Tag Archives: Amanda Schell

June 3, 2014 · 8:57 pm

Pitcher/Hitter Rachel Cyr leads Amesbury past Notre Dame Academy 11-2 in D3 North quarterfinals

Rachel Cyr had nine strikeouts, four hits, and three RBI for Amesbury

Alexis Boswell scored three runs and drove in two runs

(Amesbury MA) Rachel Cyr struck out nine and drove in three runs leading Amesbury past Notre Dame Academy (Tyngsboro) 11-2 in the Division 3 North quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon.

Next opponent for the Indians (16-6) will be Lowell Catholic on Thursday night (6:45PM) at Martin Field in Lowell.

This was a 2-2 game after 3 1/2 innings but Amesbury put up a six-spot in the fourth and the team from the Commonwealth Athletic Conference never recovered.

Rachel Cyr was extremely effective. The AHS senior threw strikes (no walks) and K’d nine of the Lancers. She also retired the last seven batters she faced to thwart any comeback plans NDA may have had.

The Indians jumped off to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the second and third. Rachel had a part in both runs. In the second, she singled to deep short and her pinchrunner (Liv Stolworthy) came in on Zoe Fitzgerald’s single to short left. In the third, after teammates Alexis Boswell and Autumn Kligerman reached, Rachel had an RBI single up the middle.

Kendall Liggett slides across with the first NDA run

The Lancers (12-11) rallied back to tie the score in the fourth inning. After Kendall Liggett singled, Regan Szekely doubled hard down the first baseline scoring Kendall. Breanna Richard ran for Regan. Tara Kelleher followed with a grounder that got between AHS first baseman Zoe Fitzgerald and second baseman Lauren Fedorchak allowing Breanna Richard to hustle home with the second NDA run.

Amesbury gained separation in their half of the fourth inning. The Indians put seven hits together to collect six runs in an inning extended by a 2-out drop by centerfielder Mary Grace Handy. Amesbury sent ten batters to the plate.

trouble in the outfield

In the sixth inning the Indians added three runs. Rachel Cyr had her third RBI and teammate Alexis Boswell scored her third run of the game. This inning was also extended for Amesbury by another drop in centerfield.

Clare Handy paced NDA with two hits.

For Amesbury, Rachel Cyr had four hits while Alexis Boswell had three hits. Alexis also had two RBI.

NDA rightfielder Loren Sullivan made a nice running catch in the third inning.

Alexis Boswell chased Regan Szekely’s double into some Wrigley Field vegetation in foul territory in the NDA fourth inning.

Second baseman Lauren Fedorchak made a terrific running catch in foul territory of a popup in the third inning.

Amanda Schell

Meg Aponas and Amanda Schell hit long foul balls to left.

Last home game for Rachel Cyr, Alexis Boswell, Lucy Scholz, and Amanda Schell.

NDA was 13-7 last season.

The Lancers had two close games with Rockport this season.

Amesbury and St. Mary’s of Lynn are just a win away from facing each other in the D3 North finals. The Spartans defeated the Indians 4-1 in a game this season at Amesbury.

Amesbury box

Notre Dame Academy box

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

Deanna Desmond ready to tag out Meg Aponas

Alexis Boswell tracks down a double

close play

Regan Szekely

shortstop Kaycie Pereira

Lauren Fedorchak runs down a foul popup

Allie Wilson

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Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Notre Dame Academy (Tyngsboro)

Tagged as Alexis Boswell, Amanda Schell, Clare Handy, Kendall Liggett, Rachel Cyr

June 1, 2014 · 5:58 pm

Amesbury routs Weston 17-1 in D3 North First Round

Weston errors proved very costly against Amesbury

Pitcher Rachel Cyr allowed only two hits

(Amesbury MA) Amesbury overwhelmed Weston, 17-1, in Division 3 North first round action Sunday afternoon at Amesbury.

The mercy rule kicked in after the Wildcats batted in the top of the fifth inning.

With the win, Amesbury moves ahead to the quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon (4PM) hosting Notre Dame of Tyngsboro.

Weston (9-12) rolled up twenty-five runs in their preliminary round victory against New Mission two day ago. Nothing like that happened today, however, against Rachel Cyr as the AHS senior limited the Wildcats to two hits (Gene Miller) and one unearned run.

Because the game was shortened, the Indians (15-6) had only four innings of at-bats and they made the most of them. There were seventeen Amesbury hits with everyone in the starting lineup getting at least one. The only extra base hits were by Lauren Fedorchak (triple) and Amanda Schell (double).

Alexis Boswell caught between Naomi Siverstein (#17) and Marie McMann

Anyone at this game asked to explain it won’t be starting with Weston’s lack of hitting or Amesbury’s ability to hit. They would probably start with the very shaky Weston defense. The Wildcats committed eight errors, by my count, including four in the first inning when Amesbury put up seven runs.

For some reason, both good defense or bad defense can be contagious. In this case, the inability to make plays in the field enveloped the visitors from the Dual County League. And Amesbury just aggravated the situation by putting ball after ball in play for four innings.

What looked like minor damage by Amesbury in the first inning (two runs), due to two fielding miscues (Gene Miller and Katie Valle), became major damage (seven runs) when two more errors (Katie Valle and Naomi Silverstein) followed before the end of the inning.

Amanda Schell steals second base

The Indians added four runs in the second, two in the third, and four more in the fourth. AHS coach Chris Perry had all of his reserves in action before this one ended. Sophomore Megan Reid came off the bench to single in the fourth inning.

Amanda Schell and Alexis Boswell led the way for Amesbury with three hits apiece. Lucy Scholz, Zoe Fitzgerald, and Lauren Fedorchak each had two hits for the Indians.

The Wildcats collected their lone run in the fourth inning. Alison Heilbronner’s bunt was thrown away by 3B Autumn Kligerman allowing Alison to get second. A wild pitch moved Alison to third and from there she was singled home by Gene Miller.

Weather? The only concern might have been from a possible sunburn!

Maddie Piccione

Sophomore Maddie Piccione took the loss for Weston. The less said about the support behind her the better.

Rachel Cyr will be going to Salem State next year to play softball.

Cape Ann League softball Player-of-the-Year (Amanda Schell) will attending Ithaca (NY) to play field hockey for the D3 Bombers next year. I wonder if the softball coach knows about her?

Amesbury had a nice speaker system in place for the game and we heard the National Anthem as well as batter identifications. The scoreboard was also used.

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

Talia Cramer gets treatment

Lauren Fedorchak tripled in the third inning

Alison Heilbronner nears home

Skyla Lynch

Kasie Wrean eyes a popup

Lucy Scholz scored two runs

Catcher Amanda Schell settles under the game-ending popup

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Filed under Amesbury, Weston

Tagged as Amanda Schell, Gene Miller, Lauren Fedorchak, Lucy Scholz, Maddie Piccione, Rachel Cyr

May 28, 2014 · 1:09 pm

2014 Cape Ann League All-League softball team (pictures)

Amanda Schell (Player-of-the-Year)

Emily Dow (Player-of-the-Year)

Carolyn Lynch

Shortstop Rachel Gallagher

Maddie Kelly

Carley Siemasko

Cassidy Gaeta

Jen Castro and Tarah Reilly

Tyler Feeney

Hannah Lorden

Jess Collins

Kylie Gilroy

(Jackie Whelan of Lynnfield also made the CAL 2014 All-League team.)

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Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Masconomet, Newburyport, North Reading, Pentucket, Rockport, Triton

Tagged as Amanda Schell, Carley Siemasko, Carolyn Lynch, Cassidy Gaeta, Emily Dow, Hannah Lorden, Jackie Whelan, Jen Castro, Jess Collins, Kylie Gilroy, Maddie Kelly, Rachel Gallagher, Tara Reilly, Tyler Feeney

May 14, 2014 · 10:32 pm

Amesbury defeats Lynnfield 6-4 in eight innings in Cape Ann League softball

Amanda Schell and Rachel Cyr race home on a 2-run single by Zoe Fitzgerald in the 8th inning

Second baseman Lauren Fedorchak squeezed the final out

(Lynnfield MA) Converting second chances played a big part in Amesbury’s, 6-4, win over Lynnfield in eight innings on a sunny Wednesday afternoon of Cape Ann League softball.

The Indians (11-4) had the Pioneers (8-9) down by three runs, 4-1, with two outs in the seventh inning. However, a boot by AHS shortstop Maddie Napoli and a dropped popup by second baseman Lauren Fedorchak delivered the tying runs for the Pioneers.

That exciting seventh inning ended for Lynnfield with Malia Roberto, carrying the winning run, getting tagged out at third by Autumn Kligerman.

The visitors had only five hits off of LHS pitcher Sadie Oliver but collected two of them in the extra inning. Amanda Schell singled and Rachel Cyr walked to start the inning. They both moved up on a fielder’s choice and scored easily on sophomore Zoe Fitzgerald’s sharp single up the middle.

Autumn Kligerman tags Malia Roberto to end the 7th inning

Those two runs looked to be enough………..unless you recalled the previous inning in which three runs looked like enough! After two outs Lynnfield had two straight singles (Lauren Guerra and Hannah Travers) and visions of the previous inning started dancing in everyone’s head. But second baseman Lauren Fedorchak was given a second chance to end the game and this time held onto Rachel Buzzotta’s popup to do just that.

Amesbury has won five straight and have made the post-season tournament. For the Indians the final five games will be about getting as high a seed as possible in the Division 3 state tournament.

Lynnfield still has to make the tournament. Ten wins will do it. They must win at least two of their last three games. I like their chances of getting what they need since they’ll be playing three teams (Ipswich, Georgetown, Manchester-Essex) with losing records.

Rachel Cyr

The Pioneers certainly had plenty of hits (ten) off of AHS pitcher Rachel Cyr but stranded ten runners. Why LHS didn’t score more times with all their hits was because three Pioneers (Hannah Travers, Annika Han, and Lauren Guerra) had eight of the ten hits.

Amesbury started the scoring with a tainted run in the second inning. Autumn Kligerman doubled but reached third on a bad relay throw from leftfielder Malia Roberto. Autumn later slide home on a wild pitch by Sadie Oliver.

The Indians started the fourth inning with two straight hits (Meg Aponas single, Amanda Schell double). Rachel Cyr’s sacrifice fly scored Meg. Before the inning was over Amesbury would get two more runners to third (Amanda Schell, Autumn Kligerman) and both would come home on wild pitches.

Amesbury carried a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning. In that inning Annika Han of Lynnfield singled, stole second, and reached third on a passed ball. Malia Roberto’s single into right field put the Pioneers on the board.

The exciting seventh saw Lynnfield rally to tie the score, only to lose in the eighth inning.

Hannah Travers (#20) made a super catch in center field

The good crowd on hand saw a terrific running catch by centerfielder Hannah Travers to take away a double and possibly more from Meg Aponas to end the sixth inning. The LHS junior went straight back and dove to make the catch.

Third baseman Autumn Kligerman had a strong game at third for Amesbury especially in the third inning when the AHS junior had three assists.

Weather? Just terrific. After yesterday’s 50’s I was overdressed for today’s 70’s.

Autumn Kligerman and Amanda Schell each scored two runs for Amesbury.

Amesbury won the previous meeting this season between the two teams, 9-7, on April 11th.

Next game for the Indians is at Rockport on Thursday.

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

Amanda Schell at third

Sadie Oliver

Zoe Fitzgerald – two rbi in the 8th inning

Third baseman Autumn Kligerman throws to first baseman Zoe Fitzgerald

Maddie Napoli looks for the handle

MacKenzie Comeau

Rachel Buzzotta

AHS coach Chris Perry instructs Meg Aponas

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Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Lynnfield

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

May 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

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.

Carly Siemasko catches a popup

Sixteen players scored runs in this game. Thirteen players had RBIs.

Rachel Cyr drove in four runs while Molly Kelley and Lauren Singer drove in three each.

Amy Sullivan scored three times.

Alexi Boswell led all players with four hits, while teammates Lucy Scholz and Rachel Cyr had three apiece.

Meagan Aponas catches a fly just beyond the reach of Maddie Napoli

Lauren Singer had four hits for the Clippers including two triples.

Meghan Stanton looked good taking over for Kendra Dow at shortstop for Newburyport.

Weather? No question it was windy but it was also warm.

Next game for Amesbury will be hosting Rockport on Wednesday. Newburyport will be traveling to Saugus on the same day.

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

Lauren Singer triples over Alexi Boswell

Amy Sullivan scores as the ball gets by catcher Amanda Schell

Jade Carpenter fires to first

Lauren Fedorchak

Amanda Schell near home after circling the bases

Amy Sullivan and Coach Lori Solazzo

Shelby OBrien

Vicki Allman

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Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Newburyport

Tagged as Alexi Boswell, Amanda Schell, Amy Sullivan, Lauren Singer, Morgan Johnston, Rachel Cyr, Vicki Allman

April 9, 2014 · 9:21 pm

Amesbury experience shows in 5-1 softball win over Georgetown

Zoe Fitzgerald (#21) gets cheers from her teammates after circling the bases in the sixth inning.

Autumn Kligerman sets to fire to first

(Amesbury) Experienced Amesbury opened their 2014 season with a 5-1 victory over Georgetown on a blustery Wednesday afternoon in Cape Ann League softball.

The Indians (1-0) were flawless in the field and capitalized on the inexperience of the Royals (0-1) especially in the outfield.

Minus graduated hitters such as Ashley Valme, Janine Fatal, Erin Leary, and Cassie Schultz, Amesbury couldn’t separate from the determined Royals. This was a 3-1 game going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the decisive sixth, sophomore Zoe Fitzgerald hit a hard shot into right center that split freshmen outfielders Samantha Newbury and Dana Edwards on the ground. By the time the two outfielders could retrieve the ball, and get it back into the infield, Zoe had reached home (with Amesbury’s 4th run) without a slide despite slowing up at third base.

The Indians added more insurance in the same frame. Lauren Fedorchak singled to deep short and took second on a wild throw by SS Maddy Crateau. Lauren then scored Run #5 on freshman Maddie Napoli’s blooper into right field.

The throw from first goes past Alexi Boswell and shortstop Kylie Hayward

Senior Alexi Boswell worked some base running magic to produce a run in the first inning. After Alexi reached on a single, Lucy Scholz put down a bunt that activated the Georgetown infield. Third baseman Hannah Jannell fielded the bunt and made an accurate throw to second baseman Maddy Crateau covering first to get Lucy. However that defensive arrangement left shortstop Kylie Hayward covering both second and third. So Alexi ran right past second toward uncovered third. Maddy Crateau threw the ball past shortstop Kylie Hayward who was racing Alexi to third and Alexi came home with Amesbury’s first run.

More of that inexperience/experience thing kicked in for a second first inning run. Senior Amanda Schell singled to right but the ball got past rightfielder Dana Edwards and Amanda ended up at third. Senior Rachel Cyr singled to center scoring Amanda with Amesbury’s second score.

pitcher Danielle Quercia

When Autumn Kligerman hit a fly ball to center that centerfielder Samantha Newbury couldn’t find in the sun, you sensed that a very bad inning was underway for the Royals. But credit Georgetown starter Danielle Quercia. She got Zoe Fitzgerald to strike out and Sammy Stone to line to first ending the inning without any more runs allowed.

Amesbury would build their lead to 3-0 in the second inning. Lauren Fedorchak singled to center and Maddie Napoli sacrifice bunted her to second. Lucy Scholz delivered Lauren with a two-out single to center.

Georgetown had five hits, a walk, and five stranded runners to show for five innings of play. In the sixth the Royals used aggressive base running to get on the scoreboard. Maddy Crateau and Jen Nutter set the stage with infield hits after one out. When catcher Amanda Schell tried to pick Jen off of first (it was verrry close!) Maddie reached third. And then when Jen stole second on another very close play Maddy raced home.

pitcher Rachel Cyr

The key to that inning for Georgetown was being aggressive. The key for Amesbury was Rachel Cyr. How? The senior pitcher struck out three Royals looking to keep other Royals off the bases and limit the damage to one run.

Former CAL All-League shortstop Amanda Schell made her debut at catcher for the Indians. Amanda replaces Cassie Schultz who is now playing at Assumption.

Rightfielder Alexi Boswell showed her arm in the seventh inning. When sophomore Maggie Noelk hit a liner to right, Alexi picked up the ball on the hop and threw Maggie out at first.

Amesbury starter Rachel Cyr allowed seven hits, one walk and struck out four. She also successfully handled three chances. Rachel, who replaces Carolina Merrill, will do most of the pitching for the Indians.

Georgetown starter Danielle Quercia gave up eleven hits but only five runs despite four errors behind her. Danielle ends a run of eight years of the Erlandson sisters pitching.

Amesbury was 19-3 last season while Georgetown was 14-6. Both teams are now in Division 3.

Jen Nutter

Jen Nutter led Georgetown with two hits.

Amanda Schell, Autumn Kligerman, and Lauren Fedorchak each had two hits for Amesbury.

Tough second inning for Georgetown. Jen Nutter singled and reached second on a wild pitch with no outs. However, Emily Fraser lined to Autumn Kligerman at 3B and the Amesbury junior doubled Jen off of second. As bad luck (for Georgetown) would have it, next batter Hannah Jannell singled to center. Could have been a run??

Amesbury junior Meagan Aponas had a pinch-hit single in the 6th but got caught in a rundown.

The game was originally scheduled for Georgetown but field conditions there weren’t good.

The temperatures were in the 50’s but the gusty winds made that number meaningless when it came to deciding what to wear. Dress for winter until further notice!

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

third baseman Hannah Jannell

Maddie Napoli readies the tag for Jen Nutter

Zoe Fitzgerald

catcher Amanda Schell

shortstop Maddie Napoli

Maddy Crateau

Gianna Faragi tags out Meagan Aponas in the sixth inning

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Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Georgetown

Tagged as Amanda Schell, Danielle Quercia, Jen Nutter, Lucy Scholz, Maddy Crateau, Rachel Cyr, Zoe Fitzgerald

June 1, 2013 · 8:39 pm

Amesbury downs Newburyport 11-1 in Division 2 North softball quarterfinals

Indians celebrate quarterfinals win over Newburyport

Amanda Schell had three hits, three RBI, and scored three runs

(Amesbury) The stars were out and so was the sun screen as (#2 seed) Amesbury defeated neighboring Newburyport, 11-1, in the Division 2 North quarterfinals at toasty Amesbury on Saturday afternoon.

Impressive win for Amesbury (19-2). They will play again on June 5th (Wednesday) in the D2 North semi-finals.

Good news for Amesbury today was that Tewksbury took out #1 seed Danvers. Last year in the tourney, the Falcons ended Amesbury’s season, 2-1, at Danvers.

Five of the Indians were honored by the Cape Ann League a few days ago for their play in the 2013 season. Against the Clippers those selections looked golden. Let me take you through what each of those players did today:

(1) Pitcher Carolina Merrill – Gave up an unearned run in the first and survived a bases loaded jam in the second. The Amesbury senior then retired 16 of the last 17 Clippers she faced.

(2) Shortstop Amanda Schell – Had 3 RBI, 3 hits, and 3 runs scored and flawlessly handled six chances in the field.

(3) First baseman Erin Leary – Had a hit, an RBI, and scored a run.

(4) Catcher Cassie Schultz (D2 CAL POY) – Had three hits and drove in three runs.

Ashley Valme heads for home as Kendra Dow throws from the outfield

(5) Leftfielder Ashley Valme – Had a two-run homer that reached the stadium wall beyond leftfield.

Newburyport had been blown out by Amesbury a month ago, 18-1, enduring a thirteen-run second inning along the way. The Clippers obviously needed to stay away from the big inning against Amesbury.

And they did, until the bottom of the fifth inning. The Indians lead was only 2-1 and NHS starter Vicki Allman had retired eleven straight Amesbury hitters.

The fifth, however, started ominously for Newburyport as errors by 3B Meghan Stanton and pitcher Vicki Allman gave Amesbury baserunners they shouldn’t have had. Five of the next six Indians’ batters had hits, including a double (Amanda Schell), triple (Cassie Schultz), and a homer (Ashley Valme), and the home team had seven runs and the dreaded big inning Newburyport wanted to avoid.

NHS coach Lori Solazzo visits the mound

Up 9-1, Amesbury added two more in the sixth. Amanda Schell tripled in Jenna Bartley and later scored on a wild pitch to close the scoring.

The Clippers had only four hits (Kendra Dow, Lea Tomasz, Casey Barlow, and Meghan Stanton). Carley Siemasko drove in their lone run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning.

Newburyport had the bases loaded with one out in the second inning but Carolina Merrill got a force out and a fly out to end the threat.

Amesbury answered with two runs in the bottom of the first thanks to their first three batters. Cassie Schultz’s double brought in Amanda Schell and Erin Leary.

Weird ending to that Amesbury first. Pitcher Vicki Allman thought she had struck out Autumn Kligerman so she headed off the field and everyone followed including baserunner Lucy Scholz who was on second base. The problem was that it was only two strikes and everyone stopped exiting including baserunner Lucy. Rightfielder Casey Barlow had reached second base during the exiting part and was there to take the throw from catcher Lauren Singer and tag Lucy out for the third out as she scrambled to get back. That’s 2-to-9 for those scoring at home!

Jenna Bartley had two hits, scored two runs, and drove in a run for Amesbury.

AHS coach Chris Perry and NHS coach Lori Solazzo

The coaches-of-the-year for the CAL were on hand for this one – AHS Chris Perry and NHS Lori Solazzo.

Amesbury had a 10-game winning streak stopped by Division 1 Methuen in their last regular season game.

Newbury finished 15-7 winning four of their last six. Their best game of the season may have been the 4-3 victory on Thursday over Marblehead with a nice combination of pitching, fielding, and hitting.

The Clippers will have to replace senior starters Jackie Krusemark, Lea Tomasz, Kendra Dow, and Casey Barlow. Lea and Kendra have been starters for three (?) years.

Autumn Kligerman makes a nice catch to end the game

Third baseman Autumn Kligerman made two key defensive plays for Amesbury.

The ice cream truck had the good business sense to drive into the parking lot adjacent to the field giving off its usual sound effects. I was shocked that a good part of the sizable crowd didn’t temporarily exit to find something cool.

This was Amesbury’s fifth straight win over Newburyport.

Newburyport boxscore

Amesbury boxscore

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

Casey Barlow loses a battle to a tough sun.

Jenna Bartley scores the sisth run for Amesbury on a wild pitch

Jenna Bartley scores the sixth run for Amesbury on a wild pitch

Kendra Dow sets to throw

pre-game prep

parking lot diversion

Cassie Schultz loses the ball in the second inning

Carley Siemasko drops a popup but recovers quickly to tag out Amanda Schell

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Filed under Amesbury, Newburyport

Tagged as Amanda Schell, Ashley Valme, Carolina Merrill, Casey Barlow, Cassie Schultz, Erin Leary, Jackie Krusemark, Kendra Dow, Vicki Allman

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 17, 2013 · 5:46 pm

Amesbury rallies from 5-run deficit to defeat Lynnfield 9-5 in Cape Ann League softball

Fly balls gave Lynnfield trouble in the sixth inning.

Malia Roberto (#7) after her homer in the first inning.

(Amesbury) Lynnfield took a four-run lead into the sixth inning before falling apart in the field and losing to undefeated Amesbury, 9-5, on a sunny Wednesday morning in Cape Ann League softball.

The Pioneers (2-3) had six errors in the final two innings and therein squandered an impressive hitting display in the first two innings.

Lynnfield had four runs after four batters to start the game. Two singles (Rachel Buzzotta and Mandy McQueen), a triple (Jade Palladino), and a home run (Malia Roberto) in the top of the first inning had me wondering what the Pioneers had been served for breakfast!

pitcher Carolina Merrill after the game

But a strikeout by winning pitcher Carolina Merrill enabled the Indians (3-0) to end that first inning with two Pioneers stranded and only four runs given up.

Lynnfield had a run in and two more runners on in the second inning when centerfielder Janine Fatal made a nice running catch to limit the damage to one run.

Surprisingly, the Pioneers had just two hits over the final five innings but their defense held Amesbury to one run through five innings.

Leftfielder Malia Roberto, third baseman Lauren Guerra, and shortstop Rachel Buzzotta made terrific plays in the 4th and 5th innings.

However, that 5-1 Lynnfield lead after 5 ½ innings melted like a Hodgies ice cream cone on a hot day in the bottom of the sixth inning.

That sixth is probably an inning that has been deleted from the Lynnfield scorebook by LHS coach Peter Marinelli. And no one could blame him!

Jade Palladino

Things got so bad that I heard pitcher Jade Palladino yell out in the midst of it, “Let’s get it together out here!”

When you put together a mixture of five hits, four errors, and a wild pitch, bad things will happen. Twelve Indians batters took part in that sixth inning and eight runs scored. More than enough to win this one for Amesbury.

By my (unofficial count) only two of Amesbury’s nine runs were earned. LHS starter Jade Palladino obviously deserved a better fate.

Junior Malia Roberto had a 3-hit morning including a 2-run homer to right-center in the first inning.

Senior Mandy McQueen had two singles and scored a run for Lynnfield.

Jade Palladino tripled to straightaway center in the first inning driving in two Pioneers runs.

Amanda Schell

Junior Amanda Schell had two hits and scored two runs for the victorious Indians.

Autumn Kligerman made a nice play on a line drive to go along with scoring a run, getting a hit, and driving in a run.

A key in the Amesbury win was the way senior Carolina Merrill took charge in the last five innings. When she started mixing in a very good changeup with her fast pitches, LHS batters lost some of their early-inning aggressiveness at the plate.

I suspect that the LHS outfield defense will be getting some serious practice time in the near future. Two drops on routine fly balls were a big part of the Pioneers demise in that fateful sixth inning.

Both teams return to action on Friday. Lynnfield hosts Malden (10:30AM) while Amesbury visits Pentucket (10AM).

Amesbury boxscore

Lynnfield boxscore

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