Tag Archives: Caity Baker

May 28, 2017 · 3:02 pm

Amesbury loses 3rd straight with 9-2 loss to non-league Concord-Carlisle to end regular season

Concord-Carlisle catcher Virgina Ryan had a huge day for the Patriots with two HRs and 6 RBI

Emma DiPietro tagged out at 2B by Emma Della Volpe

(Amesbury MA) Three days don’t make a season but the last three have been a disaster for the Amesbury Indians softball team.

I checked in (late) to the final of the three games this morning and saw Amesbury lose, 9-2, to Concord-Carlisle.

Trusting Mascores to have the right starting time cost me. They said 11AM but the game started at 10AM.

Looking for a game story? This wouldn’t be your place but I do have pictures and some general commentary.

The loss today was the Indians (14-6) third loss in three days. Lest you think that Division 3 Amesbury has run out of steam late in the season, you need to check the caliber of the final trio: Andover (Division 1), Whittier (17-2), and Concord-Carlisle (Division 1, 17-2).

Alyssa Attonito avoids Maddie Napoli’s tag at 2B

The season now moves into the “one-loss-and-done” tournament section.

Nicole Small went the distance for the Patriots giving up six hits and striking out five Indians.

Virgina Ryan finishes her first inside-the-park homer in today’s game

Catcher Virginia Ryan was the hitting hero for the visitors. I saw her hit two home runs. She ended up with six RBI.

On one of Virginia’s at-bats, she had a loud foul down the leftfield line before, several pitches later, lining a 3-run homer to right over Brigid Ramsden’s head.

In the Amesbury fifth, Sage Dodier singled and was replaced by pinchrunner Abby Aponas. That move paid off as the speedy Abby scored on Alli Napoli’s double.

Junior Caity Baker had a solo homer to left center for the home team in the sixth.

Perry Field is fenceless therefore to hit a homer requires a pretty good belt. CC had their outfielders playing shallow which explained Caity’s home run. Amesbury, however, was positioned much deeper so the two Virgina Ryan HRs were extremely well hit and would have left most fenced fields.

SS Maddie Napoli makes a great stop to force Maeve Devlin at 3B

Amesbury’s three seniors (Mikayla Porcaro, Brigid Ramsden, Maddie Napoli) were honored before the game……I am told. Mikayla will be at Salem State next year. Maddie is going to UMass Amherst.

Shortstop/Pitcher Emma Della Volpe will attend Tufts this fall.

The tournament placements come out on Tuesday. Those final three losses could cost Amesbury a home game. However, facing strong non-league opponents is a great way to get ready for good teams ahead in the tournament.

Any plans the Indians have to get to the state semifinals in Division 3 will certainly mean getting by either 17-2 Whittier and/or perennial powerhouse St. Mary’s. Tough road for sure but successes in soccer and basketball this school year might make a difference in the big games ahead.

Concord-Carlisle is a tourney regular. No state titles yet for the softball team but they’ve been close a number of times. The Patriots have plenty of pitching as well as power. Defensively, they are well-schooled. I never saw a throw anywhere that wasn’t backed up.

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

Caity Baker

Caity Baker finishes trip around the bases

Ball falls in front of LF Caitlyn Lewis

AHS seniors honored

2B Jill Chelton

Emma DiPietro and Emma Della Volpe

Emma DiPietro tries for 3B

young fan

CF Catherine Kingman

Alli Napoli

Abby Aponas scores the first AHS run

Virginia Ryan slides home safely

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Filed under Amesbury, Concord-Carlisle

Tagged as Alyssa Attonito, Caity Baker, Maddie Napoli, Nicole Small, Virginia Ryan

June 5, 2016 · 8:47 pm

Amesbury advances to D3 North quarterfinals with convincing 9-2 win over Mount Alvernia

Adrienne Harris greeted by teammates at home after a 2-run homer in the third inning

Senior 2B Lauren Fedorchak leaps for a throw as Abby Duggan slides.

(Amesbury MA) The Amesbury Indians took down Mt. Alvernia, 9-2, on a drizzly Sunday afternoon to reach the quarterfinals in D3 North softball.

The Mustangs (13-7) came in with three straight shutouts, including a 12-0 win over Cathedral in the D3 North preliminary round.

That trio of consecutive shutouts ended quickly as sophomore Caity Baker (three hits/two rbi) delivered a two-run homer to left in the first inning at fence-less Perry Field.

The Indians (17-4) were back with another two-run dinger (Adrienne Harris) in the third inning after gathering three runs in the second inning. Adrienne’s shot also sailed over the leftfielder’s head and rolled forever.

Both AHS homers would probably have cleared fences.

Sophomore Caity Baker – three hits including a 2-run homer in the first inning

The Mustangs had eight hits off AHS pitcher Haley Catania but only in the one-run seventh did they put more than one hit together. And also, only one of those hits (triple) was for extra bases.

On the other hand, Amesbury had five extra-base hits and multiple hits in the first four innings and scored in each of those innings.

This afternoon featured an Amesbury defense that was error free. Second baseman Lauren Fedorchak started 4-3 double plays in the sixth and seventh innings.

Down 8-1 in the fifth inning, the Mustangs wrecked a promising inning by running into two outs on the base paths. Abby Duggan broke for third on a grounder back to Haley Catania. Haley looked toward first and then alertly tossed instead to 3B Adrienne Harris who had Abby by a lot. Later in the inning Maeve Moynihan was tagged out by shortstop Maddie Napoli trying to steal.

Shortstop Maddie Napoli lunges and tags out Maeve Maynihan

Shortstop Maddie Napoli lunges and tags out Maeve Moynihan

That tag-out by Maddie on the attempted steal was quite remarkable. The Player-of-the-Year in the Cape Ann League Kinney Division appeared to intercept the throw from catcher Caity Baker to 2B Lauren Fedorchak and then lunged to apply the tag. Very athletic move!

Five wild pitches allowed Amesbury to put up three runs in the second inning. A wild pitch put Adrienne Harris in scoring position after a walk and she scored on Haley Catania’s RBI double. A wild pitch moved Haley to third and she scored when Maddie Napoli singled to center. Maddie got to third on wild pitches and later scored the third run of the inning after yet another backstop ball.

Abby Duggan gets past pitcher Haley Catania scoring the first MA run

Abby Duggan created the first Mount Alvernia run in the third inning. The speedy junior singled, stole second, and reached third on a fielder’s choice. She scampered home on a wild pitch.

Amesbury added solo runs in the 4^th and 6^th.

In the fourth, a hustle double by Caity Baker (head-first slide into second) produced a run after Megan Reid followed with a triple to right center. The Mustangs’ centerfielder (Kaley Moran) nearly made a highlight-reel snag of Megan’s shot. AHS could have had another run but Megan chose to stay at third when a two-out infield popup was dropped by the pitcher.

Megan Reid jars the ball loose at second

In the sixth, alert base-running paid off for the Indians. After Caity Baker singled and Megan Reid walked, Caity raced to third after a pickoff toss to first. Later, Megan stole second by sliding in and dislodging the tag attempt enough that Caity had time to slip home with the 9^th AHS run.

Amesbury’s 9-1 lead going into the top of the seventh got a bit tenuous after a triple (Una Gavin) and a one-out RBI by freshman Alyssa Newton. The next two batters reached, loading the bases with one out. But senior Lauren Fedorchak started her second 4-3 double play to end the game.

Maeve Moynihan, Abby Duggan, and Una Gavin each had two hits for MA.

Centerfielder Kaley Moran chases a fly ball

Mount Alvernia was 14-4 in 2015 and reached the D3 North quarterfinals.

I arrived late to the game after expecting it might be called off by the rainy forecast. Some games were called off. However, with the Mustangs traveling from Newton any postponement needed to happen hours earlier.

The Indians will take on #4 seed St. Mary’s on Wednesday night at Breed Middle School in Lynn in the D3 North quarterfinals. The #5 seed Indians may regret those two losses to powerhouse D1 Concord-Carlisle this season because they might have avoided St. Mary’s this early and their second game in the tournament probably would have been in Amesbury. But playing tough competition such as CC during the season can help prepare a team for the tourney.

I was at Martin Field in Lowell two years ago when Amesbury lost to the Spartans, 8-5, in the D3 North finals. On that afternoon AHS went down 7-0 early but made things close at the end. This time around Collen Newbury will not be coaching St. Mary’s.

Augie, Coach Waters’ dog, did not attend today’s game but his name came up between innings in the fifth inning.

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

Shortstop Maddie Napoli

Pitcher Haley Catania

Lauren Fedorchak starts a game-ending double play

Brooke Dougherty

Vicky Valdez

Maddie Napoli scores the 5th AHS run on a wild pitch

3B Adrienne Harris throws to first

Caity Baker slides in with a hustle double as Maggie Doldt takes the throw

Lauren Fedorchak tags before throwing to first for a double play in the 6th inning

Zoe Sweeney

Abby Duggan thrown out at third in the top of the fifth

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Filed under Amesbury, Mount Alvernia

Tagged as Abby Duggan, Adrienne Harris, Caity Baker, Hayley Catania, Maddie Napoli, Mount Alvernia

May 12, 2016 · 8:04 pm

Hayley Catania holds Newburyport to one hit in 6-0 shutout

Hayley Catania struck out nine Clippers and allowed only one hit

Hayley Catania prepares to throw to first

(Amesbury MA) Sophomore Hayley Catania tossed a one-hitter and recorded nine strikeouts as Amesbury defeated Newburyport, 6-0, on a sunny Thursday afternoon.

Hayley retired the last ten Clippers she faced and also drove in a run in Amesbury’s two-run first with a sacrifice fly.

Sophomore Caity Baker had the big hit for the Indians when she homered to left center in the sixth inning. No fence at Amesbury Middle School so Caity’s line drive rolled a long way. There was no play at the plate.

Newburyport’s only hit came in the fourth when freshman Olivia Salvatore lined to right.

Freshman Olivia Salvatore had Newburyport’s only hit

In much of the game the Clippers struggled to make contact. It was a game in which most of the pitches taken by Newburyport batters were usually strikes and most of the pitches swung at were missed.

It has been a rough last eight days for Newburyport. The Clippers went into the eight days 6-5 but after today’s loss are now 6-9.

Amesbury (10-2) has won six straight and have qualified for the post-season tournament.

The Clippers did get Paige Gouldthorpe to third base in the first inning but a Caitlin Clarke groundout ended the threat.

The Indians took the lead (for good) in the first inning. Maddie Napoli reached on a bunt and then stole second on a very close play. Senior Zoe Fitzgerald singled to right center scoring Maddie. Zoe took second on the throw in from the outfield and reached third on a Stephanie Gleason wild pitch. Hayley’s sacrifice fly delivered Zoe.

Hannaih Burdick had an RBI in the third inning

Amesbury added two more runs in the second inning. Caity Baker singled down the third base line and reached second on a passed ball and third on Adrienne Harris’ sacrifice bunt. She scored on Hannaih Burdick’s infield out.

Lauren Fedorchak continued the inning with a bunt single and then stole second base. Maddie Napoli drove Lauren home with Amesbury’s fourth run.

Paige Gouldthorpe reached second with two outs in the third but Hayley was able to catch freshman Annie Siemasko looking to end the inning.

In the Amesbury third Emily Robinson got caught rounding second and was tagged out after a brief rundown by third baseman Colleen Twomey.

In the Amesbury fifth, with Hayley on second, centerfielder Paige Gouldthorpe made a nice catch of Emily Robinson’s line drive to end the inning.

Caity Baker (13) celebrates her sixth-inning home run

An infield single by senior Megan Reid was followed by Caity Baker’s home run in the sixth inning.

Maddie Napoli, Megan Reid, and Caity Baker each had two hits for Amesbury.

Former Clippers’ softball player Jackie Colby was honored before the game.

This game was played in just over an hour. Both pitchers (Hayley Catania/Stephanie Gleason) threw strikes. There was only one walk between them.

Autumn Kligerman was in the house. What a season she had last year for the Indians.

Amesbury box

Newburyport box

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

Paige Gouldthorpe played well in centerfield

Chloe Kramer

Adrienne Harris

Bridget Ramsden

Jackie Colby

Lauren Fedorchak puts the tag on Colleen Twomey

Emily Robinson caught in a rundown

Stephanie Gleason

Freshman Annie Siemasko awaits the throw as Maddie Napoli starts to slide

Emily Dobson

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Filed under Amesbury, Newburyport

Tagged as Caity Baker, Hayley Catania, Maddie Napoli, Olivia Salvatore

April 30, 2016 · 7:13 pm

Shaky start dooms Amesbury 7-5 versus nonleague Concord-Carlisle

Amesbury pitcher Hayley Catania looks for the ball at home in a cloud of Jill Chelton dust

2B Lauren Fedorchak looks for the handle in the first inning

(Amesbury MA) Amesbury had three errors and a wild pitch in the first inning and never recovered from the consequences losing, 7-5, to nonleague Concord-Carlisle on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Giving up four unearned runs early to a very good Division One opponent was asking for trouble.

Division Two Amesbury (6-2), despite the defensive start, came out swinging early and often and had home runs (Zoe Fitzgerald, Megan Reid) in the first two innings off CC starter Haley McMorrow.

Zoe Fitzgerald congratulated after first inning homer

The Patriots (6-3) allowed Amesbury to close to 6-5 in the fifth when they had a defensive nightmare of an inning similar to Amesbury’s in the first. Haley McMorrow, however, was able to end the 5^th by getting Maddie Napoli to fly to right with the tying run on second.

Sophomore Catherine Kingman enabled CC to gain two-run separation in the next inning by whacking a home run over CF Megan Reid’s head. Reliever Nicole Small then came on for Concord-Carlisle and, after giving up a single to the first batter she faced (Caity Baker), retired the last six Indians to seal the deal for the visitors.

Catcher Virginia Ryan puts an end to the AHS second

Good crowd on hand and why not with sunshine and temperatures in the 60’s.

Without any outfield fences there was nothing cheap about today’s home runs by Zoe Fitzgerald, Megan Reid, and Catherine Kingman.

Both teams had three errors and both teams bunched them into one inning.

In the Concord-Carlisle first, Emma Della-Volpe reached on 2B Lauren Fedorchak’s bobble. Catherine Kingman flied out and then Scout Boynton got first on 1B Zoe Fitzgerald’s drop. So instead of three outs, CC had a run in and a runner on base. Another chance for an out (fly ball to LF Emily Robinson) was dropped and two more runs crossed. A wild pitch by AHS starter Haley Catania allowed CC’s 4^th run. (Note picture above.)

Virginia Ryan slides the ball and glove loose from Amesbury catcher Caity Baker in the Concord-Carlisle first

There was a point in the first inning when the Patriots had three runs in and AHS catcher Caity Baker in serious pain at home plate after trying to tag out Virginia Ryan.

Things did get better for the home team as they came out swinging with two homers in the next two innings and their defense got better.

AHS starter Hayley Catania allowed just five hits but had eight walks. Those walks added base runners and helped CC to get single runs in the 3^rd and 4^th innings.

Ball goes through shortstop Scout Boynton in the 3-run Amesbury 4th inning

Trailing 6-2, the Indians cashed three runs in their fourth all unearned. The elusive second out was dropped first by LF Audrey McKennitt and later went through the legs of shortstop Scout Boynton. The outfield drop produced a run. Then with two outs, Lauren Fedorchak’s high infield popup got into the sun for SS Scout Boynton and deflected off her glove for two more Indians runs.

Memorable sequences:

In the fourth inning Scout Boynton was on third with one out. On a line drive to right she did not tag up and try to score. The next batter made the third out.
In the second inning, after Megan Reid had homered, Caity Baker tripled. Good relay by CC forced third base coach Jim Hounam to hold Caity at third. Starter Haley McMorrow then retired three straight and Amesbury was only able to get one run out of a very promising inning.

Emma Della-Volpe

Concord-Carlisle is from the Dual County League and have been a powerhouse in that league the same way Amesbury has been in the Cape Ann League.

There will be a rematch between the two teams on Saturday May 21^st at Concord.

Emma Della-Volpe was the co-MVP of the Dual County League in 2015. She was 8-1 with 105 K’s in 97 innings pitched. Amesbury can be thankful that CC’s four games in six days kept her away from them this time.

Amesbury will be facing Lynnfield on the road on Monday afternoon. The Patriots visit Bedford tomorrow afternoon.

Modern equipment: You watch football and see armbands. Now softball teams have them. They have numbers on them and coaches use them for offensive and defensive situations. So a coach yells out a number and all the players look at their armbands. It will be very hard to miss a signal under this arrangement!

One coach in my (very) distant past would yell things like, “This is your existential moment.” He taught philosophy.

It was good to see Augie the Amesbury mascot on hand.

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