on Ryan Shorts single in the second inning.

James Nutter tossed a six-hitter in his first start of the season.

(Newburyport) The Clippers (5-4) put together their second straight shutout as they defeated Manchester-Essex, 3-0, on a chilly Thursday afternoon of Cape Ann League baseball.

Senior James Nutter tossed a complete game, six-hitter in his first start of the season. Another first-time starter (Evan Habib), had a complete game, three-hitter against Ipswich on Monday.

The visiting Hornets (2-7) have now lost six of seven including two in extra innings. They did, however, knock off defending D4 state champs Georgetown last Saturday.

Newburyport collected two runs (one unearned) in the second inning and another run in the third. That turned out to be more than enough on this day.

The Clippers loaded the bases in the second inning on an error (first baseman Max Nesbit throwing), a single down the third-base line (Colby Morris), and a bunt single (Mike Sweeney). Senior Ryan Short hit a ground single up the middle driving in Connor MacRae and Colby Morris.

A throwing error cost Manchester-Essex a run in the second inning

It looked as if the Clippers might add more runs after Andrew Fiascone walked. However, a double-steal attempt nabbed Mike Sweeney at third. Then a popout to first (Ian Michaels) turned into a double play when Ryan Short, who broke for the plate, couldn’t get back to third. But Newburyport did get two runs.

Their third run came in the next inning. Brian Fiascone doubled to right center leading off. Colton Fontaine’s sacrifice fly moved Brian to third and Connor Wile’s fly to center brought Brian home.

Brandon Bartlett

Hornet pitcher Brandon Bartlett allowed just one hit (Mike Sweeney single) over the final three innings but his teammates couldn’t break through against James Nutter.

ME’s Max Nesbit started the game with a double but James whiffed the next three Hornets to escape.

Clippers leftfielder Mike Sweeney, in the fourth inning, tried unsuccessfully to make a running catch but recovered quickly and gunned down the batter (Craig Carter) at second base.

After Corey McCollum singled in the fifth inning with one out, a bunt attempt (Henry Gedney) was caught in the air by James Nutter. His quick toss to first baseman Connor MacRae doubled off Henry Gedney to end that inning.

Second baseman Brian Fiascone took Mike Sweeneys throw and waits for baserunner Craig Carter

The visitors had two men on in the last inning with two outs before leftfielder Mike Sweeney made a running catch in foul territory to end it.

Newburyport’s next game is tomorrow night (6:30PM) at Rockport. ME returns to action next Tuesday at Pentucket.

A little over a year ago (April 26th) on the same site, Manchester-Essex defeated the defending D3 state champs, 5-2, ending the Clippers 18-game winning streak.

Max Nesbit catches a popup as Ryan Short starts back to third

Brian Fiascone and Mike Sweeney each had two hits for Newburyport.

Craig Carter and Corey McCollum each had two hits for the Hornets.

Shortstop Colby Morris made a nice play on a slow grounder in the second inning.

First baseman Connor MacRae made a nice scoop of a low throw (Colton Fontaine) in the fourth. Connor also put his body in front of a grounder in the final inning recording an unassisted putout.

James Nutter was on one of the winning relay teams for the 2013 D4 state indoor track champion Clippers.

Ryan Short drove in two runs

The weather? Where did the 70 degrees and sunny disappear to?

Newburyport boxscore

Manchester-Essex boxscore

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

Brandon Bartlett chases a bunt as Colby Morris runs for second

Colby Morris

Kevin Carter

Craig Carter tags out Brian Fiascone

Brian Fiascone reaches third base.

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Filed under Manchester-Essex, Newburyport

Tagged as Brandon Bartlett, Brian Fiascone, Corey McCollum, Craig Carter, James Nutter, Mike Sweeney, Ryan Short

May 1, 2013 · 8:26 pm

Amesbury defeats Newburyport 18-0 in mercy-rule shortened game

Amanda Schell (#16) had five hits, 5 RBI, and scored four times for Amesbury

Amanda Schell (#16) had five hits, five RBI, and scored four times for Amesbury

(Newburyport) “When she was good
She was very, very good
But when she was bad
She was horrid!” (part of a nursery rhyme by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Now that you know the score it will take very little imagination to place “Amesbury” and “Newburyport” in the rhyme.

The two teams played a week ago and Amesbury won, 4-1. Who saw an 18-0, mercy-rule game coming? I will admit to being stunned by the way this game went!

Indians jam the base paths

The Indians (9-1) had only six hits two days ago in a loss to Triton against Mara Spears. But today they battered the Clippers Vicki Allman for eighteen hits………and most of them were hard hit.

The big story out of this game was Amesbury’s second inning. The Indians sent eighteen batters to the plate and collected twelve hits and scored thirteen times. Amesbury had two triples (Amanda Schell), a double (Alexi Boswell), and singles galore.

The normally sure-handed Clippers shortstop Kendra Dow had three miscues in the Newburyport nightmare. It actually took two terrific outfield plays (Ashley Casellini and Lea Tomasz) to keep the visitors from getting more runs.

The Indians had gotten a run in the first inning as Cassie Schultz’s double brought in Amanda Schell. So the Clippers found themselves down, 14-0, after 1 ½ innings.

trouble in the field

The big question then was, “How does the Mercy Rule work in the Cape Ann League?” The answer was that it’s twelve runs after five innings played. So Newburyport obviously had its work cut out for it to extend the game beyond five innings. It didn’t happen on this afternoon.

As I suggested in the opening paragraph, Amesbury had everything going well including pitching, fielding (no errors), and hitting.

Starter Carolina Merrill gave up four hits in four innings. The Clippers (5-4) had two on (Kendra Dow and Lea Tomasz) with one out in the first inning but the AHS senior struck out Carley Siemasko and Jackie Krusemark to end the threat.

Rachel Cyr pitched the fifth getting two strikeouts.

shortstop Amanda Schell

Junior Amanda Schell had a Cape Ann League Division 2 Player-of-the-Year game for Amesbury. The AHS shortstop handled six chances in the field without error. She was more impressive at the plate going five-for-five and driving in five runs. She also scored four runs. Remarkable performance!

Cassie Schultz reached base all five times she batted getting three hits and adding three RBI.

Freshman Lauren Fedorchak also had three hits. The second baseman scored three times.

Alexi Boswell registered three RBI on two hits. The junior crossed home twice.

Kendra Dow had two of Newburyport’s four hits.

Newburyport has now lost four straight games to Amesbury.

close play at second

Both teams return to action on Friday. The Clippers visit Lynnfield. Amesbury, the top team in the CAL D2, will host North Reading, the top team in the CAL D1. That matchup should be a good one.

The weather was remarkable.

This game was originally scheduled for 7PM under the Cashman Park lights.

Amesbury boxscore

Newburyport boxscore

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

Rachel Cyr

Vicki Allman

Lauren Fedorchak had three hits and scored three runs

play at third

Starter Carolina Merrill

Cassie Schultz had three hits and three RBI

Meghan Stanton throws to Carley Siemasko

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Filed under Amesbury, Newburyport

Tagged as Alexi Boswell, Amanda Schell, Carolina Merrill, Cassie Schultz, Lauren Fedorchak

April 30, 2013 · 8:47 pm

Evan Habib pitches 3-hit shutout as Newburyport downs Ipswich 3-0

Evan Habib congratulated by catcher Connor Wile after pitching a 3-hit shutout against Ipswich

Connor Wile races home with the third Newburyport run

(Ipswich) Evan Habib tossed a 3-hit shutout as Newburyport defeated Ipswich, 3-0, on a very pleasant Tuesday afternoon.

Evan (making his second start) permitted only one runner to reach second and issued only two walks. The defense behind him was flawless.

The Clippers (4-4) took advantage of four Tigers errors to get the runs needed for the win.

Ipswich pitching (Ryan Law and Sean Whooley) was solid and allowed only four hits but the defense did in the Tigers (2-6).

Newburyport picked up it’s first run in the third inning. Three Ipswich errors (Josh Guertin, Sean Whooley, Mike Savoie) set up Ian Michaels for the first Clippers score. On Colton Fontaine’s single to deep short, Ian reached third and kept going home as the throw from short to first was low.

Colton Fontaine ready to put the tag on Alex Amoroso

This was a one-run game into the top of the sixth inning with the outcome far from figured out.

In the sixth, Ipswich starter Ryan Law gave up a single to Colton Fontaine and a walk to Connor Wile. Ipswich coach Gardy O’Flynn brought in Sean Whooley to replace Ryan. Sean got Colby Morris to pop out but next batter Connor MacRae lofted a long fly to right center. Rightfielder Austin Rubino raced after it but the ball bounced off his glove and both Colton Fontaine and Connor Wile crossed home. Connor MacRae ended up at third.

Connor MacRae had two hits.

In Connor MacRae’s two previous at-bats he had singled down the rightfield line each time. In the Connor’s third at-bat (in the sixth inning), rightfielder Austin Rubino was positioned closer to the line. That placement cost him a couple of steps as Connor’s deep fly went to right center.

Sean Whooley was able to get the next two batters (Mike Sweeney and Ryan Furlong) to ground out. The damage, however, had been done.

The Tigers had tough luck in the fourth inning after Alex Amoroso singled and reached second on a passed ball. Alex was on the move toward third when teammate Henry Sacco hit a grounder directly to third baseman Colton Fontaine. Colton had plenty of time to tag Alex and then throw to first to complete the double play.

Ipswich has now lost four of their last five.

Colton Fontaine and Connor MacRae each had two hits for the Clippers. Colton also had two stolen bases.

Jordan Thibault

Alex Amoroso, Jordan Thibault, and Austin Rubino had singles for Ipswich.

Newburyport turned a 5-4-3 double play to end the third inning.

The Tigers had a double play in the fourth when shortstop Mike Savoie speared Ryan Furlong’s liner and Connor MacRae was picked off second to end that inning.

The weather was terrific for late April.

This game took less than two hours to play.

On Thursday Newburyport will host Manchester-Essex while Ipswich visits Triton.

Newburyport boxscore

Ipswich boxscore

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

Ian Michaels scores the first NHS run

Henry Sacco

Newburyport coach Steve Malenfant

Brian Fiascone handles the middle of a 5-4-3 double play.

Sean Whooley

Connor Wile chases an infield nubber

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Filed under Ipswich, Newburyport

Tagged as Alex Amoroso, Connor MacRae, Connor Wile, Evan Habib, Ryan Law, Sean Whooley

April 26, 2013 · 9:56 pm

Solid defense and pitching get Newburyport past Pentucket 6-2

Newburyport coach Lori Solazzo sends Molly Stanton home in the seventh inning.

Vicki Allman struck out nine batter and issued no walks.

(Groveland) Newburyport snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating Pentucket, 6-2, on Friday afternoon at the Pines Athletic Field in Cape Ann League softball.

The Clippers (3-4) were flawless in the field. It certainly helped that there were only three infield chances on the ground in the entire game.

Vicki Allman tossed a six-hitter with nine strikeouts for NHS. She was able to get six fly-ball outs – five of them to centerfielder Lea Tomasz. She allowed no walks.

It took a hit for the Sachems to get on base in this one.

Pentucket (1-7) had five errors and four unearned runs resulted, according to my unofficial count.

Miscues by third baseman Megan Haley and leftfielder Madison Newton enabled Lauren Singer and Meghan Stanton to register two runs in the second inning.

Meanwhile, Vicki Allman faced only nine batters during the first three innings. Megan Haley did reach on a hits batsman in the second but was gunned down trying to steal on a throw from catcher Lauren Singer to shortstop Kendra Dow.

Megan Haley tags out Kendra Dow at third.

The Clippers picked up their third run in the fourth. Lauren Singer singled and scored on Kendra Dow’s double. Kendra was thrown out at third, trying to stretch that double, ending the inning, but NHS led, 3-0.

Pentucket broke through with a run in the fourth on consecutive doubles by sophomores Kassidy Kennefick and Maddy Ammon to lead off the inning.
Consecutive fly outs to centerfielder Lea Tomasz ended the inning.

In the fifth, Newburyport added a run to their lead. A walk (Ashley Hodge), a double (Lea Tomasz), and an error on a hot shot by Carley Siemasko at Megan Haley at 3B produced the run.

The Clippers put up two more runs in the seventh to pad their advantage to, 6-1. A triple (Carley Siemasko) and a walk (Vicki Allman) set the stage with one out. Molly Stanton pinch ran for Vicki. As Molly broke for second (trying to steal) the batter (Lauren Singer) hit an infield grounder. Because Molly was running the throw to second was not in time. The play wasn’t over. Two errant Pentucket throws in a row (one to home) enabled two Clippers to score.

Kassidy Kennefick heads for home in the seventh inning.

That five-run cushion came in handy for Newburyport in the seventh. Mary Kate Corrado singled (Allison Knowles ran for her) with no outs. Angelica Arredondo followed with an absolute screamer at NHS third baseman Meghan Stanton that the sophomore caught.

That grab was crucial because next batter Megan Haley whacked a double to deep center. So instead of three straight hits the Sachems had runners on second and third. Emmy Desjardins drove in Allison Knowles with a fly ball to left before Nicolette Kent was called out on strikes to end the game.

Pentucket played without 2012 Cape Ann League All Star Sydney Snow (sore elbow).

NHS catcher Lauren Singer threw out two runners attempting to steal. She also scored two runs and had a hit and an RBI.

Sophomore Kassidy Kennefick made several nice plays at short. She also had two hits and scored a run.

Lauren Singer is tagged out at home by pitcher Tyler Feeney.

Tyler Feeney went the distance for the Sachems. She allowed seven hits and gave up four walks. The defense behind her? You already know about that!

This was my first look at Molly Kelly (up for the JV’s) for Newburyport. Molly had a single in the sixth inning.

Graduated Maddy Stanton was on hand to take this one in.

I had never been to this field before. I realized once I found it that it was the site of the old Pine Speedway. I spent quite a few college years’ Saturdays watching the races. The track closed in 1972.

Next game for both teams is on Monday. Newburyport will be at Manchester-Essex while Pentucket visits Lynnfield.

Mary Kate Corrado

Mary Kate Corrado batted .456 last season. No wonder she made the CAL All-League team.

Pentucket played four games this week. In one of them, they knocked off previously undefeated (in the CAL) North Reading.

Newburyport boxscore

Pentucket boxscore

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

Sydney Snow

Vicki Allman gets rid of her mask after striking out the last batter of the game.

Meghan Stanton sets to throw to second baseman Jackie Krusemark

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Tagged as Kassidy Kennefick, Lauren Singer, Mary Kate Corrado, Meghan Stanton, Sydney Snow, Vicki Allman

April 24, 2013 · 10:07 pm

Triton defeats Newburyport in eight innings 10-7

Vicki Allman reaches third in the seventh inning after a 2-out, 3-run triple to tie the score.

(Newburyport) Triton survived a shaky seventh inning and went on to defeat Newburyport, 10-7, in eight innings on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon along the Merrimack River.

The Vikings (2-4) had a three run lead (7-4) with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but Vicki Allman cleared the bases with a triple to right center tying the score.

Big play in this game? Triton pitcher Mara Spears threw a wild pitch to the next batter (pinch hitter Ashley Casellini) and Vicki Allman tried to score. Catcher Julia Hartman retrieved the ball, tossed to Mara covering home, and Vicki was tagged out to end the inning. If Vicki had scored the game was over.

Mara and Vicki head for the plate.

Mara tags Vicki out to end the seventh inning

Triton won the game with three runs in the eighth. Cara Orlandi singled to left leading off. After a force-out by Mara Spears, Rylee Culverwell, attempting to sacrifice bunt, ended up with a bunt single. Both runners moved up on catcher Lauren Singer’s passed ball before Kylie Gilroy’s 2-strike single delivered Mara. On Kylie’s RBI, Rylee ended up on third and Kylie took second on the throw. A hard hit grounder by Kelsey Trudel with two outs overwhelmed second baseman Molly Stanton allowing two more Triton runs.

That three-run margin stood up nicely as pitcher Mara Spears retired the Clippers in order in the bottom of the eighth.

Cori Simons down with a leg injury

The exciting win may have been costly for Triton because Cape Ann League All-Leaguer Cori Simons injured her left leg in the fourth inning. There was no collision involved, the talented senior was just going back to second after a pitch had been thrown. Let’s hope/pray it isn’t serious. (I got an update this AM on Cori. It appears to be strained ligaments. She will be on crutches and could be back playing in a couple of weeks.)

Carley Siemasko and Vicki Allman pitched for Newburyport while Mara Spears went the distance for Triton. The trio gave up seventeen runs but only five of the runs were earned, by my figuring.

Mara had six errors by her teammates while the Clippers pitchers had four errors by their teammates.

Newburyport put a single (Lauren Singer), RBI double (Ashley Hodge), and 2-run homer by Lea Tomasz together in the third inning to take a 3-2 lead. Lea’s home run rolled to the fence in left field.

Kelsey Trudel had three RBI

The fourth inning was a disaster for Newburyport as they gave up five runs. The bad combination of three walks and two errors (Shelby O’Brien and Vicki Allman) was joined with a 2-run triple by Kelsey Trudel.

Down 7-3, the Clippers got a run back in the sixth. An error by second baseman Kylie Gilroy extended the inning. NHS had runners on first and third with one out. Molly Stanton broke for second and was tagged out while Vicki Allman raced home.

In the bottom of the seventh the Clippers put three on the board to tie but Vicki Allman was tagged out going for the game winner.

Vicki relieved Carley Siemasko (making her first start) in the fourth inning with one out and five runs in. The hard-throwing junior K’d Brittany Gallant and Rose Gaffin to end the inning.

Vicki cruised through innings 5-7 before the Vikings reached her for three hits in their big 8th.

Mara Spears slides home (safely) as Carley Siemasko waits for throw

Triton will host Pentucket tomorrow while Newburyport will travel to Pentucket on Friday. Today Pentucket visited North Reading and gave the Hornets their first loss in Cape Ann League play.

Vicki Allman had three RBI while teammate Lea Tomasz had two RBI.

Vicki also had three hits and struck out six Vikings.

Rylee Culverwell, Cori Simons, Lily Anderson, and Cara Orlandi each had two hits for Triton. Kelsey Trudel had three RBI for the winners.

Beautiful weather at Cashman Park after an overcast morning.

Newburyport boxscore

Triton boxscore

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

Viking caught in a rundown

Freshman Rylee Culverwell had two hits and scored three runs

Rylee Culverwell tosses to first to get Shelby OBrien

Cori Simons

Kendra Dow

Carley Siemasko

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Filed under Newburyport, Triton

Tagged as Carley Siemasko, Cori Simons, Kelsey Trudel, Mara Spears, Rylee Culverwell, Vicki Allman

April 18, 2013 · 7:57 pm

Newburyport gets first win 9-5 over Saugus in baseball

Colton Fontaine had three hits and scored three runs against Saugus

Connor MacRae picked up the win for the Clippers

(Newburyport) Newburyport picked up its first win of the season as they defeated Saugus, 9-5, on a lovely Thursday morning in a nonleague baseball contest.

Lefty Connor MacRae went the distance for the Clippers (1-2) allowing five runs (one earned) on five hits. The senior K’d six.

This game was a struggle for both teams in the field.

Saugus (1-3) paid heavily for their miscues in the first two innings and fell behind, 7-0. It was Newburyport’s turn late in the game to pay for their mistakes but the Clippers early advantage was too much for the Sachems to overcome.

Shortstop John Prentice (back on his heels) had trouble with two grounders

The Clippers turned a nifty 6-4-3 double play in the first inning but that was the last time “nifty” would be used to describe either team’s defense.

Both teams had four errors and they were the costly kind. Of the fourteen runs scored, four of them were earned by my figuring. Equally stunning (shocking?) was the total inability of either team to throw out runners attempting to steal second. Again, by my unofficial count, eleven runners were able to make that first-to-second move and there was never a close play!

There were also walks (five for each team) and several wild pitches.

You get the point: there were plenty of lowlights but for the home team it was Win #1 of the young 2012-13 season with plenty of games left to get better.

Shane Ripley starts his slide into third as Colton Fontaine waits for a throw

Tom Trainor pitched the first two innings for Saugus when Newburyport built a 7-0 margin.

Shortstop John Prentice had two-out boots in both innings that accounted for three of the Clippers runs.

Colton Fontaine reached the leftfield fence in the first inning driving home teammate Ian Michaels with the first NHS score.

Later in the second inning Tom Trainor walked in two runs and tossed a wild pitch to allow yet another Newburyport tally.

Down 7-0 after two innings I started to wonder if there might be a mercy rule in a few innings. (Saugus had lost the day before to Danvers, 20-7, in a game both coaches stopped after six innings so that they would have pitchers available for today’s game.)

The Sachems picked up a run in the fourth inning. Tom Trainor singled past short to deliver Dante Deltorto.

Dante Deltorto had two hits and pitched three strong innings

Dante Deltorto pitched innings 3-5 and limited the Clippers to one run and one hit. But even that run (#8) was tainted as Colton Fontaine (3 hits/3 runs) was able to score from second on a fielder’s choice. Give Colton credit for taking advantage of the Sachem defense.

Saugus added two runs in the fifth to close to 8-3. Victor Dematteo’s sacrifice fly brought Shane Ridley (2 hits/2runs) home. The throw home by rightfielder Ryan Short went past catcher Connor Wile out of play and another Sachems run (Peter Pulicari) was allowed home.

Two more Saugus tallies were recorded in the sixth inning. Newly entered shortstop Caleb Stott threw away a 2-out, bases-loaded grounder and the Sachems moved to within three (8-5).

Shane Ridley pitched the Newburyport sixth. Ian Michaels was hit by a pitch leading off. Ian broke for second drawing a throw from catcher Victor Dematteo that sailed into centerfield allowing Ian to get third. A Shane Ridley wild pitch enabled NHS to add an insurance run.

That four-run spread (9-5) looked tenuous in the Saugus seventh after the first two runners reached – one on a dropped throw by first baseman Travis Wile.

Nick Enos and Travis Wile near the end of the game

However, on the next ball in play Travis made a big defensive play. Third baseman Colton Fontaine fielded a grounder and tagged the runner (Dante Deltorto) going from second to third. However, Colton decided to also try and throw the batter out and his throw was in the dirt. Travis made the block and prevented the ball from going out of play and giving Saugus another score.

Pitcher Connor MacRae then struck out Tom Trainor and got Nick Sweeney to pop to first ending the game.

Ian Michaels had a hit and scored three runs.

Catcher Connor Wile walked three times, had a hit, and scored two runs.

Dante Deltorto had two hits for Saugus and scored a run.

The weather was terrific for April – temps in the 60’s, with plenty of sun and a nice breeze.

Colton Fontaine caught in a sixth inning rundown

The next game for both teams will be on Saturday. Saugus is at Swampscott (10AM) while Ipswich will host Triton (10AM).

Saugus will be completely in the Cape Ann League next year.

Saugus in 2011-12 had enough wins in the Northeastern Conference to qualify for the Division 3 state baseball tournament. They reached the D3 North semifinals where they lost to eventual state champ North Reading.

Newburyport was 15-6 last season.

Newburyport boxscore

Saugus boxscore

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