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 4th 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.
(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
McClelland Miscellanea 
