McClelland Miscellanea

June 20, 2015 · 8:20 pm

Yarmouth 2015 Class B softball champs 7-5 over Hermon

Yarmouth (2015 Maine Class B softball champions)

Clippers start to celebrate

(Standish ME) Plenty went right for the Yarmouth Clippers as they defeated the defending champion Hermon Hawks, 7-5, to take the Class B softball title at St. Joseph’s College on Saturday afternoon.

Yarmouth (17-3) wins its first Class B title while Hermon (17-3) falls short on a title defense.

Yarmouth took the lead in the second inning and never trailed.

Hermon was within one (4-3) in the 4^th and had two runs in with a runner on second with one out in the bottom of the seventh trailing 7-5. Yarmouth, however, turned a double play to end the game.

There were plenty of big plays for the Clippers but if you’re looking for a key player it would have to be junior Colleen Sullivan. The YHS centerfielder had three hits out of the 9^th spot and drove in four runs including the winning run in the 5^th inning.

Colleen Sullivan – 3 for 3, 4 RBI, run scored

Mari Cooper collected the complete-game win for the Clippers. The scary moment for Clippers Nation was the liner off the bat of Hailey Perry that caught Mari on her right index finger ending the Hermon 5^th. The injury effected Mari’s control over the final two innings (3 walks) but Yarmouth’s 4-run cushion after five innings (7-3) was too much for the Hawks to overcome.

Karli Theberge of Hermon surrendered twelve hits but had eight strikeouts. At the bat, the talented junior had two hits and scored two of Hermon’s runs.

Kallie Hutchinson, Cat Thompson, and Eleanor O’Gorman each had two hits for Yarmouth. Kallie and Cat also scored two runs for the 2015 state champs.

I wondered early if it might be Yarmouth’s day after Kylie Kennedy ripped a first-inning liner to right that freshman Sophie McGrath was positioned perfectly for. Assistant YHS coach Richard Ashley had just positioned Sophie closer to the line and that was exactly where she needed to be to get Kylie’s laser.

The Clippers got their first run in the second inning. Eleanor O’Gorman reached on a flair over shortstop that Hermon’s Emily Perley nearly caught. Cate Ralph was hit by a pitch and Sydney St. Pierre’s attempted sacrifice bunt turned into a successful bunt hit. That loaded the bases. Colleen Sullivan then hit a blooper down the rightfield line that scored Eleanor O’Gorman. HHS pitcher Karli Theberge retired the next two batters (Andrea St. Pierre & Kallie Hutchinson) to limit the damage.

Catcher Hailey Perry jumps for a high throw as Cat Thompson nears the plate

The Clippers would add three more runs in the third inning. Cat Thompson flaired a hit into short left with one out. The Hawks tried for a force play at second on Eleanor O’Gorman’s grounder back to Karli but 2B Claire Petersen dropped the throw. That drop proved costly. Cate Ralph singled up the middle bringing home Cat Thompson. The runners moved up on the throw to the plate. Sydney St. Pierre walked loading the bases with two outs. Colleen Sullivan delivered two more runs with a long single into the gap in left. Karli K’d Andrea St. Pierre to hold the damage to three runs.

Now down 4-0, the Hawks put three runs together in their half of the 4^th inning. After a single by Karli Theberge, Hailey Perry reached on Cat Thompson’s bobble. Kylie Kennedy singled to CF driving in Karli and the runners moved up on the throw home. Sydney Addessi’s sac fly to center tallied Hailey Perry. Katie Windsor hit a two-strike single to right scoring pinchrunner Laura Zenk. Big moment alert! With three runs already in, pitcher Mari Cooper K’d both Emily Perley and Deanna Phipps to get out of the inning.

With their lead slimmed to 4-3, Yarmouth got a run back in their half of the 4^th. After Kallie Hutchinson was thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple (nice throw LF Jaelen Albert) Cat Thompson singled to CF with two outs. Cat took second when a pickoff throw from HHS catcher Hailey Perry bounced off 1B Sydney Addessi’s glove. Eleanor O’Gorman made Hermon pay for the miscue by doubling to right bringing Cat home with Yarmouth’s 5^th run.

Yarmouth enlarged their cushion in the fifth inning by two more runs. Sydney St. Pierre reached on 3B Kylie Kennedy’s error. Colleen Sullivan’s fly ball into right fell in between RF Lexey MacManus and 2B Claire Petersen and the two fielders collided. By the time Lexey got up to chase down the ball Sydney had scored from first and Colleen was on third. Kallie Hutchinson beat out a two-out infield grounder to deep short that brought Colleen home. Those two “extra” runs became crucial in the final inning.

The Hawks’ Lexey MacManus reached on 3B Cat Thompson’s bad throw. Later Karli Theberge walked to put runners on 1B and 2B with one out. Hailey Perry brought them both in with a loud double in the LF/CF gap. Now down two (7-5) with one out and a runner (Hailey Perry) on second things were set for a tense ending. 2B Sydney St. Pierre raced in to catch Kylie Kennedy’s bloop and was able to flip to her sister (Andrea) to catch Hailey who had broken toward third to end the game.

The press box was an excellent spot to view the game from.

Weather was excellent…….70’s with an occasional breeze.

I had a number of mess-ups in my scorebook. That’s one of the reasons I do a recording of the game as well.

Yarmouth box

Hermon box

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

Mari Cooper (seven strikeouts)

Mari Cooper and Coach Amy Ashley after a scarey 5th inning

Kallie Hutchinson runs into an out at 3B

Cat Thompson looks for the handle

looking for a bunt

Shortstop Emily Perley attempts a running catch

Karli Theberge (8 strikeouts)

Catcher Hailey Perry

friendly rivals

Claire Petersen (1 hit, 1 run scored)

Eleanor OGorman (2 hits, 2 runs scored)

Leave a comment

Filed under Hermon, Yarmouth

Tagged as Cat Thompson, Colleen Sullivan, Hailey Perry, Karli Theberge, Mari Cooper, Sydney St. Pierre

June 8, 2015 · 10:19 pm

Amesbury rallies past Rockport 6-4 in D3 North softball quarterfinals

Miranda Roller and Emily Robinson collide at second base

Kayla Parisi scores the 4th Rockport run

(Amesbury MA) Rockport built up a 4-run lead after three innings but the #1 seed Amesbury took over from there getting a 6-4 decision on Monday afternoon.

The Indians (19-2) now advance to the D3 North semifinals on Wednesday afternoon (4PM) against Winthrop at Martin Field in Lowell.

#9 seed Rockport (14-6) hit the ball hard (six hits in the first three innings) and benefited from two Amesbury defensive lapses to get ahead 4-0 after three innings.

But after the third inning Amesbury tightened up their defense and took advantage of errors and wild pitches to get the lead in the fifth. An insurance run was added in the sixth.

Hayley Catania – 2 RBI & complete-game win

Hayley Catania, after not holding a runner on third which allowed her to score in the Rockport second, was masterful thereafter. In the fifth Hayley, protecting a one-run lead with a runner (Miranda Roller) on third, got a strikeout and a flyout to end the threat.

Hayley at the bat? Timely. The freshman had two-out, RBI singles in the 4^th and 5^th.

The game ended on a play at third. Jess Collins grounded out shortstop-to-first with one out but baserunner Miranda Roller (on second) decided to try for third after the out at first. Unfortunate decision. First baseman Zoe Fitzgerald fired a strike to teammate Autumn Kligerman at third and Miranda never came close to reaching the base.

In the Rockport second, Rachel Balestraci doubled in Emily Faulds. Rachel was sacrificed to third by Allie Davis with one out. Allie’s sister Rachel grounded back to AHS pitcher Hayley Catania. Instead of looking the runner back at third, Hayley threw to first which allowed Allie to score Rockport’s second run.

In the Rockport third, an Emily Faulds’ single to right with two outs drove in Miranda Roller. On the same play Kayla Parisi reached third and literally stole home unnoticed by the Amesbury infield. Meagan Aponas made a nice catch in center to end that inning.

In the Amesbury fourth, Autumn Kligerman’s sinking fly to left fell off Allie Davis’ glove allowing Autumn to get second with two outs. Hayley Catania delivered Autumn.

CF Rachel Haselgard about to save a run with a terrific catch

The Vikings still held a 4-1 lead but the Amesbury fifth would give them the lead. A walk, a play that wasn’t made at second, and a wild pitch all led to Indians’ runs. It was only a great running catch by RHS centerfielder Rachel Haselgard for the final out that kept the damage to four runs.

In the Rockport sixth, the Vikings had two on and two out when Rachel Haselgard drilled a liner to AHS shortstop Maddie Napoli.

Now up 5-4 after five, the Indians added one more. Megan Reid reached on an error but was cut down on Lauren Fedorchak’s fielder’s choice. From there Lauren stole second and went to third on a wild pitch with two outs. Maddie Napoli’s ground single to deep third scored Lauren.

Meaghan Wonson was injured (nose) during Rockport’s pre-game infield practice but recovered in time to play the game. Yet another reason for infielders to wear masks.

Rockport catcher KT Favoloro made several nice plays on foul pops.

Amesbury defeated Rockport in April (14-9) and May (10-5).

Miranda Roller had a 3-run homer in Rockport’s opening round win over Greater Lawrence.

Amesbury box

Rockport box

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

Miranda Roller

Meaghan Wonson gets treatment

close play at first

Lauren Fedorchak

Catcher Caity Baker comes out after a bunt

Jess Collins pitched for Rockport

Rockport coach Diane Parisi in front of the crowd

trouble in the Rockport outfield

Miranda Roller and Autumn Kligerman

AHS coach Chris Perry

close play at second

Leave a comment

Filed under Amesbury, Rockport

Tagged as Allie Davis, Autumn Kligerman, Emily Faulds, Hayley Catania, Kayla Parisi, Lauren Fedorchak, Maddie Napoli, Meaghan Wonson, Rachel Haselgard, Zoe Fitzgerald

June 6, 2015 · 9:50 pm

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

Zoe Fitzgerald races to first with the final out.

Annika Han scores the first Lynnfield run

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maddie Napoli on her way to a terrific running catch

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

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

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

Amesbury box

Lynnfield box

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

Hayley Catania was the complete game winner

Hannah Travers had two hits for Lynnfield

Kelly Hosterman had two hits

AHS shortstop Maddie Napoli

LHS pitcher Sadie Oliver

Lauren Fedorchak

tough chance in left field

LHS coach Peter Marinelli visits his pitcher

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

close play at second

AHS coach Chris Perry puts the stop on baserunner Hayley Catania

Kelly Dillon fires to first

Autumn Kligerman jumps for joy at the end of the game

Leave a comment

Filed under Amesbury, Lynnfield

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

May 31, 2015 · 2:37 pm

Trouble with drop-down menus using Lenovo Yoga touchpad?

The lower left corner of the touchpad (sticky note is in that spot) is where the left-click function actually is. Touch anywhere else, including the left side, and you get a right-click function.

I may have the answer to your annoyance over drop-down menus. Read on.

I bought a Lenovo Yoga 2 touchpad computer in February (2015) at Best Buy. Later I had Windows 8.1 installed on it.

After that, the trouble (frustrations) began. I do a daily blog. I like to compose on a blank document and then transfer the finished entry onto my WordPress blog (His Word for Me).

When I tried to compose an entry the drop-down menus constantly showed up. The touchpad is divided into two halves so I couldn’t figure out why the drop-downs showed up no matter which part of the touchpad I clicked on. The same frustration happened when I pasted the completed entry onto my blog.

I had access to help: Best Buy’s Geek Squad, Lenovo, and Word. Amazing, to me, was that none of them could provide the instant help I needed. Trust me, I had them inside my machine all over the settings!

One bit of support that led to the solution was a Geek Squad guy telling me that there was no difference between the right click and the left click.

The solution? The problem was in my perception of the touchpad. I thought it had two halves……it doesn’t. The lower left corner of the touchpad is where the actual left-click is. The rest of that touchpad is all right-click.

So in my document composing I would occasionally finger that lower left corner and it would function as a left click should, otherwise everything was right click. So occasionally I thought that I had figured it out only to learn otherwise.

The key is using the lower left corner for left clicks. Do that and the problem should end.

Why Lenovo, the Geek Squad, and Word couldn’t help makes me wonder about them.

I hope this article puts an end to frustrations with the Lenovo Yoga 2 Touchpad for some of you.

Leave a comment

Filed under Lenovo Yoga 2 touchpad

Tagged as Geek Squad, Lenovo Yoga 2, touchpad, Windows 8.1

May 11, 2015 · 8:51 pm

Undefeated Amesbury (12-0) edges Georgetown 4-2 in CAL softball

Zoe Fitzgerald gets third as throw escapes Brenna Donoghue

All eyes are on a two-out fly ball to left in the fourth inning

(Amesbury MA) That’s a dozen and counting.

Amesbury got past scrappy Georgetown, 4-2, on cool, windy Monday afternoon in Cape Ann League action.

Freshman Hayley Cantania tossed a 4-hitter with 9 strikeouts for Amesbury.

The Indians (12-0) put three runs together in the decisive second inning. Lauren Fedorchak delivered runs 2 & 3 with a double to left center.

Three Amesbury popups in that crucial 2^nd inning were significant. Two of the popups (Emily Robinson & Haley Catania) fell for hits in short rightfield while the other one was a foul ball that wasn’t caught.

The wind was a player all game turning routine plays into adventures for both teams.

The Indians added a run in the fourth. Meagan Aponas beat out a grounder to second and later reached third on a throwing error by G’Town pitcher Danielle Quercia. Meagan was able to score Amesbury’s 4^th run when Sam Stone’s fly ball to left was dropped by Maggie Noelk.

Danielle Quercia

Later in the Amesbury 4^th the Indians loaded the bases with one out but Danielle Quercia got a popup and a strikeout to escape with just one run allowed.

The visitors cut their 4-0 deficit in half in the fifth inning. Kylie Hayward singled and stole second. Jen Nutter walked on a wild pitch and Kylie reached third with two outs. Jen’s steal attempt drew a throw from catcher Caity Baker allowing Kylie to score when Jen was ruled safe at second. Kate Irons’ wind-influenced popup fell between first and second enabling Jen to get Georgetown’s second run.

That was it for the scoring. Georgetown (6-6) had a runner on in both the 6^th and 7^th but couldn’t find a big hit.

Best play of the game? Last out of the game. Kate Irons hit a hot shot to 3B Autumn Kligerman’s left. Autumn dove for it, stopped it, and threw to first. 1B Zoe Fitzgerald scooped the hurried throw and the game was over.

Both team’s shortstops had defensive gems. Maddie Napoli (Amesbury) ranged left to backhand a grounder then threw out the runner. Kylie Hayward (Georgetown) took charge on a popup near the mound and made a nice running catch.

Lauren Fedorchak – two rbi in the second inning

Danielle Quercia pitched well enough to win. However, misplayed popups and throwing errors cost the Royals dearly.

The two teams met on April 8^th. The snow was flying and Amesbury came away 8-6 winners in a weather-shortened five inning game.

Maddie Napoli, Emily Robinson, and Hayley Cantania each had two hits for Amesbury.

Kylie Hayward, Jen Nutter, Kate Irons, and Dana Edwards collected Georgetown’s four hits.

The Royals have won four of their last six games. Next for them is a trip to winless Ipswich on Wednesday.

Amesbury hasn’t lost since last June. Who beat them? St. Mary’s in the D3 North finals.

Amesbury’s next game is at Lynnfield on Wednesday.

Weather? Ninety degrees Sunday afternoon turned into sixty degrees a day later! One of the attractions to this area we live in is that we have four seasons. I didn’t know you could have all of them over a 2-day stretch.

One of the numerous popups landed on a very startled Augie in foul territory.

Amesbury box

Georgetown box

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

Meagan Aponas – scored fourth Amesbury run

Dana Edwards

Brenna Donoghue

Hayley Cantania – 9 strikeouts

Running catch by shortstop Kylie Hayward

Sam Stone

Autumn Kligerman (middle) throws to first for the final out

Leave a comment

Filed under Amesbury, Georgetown

Tagged as Autumn Kligerman, Danielle Quercia, Hayley Cantania, Kylie Hayward, Lauren Fedorchak

May 4, 2015 · 8:56 pm

That’s nine and counting as Amesbury gets past Newburyport 5-2

Hayley Cantania leaves the mound after pitching a one-hitter for Amesbury

Megan Reid delivered two runs in the crucial 3-run 4th inning

(Newburyport MA) That’s nine straight for the 2015 edition of Amesbury Indians softball.

Coach Chris Perry’s team hasn’t lost since June 8^th of 2014 when they were defeated by St. Mary’s (Lynn) 8-5 in the Division 3 North title game at Lowell.

In Monday afternoon’s 5-2 win over Newburyport, the Indians again had strong pitching by Hayley Catania. The freshman took a no-hitter into the final inning and allowed only two walks.

Minus the quality start the Indians might have lost this game because their infield defense (six errors) and faulty base running (ran into three outs) kept the Clippers (3-5) just a big hit or two from the upset.

Stephanie Gleason

Good teams find ways to win, however. Newburyport starter Stephanie Gleason allowed only four walks in six innings of pitching but three of them came in Amesbury’s 3-run fourth inning. Two of the walkers would cross the plate. Big hit? Megan Reid’s two-out double to right in that productive inning brought in two runs (Emily Robinson & Sam Stone).

The Clippers got a run back in the bottom of the fourth. An infield dribbler by Stephanie Gleason tallied teammate Shelby O’Brien from third.

Amesbury built on their 3-1 lead with a unearned score in the sixth. Zoe Fitzgerald singled, reached second on a wild pitch, and came home on Hayley Cantania’s two-out grounder got past shortstop Morgan Johnston.

Newburyport picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth as Jade Carpenter reached on one error (Maddie Napoli) and scored on another (catcher Caity Baker).

Jade Carpenter waits for Autumn Kligerman in the 7th inning

The Insurance Man arrived in the Amesbury seventh. A two-out, three-base throwing error by 3B Carley Siemasko enabled Meagan Aponas to reach third. Autumn Kligerman’s single to left delivered Amesbury’s fifth run.

The big deal, at least in my head, was whether or not Hayley Cantania could get a no-hitter. It didn’t seem to matter to anyone else, however. Regardless of the lack of interest, Paige Gouldthorpe started the last of the 7^th with a line drive to right. Megan Reid charged it but it bounced in front of her and then away from her to give the Clippers their first (and only) hit.

Hayley Catania reached base all three times – single, walk, and error.

Zoe Fitzgerald scored two runs.

Paige Gouldthorpe broke up the no-hitter in the 7th inning

Paige Gouldthorpe made several terrific plays in left field for Newburyport.

Molly Kelley pitched in the 7^th for the Clippers.

With the win, Amesbury sweeps the season’s series with Newburyport. Last year Newburyport won both meetings.

Weather? It was shockingly nice! Temps in the 80’s with a nice breeze is about as good as it gets in these parts.

Next game for Newburyport is at Ipswich on Wednesday. On the same day Amesbury will host a pretty good Pentucket team.

Amesbury box

Newburyport box

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

Morgan Johnston waits for Zoe Fitzgerald to arrive

Zoe Fitzgerald

Caity Baker chases a popup

Emily Dobson

Hannah Briedenbach

Hayley Catania

Maddie Napoli

Molly Kelley pitched the 7th inning

Morgan Johnston

Stephanie Gleason and Jade Carpenter converge on a popup

collision at home

Leave a comment

Filed under Amesbury, Newburyport

Tagged as Autumn Kligerman, Hayley Cantania, Megan Reid, Paige Gouldthorpe, Zoe Fitzgerald

April 27, 2015 · 9:13 pm

Malcolm Butler intercepted at Hadlock Field

Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler salutes the crowd at Hadlock Field with the SB trophy

Malcolm signs a football

Malcolm Butler intercepted at Hadlock Field

(Portland ME) It was enough to draw me to Hadlock Field even with an iffy forecast.

The Portland Sea Dogs brought in Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler along with the SB trophy on Monday night.

What current Patriots’ fan will ever forget Malcolm’s startling interception with twenty-six seconds left?

That game was all but won by Seattle until Malcolm jumped the pass route near the goal line and won the SB for New England.

Malcolm arrived at Hadlock at 5:30PM and did some signing for the Sea Dogs in their dugout. Then he was briefly interviewed by a local TV station. After that he throw out the first pitch and then was given the SB trophy to lift up to the delight of the crowd.

Quit a bit of the crowd was missing at the start of the game because they were in the concourse waiting to get Malcolm’s autograph.

Gavin Cecchini – 1st round Mets pick in 2012

I checked out a couple of prospects while I was there. I saw Mookie Betts at Portland last year in April.

The Binghamton Mets have two first-round selections (Brandon Nimmo – 2011) and (Gavin Cecchini – 2012) on their roster.

Most of the top prospects for the Red Sox are either at AAA Pawtucket of A Salem (Virginia). I believe that Carlos Asuaje is Boston’s top-rated player at Portland.

The game ended up being called after two innings because of rain. I was pleased to get my pictures before the rain became a problem.

Thanks again to Chris Cameron for arranging my visit.

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

Super Bowl trophy

Carlos Asuaje and Jantzen Witte

Malcolm Butler salutes the crowd

Malcolm Butler

Malcolm arrives at Hadlock Field

Gavin Cecchini sets to throw to first

Carlos Asuaje squares to bunt

Sea Dogs Keury De La Cruz

Shortstop Gavin Cecchini

Brandon Nimmo – 1st round Mets pick in 2011

Leave a comment

Filed under Binghamton Mets, Portland Sea Dogs

Tagged as Brandon Nimmo, Carlos Asuaje, Gavin Cecchini, Malcolm Butler, New England Patriots

April 14, 2015 · 11:44 am

Amesbury defeats Newburyport 11-2 behind Hayley Cantania

Nine strikeouts for Amesbury starter Hayley Cantania

Lauren Fedorchak (2B) catches the final out for Amesbury

(Amesbury) Perfect softball weather.

The softball played on Monday afternoon…not so perfect but Amesbury did come away with an 11-2 win over neighboring Newburyport.

AHS freshman Hailey Cantania kept nine Clippers off the base paths with strikeouts in her five innings of pitching. That was significant in a game where the defenses were nowhere near where they will be later in the season. Overthrows and bad decisions abounded for both sides on balls in play. The Indians (2-0) had fewer chances to deal with, however, thanks to Hailey’s pitching.

But this was early season action and with the weather around here who could even tell until recently that there were softball fields in the area. Practicing indoors in gymnasiums or outdoors in cold/windy weather won’t prepare a team for a season of softball. This was the opener for Newburyport and it showed.

Down 7-0, catcher Shelby O’Brien whacked a two-run homer or at least we thought she did. However, an appeal was made that base runner Morgan Johnston had failed to touch third. Goodbye, two runs!

Emily Robinson (#14) gets mobbed by her Amesbury teammates after 3-run homer

Biggest hit in the game? Three-run blast by junior Emily Robinson of Amesbury to center in the sixth. The Clippers might have had a chance to get Emily at the plate but on this day the relay throw went to third instead of to home.

Several times for both teams potential double plays were lost because of throws to the wrong base or throws too high to the right base. I hope I’ve made my point……the defenses were shaky!

I also heard a retiring coach shouting to a second baseman to throw the ball to first (for a double play?) AFTER the second baseman had caught a popup for the third out of the last inning. It was that kind of game!

Molly Kelley had a good game at second for the Clippers.

AHS relief pitcher Sam Stone

Helmets? Glad Sam Stone had one on when catcher Shelby O’Brien’s throw from home struck that helmet as Sam slid back into first base. The ball ended up caroming out of play.

Masks? As a photographer I would prefer that the players didn’t wear masks in the field. However as a parent/grandparent I am uncomfortable seeing infielders not wearing masks. Way too dangerous, in my opinion. One line drive up the middle nearly got AHS pitcher Hayley Catania who wasn’t wearing a mask. Has no one figured out that a batted softball off a metal bat could cause a serious injury?

The weather was a great treat. Temps close to 70 with plenty of sun.

I enjoyed being back with players and coaches of both teams. I have been around both teams long enough to know who is new this year and who is missing. Good folks on both sides.

My current schedule (working part-time at Pickwick Driving School Tuesday-Friday) will keep me from doing many games this season. I regret it but some things have to be.

I was pleased to see that Dan Harrison, formerly of the Salem News, is now part the the Newburyport Daily News staff. He is a good writer and the coverage of the area spring sports should be significantly upgraded as a result.

(The pictures above and below will enlarge significantly if you click on them.)

Amesbury lineup

Maddie Napoli (shortstop) throws to first

trouble in the Newburyport outfield

Molly Kelley (2B) about to catch a popup

Jade Carpenter (3B) prepares to throw home

Morgan Johnston

Newburyport team picture

Clippers relief pitcher Carley Siemasko throws to Molly Kelley at first

Leave a comment

Filed under Amesbury, Newburyport

Tagged as Hayley Cantania, Sam Stone, Shelby O'Brien

March 21, 2015 · 9:30 pm

Londonderry boys get first D1 title 47-46 over Pinkerton Academy

Matt Rizzo set to launch the last shot of the game

The Londonderry celebrating begins

Londonderry (2015 Division 1 champions)

Brandon Radford scored the game-winner. Here he applies some defense

(Durham NH) They aren’t very far apart geographically (five miles) and when this one ended they weren’t very far apart on the UNH scoreboard either.

#1 seed Londonderry won a good-to-the-last-shot thriller over #3 seed Pinkerton Academy, 47-46, on Saturday afternoon to get their first Division 1 boys’ basketball title in school history.

Londonderry should be one happy place for a while since both girls and boys basketball teams were still standing after championship games today and last Saturday. Nashua did the same thing back in 1986.

As you can tell by the low final score, both teams struggled to have good offense and good defense together at the same time. That is why the game came down to the last made shot. Neither team was ahead by more than a point over the closing tense 4 ½ minutes of the game.

The undefeated Lancers (22-0) scored what turned out to be the winning basket with fifty seconds left. Matt Rizzo (12 points) missed a free throw and Jake Coleman collected his 11th rebound. The Lancers’ Brandon Radford was lined up on the inside position for the free throw and when his teammate secured the rebound Brandon took off full-speed for the other end completely unnoticed by anyone on PA. Jake Coleman took a couple of dribbles and spotted and threw a pass to his wide-open sophomore teammate who finished with a layup. That gave Londonderry a 47-46 lead that turned out to be the final score.

Matt Rizzo shoots with a chance to give PA a two-point lead

Believe me, after that basket with fifty seconds to go, the excitement was far from over. The Astros used thirty seconds of clock before Geo Baker lost the ball out-of-bounds. In bounds the ball came to Jake Coleman who was fouled with twelve seconds left. Here was a chance for Londonderry to add some comfort to a one-point lead but Jake missed. The Astros got the ball into the hands of Geo Baker and I was quite certain he would take the final shot. Geo, however, was unable to penetrate and was forced left and forced to give up the ball without a shot. Matt Rizzo ended up with the ball straightaway from beyond the arc. Matt had time to fake Jake Coleman away from him and get off a shot before the buzzer sounded. The shot missed but not by much! And the celebrating began for the Lancers.

Credit the Londonderry defense in that last play for keeping Geo from penetrating and for forcing Matt into a very tough final shot.

Cody Ball defends Geo Baker

Londonderry generated good offense/defense together in 2 ½ minutes of the second quarter running ten straight points together. Two three’s by Jake Coleman (14 first half points) and a three and a free throw by Marc Corey (17 points) put the Lancers in front, 25-17.

It was Pinkerton’s turn to put the D & 0 together in the third quarter. The Astros (18-4) collected the first ten points of that quarter (3-pointers by Drew Green and Matt Rizzo were part of it) to get in front, 35-32.

You read this far in a story of a Londonderry basketball game in 2014-15 and no mention yet of NH Division 1 Player-of-the-Year Cody Ball. Cody, on this afternoon, was a cold-shooting (2-for-12) foul magnet. Cody (St. Anselm’s next year) missed a good part of the third quarter after his fourth foul.

Jake Coleman held Londonderry together with his fourteen points/six rebounds in the first half. His ability to handle the ball in the second half without turnovers was crucial. His ability to see a wide open Brandon Radford in the last minute, for the game-winner, was huge.

Geo Baker looks for an opening

I enjoyed watching first-team all-stater Cody Ball defend first-team all-stater Geo Baker.

Jake Coleman finished with a double/double (16 points/11 rebounds).

Sophomore Geo Baker spent his freshman year at Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols (BBN) in Cambridge before transferring to Pinkerton Academy in Derry.

The two teams met during the regular season at PA in February. The Lancers won 67-61 in a game in which Cody Ball had five 3’s and Jake Coleman had twenty-five points. David Faulks had twenty points in that game including four dunks.

Londonderry has now defeated their neighbors four straight games.

Great crowd and the way the game went back and forth both sides had plenty of opportunity to get excited.

The UNH stat crew did, and do, an excellent job.

Box from the game

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

Marc Corey (17 points) defended by Tommy Romick (11 points)

Geo Baker (10 points) gives Pinkerton the lead in the 4th quarter

Jake Coleman had a turnover-free game despite plenty of ballhandling

LHS coach Nate Stanton

Geo Baker and Jake Coleman chase a loose ball

Joey Kwiatkowski

Drew Green

David Faulks defended by Joey Kwiatkowski

Leave a comment

Filed under Londonderry, Pinkerton

Tagged as Cody Ball, Geo Baker, Jake Coleman, Marc Corey, Matt Rizzo

March 17, 2015 · 10:56 pm

Geo Baker (33 points) leads Pinkerton Academy past Nashua North 63-58 in D1 semifinals

Geo Baker (33 points) hit two free throws, had a steal, and a layup in the last minute

Geo Baker made eight 3-point shots

(Durham NH) It is not easy to get excited about a rematch between teams that were separated by forty-nine points (74-25) in their first meeting in January.

But #15 seed Nashua North reached the Division 1 semifinals and that gave the Titans a second chance with Pinkerton Academy at UNH on Tuesday night.

And what a rematch it was. The underdogs went down by ten early but came back with a run of eighteen straight points to lead by eleven at halftime.

But in the second half PA’s sophomore Geo Baker took over getting twenty-two points leading the Astros to a 63-58 win and a trip to the finals at UNH on Saturday afternoon. The Astros will face undefeated Londonderry for the title.

Pinkerton (18-3) rode the long ball in the second half. Geo (33 points) had five from beyond the arc while teammate Brennan Morris dialed long distance successfully three times.

PA’s nine second-half 3-pointers had plenty to do with the Astros comeback. Crunch time, however, belonged to Geo. The Astros lead was a slim two points (58-56) with fifty seconds left and they had the ball. The Titans were forced to foul and since Geo had the ball so much he was the one fouled. He made two pressure free throws in a one-and-one situation to push the PA lead to four. Next Nashua North possession Geo stole Brennan Kastens’ pass. Again Geo was fouled but this time he missed with twenty-one seconds left. NN’s Brendan Barrett got the rebound but his pass was picked off by Tommy Romick. Tommy quickly fed nearby Geo for a killer layup and a six-point PA lead with sixteen seconds left. No six-point play in the NN playbook so their remarkable tournament run came to an end.

Geo’s stat line in the second half was 22 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. No turnovers in his second half stat line.

The Titans (8-13) looked like the #15 seed in the first quarter falling behind 17-7. Geo Baker had two three’s in the early going and Matt Rizzo also had one.

Ronnie Silva ended the first half with a long three

Nashua North, however, was taking good care of the ball (3 turnovers in the first half). In the second period PA had a 23-16 lead with 4:37 left. How do you explain what happened the rest of the quarter? You never saw momentum shift the way it did. The Astros didn’t make a point the rest of the quarter while the Titans, led by quick guard Ronnie Silva, couldn’t miss. The #15 seed ran eighteen unanswered points, including four 3’s from Ronnie, and left the court ahead, 34-23. Ronnie’s last three had NBA length and was just before the buzzer.

Stunned would be the way I would describe the halftime atmosphere. The big question was whether or not the Titans could generate enough points in their one-shot possessions against a taller PA squad to stay ahead in the second half.

Geo Baker looks to pass while Brandon Rodriguez and Ronnie Silva defend

In the second half the Astros shut out Ronnie Silva and defended the Titans into twelve turnovers. One shot possessions are one thing, when you’re hot, but twelve no-shot possessions added to them will do a team in. And if you add Geo Baker’s remarkable second half to the mix you can see why Pinkerton rallied back.

Nearly 50% of the shots taken were 3’s – 46/97.

Nathan Hale (16) and Brennan Kastens (14) also reached double figures for the Titans.

Brennan Kastens, Geo Baker, and David Faulks had dunks in the game. David’s throw down was set up by a terrific Geo Baker pass.

Good crowd on hand. I suspect that most of the Spaulding/Londonderry early arrivals were encouraging the Titans to knock off #3 seed Pinkerton Academy.

Excellent stat help from the UNH crew.

Box from the game

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