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.)
Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Masconomet, Newburyport, North Reading, Pentucket, Rockport, Triton
Carley Siemasko gets congratulated by teammates after homer in the third inning
Vicki Allman struck out nine Royals
(Newburyport MA) Newburyport put together a nice mix of pitching, hitting, and fielding to defeat Georgetown, 10-3, on Wednesday afternoon at cold and breezy Cashman Park in Cape Ann League softball.
The Clippers (6-4) seemed fully recovered from an excruciating 5-4 loss to Manchester-Essex on Monday.
NHS pitcher Vicki Allman retired the first ten Royals she faced and ended up with nine strikeouts. The senior walked one batter and allowed only one extra base hit.
Carley Siemasko led a 13-hit Newburyport attack with three hits including a home run and five RBI. Junior Ashley Hodge also had three hits for the Clippers. This was a game in which Newburyport didn’t have any walks. Maybe they didn’t want to stand in the cold any longer than they had to??
The Clippers defense also had a good game with only one error (shortstop Morgan Johnson).
Danielle Quercia
Georgetown pitcher Danielle Quercia kept Newburyport off the scoreboard in the first inning by striking out Stephanie Gleason with two runners in scoring position.
The Clippers broke through in the second inning. A throwing error by GHS rightfielder Maggie Noelk enabled Lauren Singer to score. Later, Jade Carpenter’s fielder’s choice brought Vicki Allman across.
The visitors unraveled defensively in the third inning with three errors. Those miscues combined with five Newburyport hits paved the way for eleven Clippers to bat and six of them to score.
This was the inning Carley Siemasko homered. The ball went over leftfielder Gianna Faragi’s head and rolled to the fence. Later in the same inning, Carley singled to drive in two more runs.
Molly Kelley was called out for interfering with shortstop Kylie Hayward in that six-run third.
The Royals (2-6) cut into their 8-0 deficit with runs in the 4th and 5th.
Carley Siemasko (5 RBI)
In the 4th, Jen Nutter reached third after a bunt single, fielder’s choice, and a stolen base. Freshman Kylie Hayward’s bunt single delivered Jen with the first G’Town run.
In the 5th, two singles (Danielle Quercia and Hannah Jannell) were followed by Morgan Johnson’s error on a hard-hit grounder by Maddy Crateau that Danielle came home on.
Carley Siemasko had two more RBI in the Newburyport fifth. Both Ashley Hodge and Amy Sullivan singled and moved into scoring position. Carley did the rest.
Georgetown ran into outs in the 6th and 7th innings. Samantha Newbury was picked off first after Molly Kelley caught a popup in the sixth. In the seventh, Shelby O’Brien speared a line drive at third and caught Hannah Jannell off of first before she could get back.
Kaylie Sapienza triples
The Royals, despite the double play, did get a run in the seventh inning. Junior Kaylie Sapienza opened with a long triple to left. Hannah Jannell then placed a full-swing blooper in between the pitcher and the second baseman getting Kaylie home.
Injuries to Dana Edwards, Emily Fraser, and Meghan Stanton kept them out of today’s game.
Georgetown is scheduled to be at Pentucket tomorrow. Newburyport will be at Rockport on Friday.
The Royals have lost five of their last six games.
Danielle Quercia and Hannah Jannell had two hits for Georgetown. The Royals ended up with eight hits.
Vicki Allman and Ashley Hodge each scored two runs.
Jen Nutter made a nice catch in centerfield in the first inning to prevent a run from scoring.
Weather? After being at Newburyport High School on Tuesday, today at Cashman wasn’t that bad. It certainly helped that today’s softball game lasted 75 minutes while the baseball game on Tuesday was more than twice as long.
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
shortstop Morgan Johnson
Ashley Hodge (3 hits)
Amy Sullivan slides home
Jen Nutter eyes a popup
Maddy Crateau
Shelby OBrien sets to throw to first
Filed under Cape Ann League, Georgetown, Newburyport
Pentucket pitchers walked five in the Clippers 5-run second inning
Vicki Allman struck out six batters including two in the seventh inning
(Newburyport MA) Newburyport caught two Pentucket runners at home in their, 7-4, win over Pentucket on Friday morning in Cape Ann League softball.
The Clippers (5-3) turned a five-walk second inning into five runs and held off the Sachems (4-3) the rest of the way thanks to clutch defensive plays and the pitching of Vicki Allman.
Pentucket was coming off a tough loss yesterday to North Andover as a 2-0 lead evaporated because of a 10-run sixth inning nightmare. Today’s loss may have been just as painful.
After Newburyport loaded the bases in the second inning with one out, PHS starter Carley Desjardins walked Morgan Johnston, Ashley Hodge, and Amy Sullivan to force across three runs. Coach John Walsh brought in sophomore Sarah Stewart and she walked Carley Siemasko to send in a 4th NHS run. The consecutive walks ended as Shelby O’Brien flied to right bringing Ashley Hodge in with the 5th Clippers’ tally.
The Sachems had the makings of a big inning in the 4th when third baseman Shelby O’Brien’s error was surrounded by two singles (Maddy Ammon & MK Corrado). After NHS pitcher Vicki Allman K’d Carley Desjardins, Sydney Snow’s grounder tallied Maddy Ammon with Pentucket’s first run. On Sydney’s grounder, second baseman Molly Kelley opted to try for a play at the plate but Maddy beat the throw. This left the bases still loaded with only one out. Here’s where Vicki Allman’s clutch pitching kicked in. She got Nikki O’Rourke to popup and K’d Jenny Nelson to limit the damage to one run.
Meghan Stanton flips to second baseman Molly Kelley
The Sachems were right back threatening for more runs in the 5th inning. A bad throw by shortstop Meghan Stanton and an infield out put pinchrunner Amy McDonnell on third with one out. Newburyport first baseman Carley Siemasko followed with two huge defensive plays. Maddy Ammon hit a grounder to third that Shelby O’Brien fielded okay but her throw reached first on several hops. Huge play Number One: Carley scooped out the low throw to get the out at first. The runner at third (Amy McDonnell) opted to try for home. Huge play Number Two: Carley fired a strike home to catcher Lauren Singer to nab Amy on a very close play. The unfortunate bottom line for Pentucket was that they came away with no runs.
That wasn’t the case with Newburyport as they added two runs to their 5-1 lead in the bottom of that same fifth inning. Meghan Stanton singled and took second on a wild pitch. Vicki Stanton singled to left scoring Meghan and got all the way to third base when leftfielder Jenny Nelson bobbled the ball. Jade Carpenter ran for Vicki and raced home on Morgan Johnston’s infield grounder.
Tyler Feeney circles the bases as leftfielder Amy Sullivan throws in to Meghan Stanton
Now down 7-1 after five innings, the Sachems had their most productive inning of the game as they pushed three runs home. They could have had more…..but more on that later. Junior Tyler Feeney led off by crushing a ball over leftfielder Amy Sullivan’s head and quickly circling the bases for a homer.
Pentucket was then able to get MK Corrado (3 hits) and pinchrunner Corie Lucier to second and third with one out. Nikki O’Rourke followed with a hard-shot single to centerfield that scored two runs and went by centerfielder Ashley Hodge to the fence. Ashley quickly retrieved the ball as Nikki circled the bases. Ashley relayed to shortstop Meghan Stanton who threw a strike home to nab Nikki in a second close play at the plate. This was the second time in the game that Newburyport turned an error into an out at the plate. How often does that happen?
Carley Siemasko catches the final out
The Sachems threatened again in the seventh but came away empty. Maddie Binding led off with a triple over Ashley Hodge’s head in CF. With batters 2-3-4 coming up it wasn’t hard to envision a big inning. Vicki Allman, however, struck out both Kassidy Kennefick and Maddy Ammon looking and then got Tyler Feeney (home run in previous inning) to pop out to Carley Siemasko.
Clearly a tough defeat for Pentucket. They have been a 5-14 team the last two seasons but certainly look this time around to be much better than that. They surely need to be a little more patient on the bases!
Maddy Ammon started a double play
Newburyport hit into a double play in the first. Sachems’ second baseman Maddy Ammon made a nice catch on an infield popup to short center and doubled baserunner Amy Sullivan off of first.
Both teams will be back in action on Monday at home. Pentucket hosts Lynnfield while Manchester-Essex comes to Cashman Park.
I saw at least one girl on the Pentucket side visibly upset as the game turned Newburyport’s way. I trust that someone will remind the young lady that no one person ever loses a team game.
I learned (indirectly) at today’s game that Vicki Allman will be attending Regis College (Weston MA) next year.
Weather? It went from sunny to cloudy but with little wind. I wonder if yesterday’s wind had an influence on the Pentucket/North Andover game.
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Meg Hubbard
Sarah Stewart
Meghan Stanton slides in with the 6th Newburyport run
Maddie Binding (2 hits)
Carley Desjardins
Amy Sullivan puts down a bunt
Shortstop Kassidy Kennefick dives for a grounder
Filed under Cape Ann League, Newburyport, Pentucket
Newburyport celebrates 4-3 win over Marblehead in D2 North tourney opener
(Marblehead) Newburyport reached the Sweet Sixteen of Division 2 North with a tight, 4-3, win over Marblehead on a very hot Thursday afternoon.
The Clippers (15-6) now gets a third try against Amesbury. This time in the D2 North quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon (3PM) at Amesbury Middle School.
Vicki Allman tossed a three-hitter and had two hits herself
Vicki Allman pitched a complete-game, three-hitter for Newburyport in the do-or-die atmosphere of tournament play.
The #10-seed Clippers put four of their nine hits together in the top of the sixth inning to collect two runs and get the lead (4-3) for good.
Marblehead (#7 seed) threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Pinchrunner McKenzie Joyce stole second with two outs but Vicki Allman got Emily Promise to foul out to first baseman Carley Siemasko to end the threat and Marblehead’s season.
Newburyport jumped in front with a run in the first. Lauren Singer drilled a triple off Magician past leftfielder Allison Kapoll. Lea Tomasz singled through the hole between short and third driving Lauren home.
Marblehead (14-7) didn’t get a hit until the fourth inning but that didn’t stop them from getting two runs in the first off a very shaky Newburyport defense in their half of the first inning. A two-out bobble by shortstop Kendra Dow extended the inning. Two batters later, leftfielder Ashley Hodge dropped a fly ball allowing both Anistasia Vainis and McKenzie Joyce to score.
Things got a little weird in the Clippers half of the second inning. Newburyport loaded the bases (a Sarah Bornstein error was in the mix) with one out. Kendra Dow struck out but catcher Emily Messinger dropped the ball and Shelby O’Brien scored from third (barely…….Why didn’t she slide?) to tie the score at 2-2.
Lea Tomasz eyes a line drive
Two more Clippers errors in the Marblehead fourth put the Magicians up by a run. Centerfielder Lea Tomasz tried for a two-out shoestring catch but Rachel McKay’s line drive got past her enabling Rachel to reach second. Third baseman Meghan Stanton then threw away Alexa Brown’s grounder allowing Rachel to cross with Marblehead’s third run.
That run started to look like a game-winner after the Clippers went quietly in the fifth and then made an out to start the sixth.
However, Newburyport then had consecutive singles by Casey Barlow, Carley Siemasko, and Shelby O’Brien to tie the score. Shelby sent a 2-strike pitch to center for the RBI. Another single (Vicki Allman) loaded the bases with one out. Jackie Krusemark’s fly ball delivered Carley Siemasko from third (barely……Why didn’t she slide?) with what turned out to be the winning run.
Carley Siemasko tags up as leftfielder Allison Kapoll prepares to throw to the plate
Carley Siemasko scores
Lea Tomasz, Shelby O’Brien, and Vicki Allman had two hits each for Newburyport.
Rachel McKay had two hits for Marblehead.
Michaela Leblanc was ruled out for interference leading off the fourth inning. Catcher Lauren Singer’s throw on a bunt hit Michaela in fair territory.
Lea Tomasz was ruled out on an appeal play for leaving third base too early on a one-out fly ball in the third inning.
Sarah Bornstein
Third baseman Sarah Bornstein made a nice play on a line drive in the fourth inning for Marblehead.
The game was delayed in the fifth inning as Lauren Singer was tended to.
There was a breeze but the heat (high 80’s) was oppressive.
The playing field at the middle school was in excellent condition.
Yes, there were two Newburyport infield errors, but they also handled eleven other infield chances flawlessly.
Emily Messinger popped out to first baseman Carley Siemasko all three times she batted.
A big play in this game was in the final inning. After Rachel McKay singled, Alexa Brown hit a grounder past pitcher Vicki Allman. It looked like Newburyport trouble but shortstop Kendra Dow reacted quickly and got a force play at second.
Third baseman Meghan Stanton throws a strike to first
Two years ago I saw Marblehead eliminate Triton (at Triton) 7-1. Michaela Leblanc pitched that day. Junior Michaela holds the Marblehead school record with 32 wins.
A very good North Reading team went out again in the opening round (5-2 to Reading). Last year the Hornets were the #1 seed and lost to Saugus after having the Sachems down, 5-1, in the last inning. Ouch!
On May 1st, Amesbury put an 18-0 mercy rule game on Newburyport. The Indians had an 18-batter, 13-run second inning in that one. Vicki Allman was hit hard (18 hits) and the Clippers defense was weak. However, the pressure could be on the #2 seed Indians playing at home. The game is sure to be interesting.
(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Rachel McKay had two hits and scored a run
Carley Siemasko, McKenzie Joyce and Coach John Gold in the 7th inning
Casey Barlow
Kendra Dow
Shelby OBrien
Olivia Vener
Lauren Singer tripled in the first
Michaela Leblanc throws out Lauren Singer at first
Kendra Dow snags a liner in the third inning
Filed under Marblehead, Newburyport
Casey Barlow (3 hits) caught in a rundown.
Catcher Julia Hartman waits for the throw as Kendra Dow tries to score.
(Salisbury) The Newburyport Clippers scored the last seven runs of the game and defeated Triton, 9-5, at Lions Park on a nice Monday night.
The Clippers (12-5/9-4) have now won six of their last seven games and are still in the hunt for the Cape Ann League Division 1 title. They trail D1 leader North Reading (10-3) by a game and are looking for help from Masconomet which hosts the Hornets on Wednesday.
This was yet another tough loss for Triton (7-9). The Vikings have now dropped five straight after being a promising 7-4 not too long ago. Fielding miscues were the primary culprit in the loss to Newburyport.
Seniors Kelsey Trudel and Cory Simons converge on a popup
Triton closes its season tomorrow at Manchester-Essex. The Hornets (1-13) won their opening game and haven’t won since. One of the teams tomorrow will be ending a losing streak.
The keys to the Newburyport win were clutch hitting and errorless defense. The Clippers rapped fourteen hits off of Triton’s Mara Spears and only left five baserunners.
The infield defense of Kendra Dow (SS), Jackie Krusemark (2B), and Carley Siemasko (1B) was flawless.
Kendra’s best play and was a catch of Kylie Gilroy’s hard-hit liner that put an end to Triton’s three-run third inning.
Carley took care of two potential doubles down the first baseline off the bats of Mara Spears and Kelsey Trudel.
The solid Clippers defense enabled pitcher Vicki Allman to retire eleven of the last twelve batters she faced, including nine straight. The only Vikings baserunner over the final four frames was Cory Simons.
And while the Vikings were held scoreless over the final four innings the Clippers pounded two doubles (Lauren Singer and Casey Barlow) and eight singles collecting seven runs over the final four innings.
Rylee Culverwell injured on this play
It certainly hurt the Vikings to have #3 hitter Rylee Culverwell leave the game injured in the third inning. Freshman Rylee’s bat was missed the rest of the way as well as her excellent defense at third.
Of the seven, last-four-innings, runs for Newburyport only five of them were earned. A bobble at third (Casey Ross) and a single that turned into a 2-base error (CF Ashley Shute) allowed the two extra runs.
Newburyport opened the scoring in the second inning. Ashley Hodge and Vicki Allman singled and both Ashley and Vicki’s pinch-runner (Molly Stanton) came home on 2B Kylie Gilroy’s two-out error.
Triton put together a single (Kylie Gilroy), double (Cara Orlandi), and a single (Julia Hartman) to tie the score, 2-2, in the second.
Rachel McCarthy caught stealing
The Vikings jumped ahead by three (5-2) in the third. A double (Cory Simons) and three singles (Rylee Culverwell, Kelsey Trudel, Lily Anderson) were keys. However, the promising inning ended when pinch runner Rachel McCarthy was tossed out trying to steal and the next batter’s line drive was taken by NHS shortstop Kendra Dow. The Viking would have only one hit the rest of the way but at the moment they had a 5-2 lead after three innings.
Newburyport pulled ahead for good with four runs in the fourth. A big hit was Kendra Dow’s two-out double to the CF fence driving in a pair.
In the fifth, Casey Barlow (3 hits) hit a rope to center and reached third with no outs when the ball skipped by CF Ashley Shute. Ashley Hodge’s sacrifice fly delivered Casey with the Clippers seventh run.
Lea Tomasz
Newburyport added to its 7-5 lead with two more runs in the seventh inning. The Clippers went double (Lauren Singer), single (Lea Tomasz), double (Casey Barlow), and single (Ashley Hodge) to get the pair of runs.
Lily Anderson made an excellent play on a foul popup in the fourth inning.
Rylee Culverwell had her right arm in a sling afterwards. I believe that her injury occurred when she slid home scoring Triton’s fourth run.
Casey Barlow paced the Newburyport hitters with three. Lauren Singer, Lea Tomasz, Ashley Hodge, and Vicki Allman had two hits each.
Senior Cory Simons led Triton with two hits. Teammate Kelsey Trudel scored two runs for the Vikings. Both of these quality players will be suiting up for their last game tomorrow.
Lions Park was a nice setting. The infield was smooth and the outfield was green. One of the bank of lights went out in the seventh inning but most of the fast-paced game was played in daylight.
Triton is a team that certainly has had some highs and lows. They are the only team to beat Amesbury (4-3). They defeated Newburyport the last time they met. But then there’s the loss early in the season to 2-12 Ipswich.
(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Carley Siemasko and Cory Simons
Ashley Hodge settles under a flyball
pitcher Mara Spears
Pitcher Vicki Allman
Cara Orlandi
shortstop Kelsey Trudel
Casey Ross
Filed under Newburyport, Triton
Catcher Shelby OBrien gets Hannah Lorden at the plate.
Meghan Stanton gets home on a wild pitch
(Newburyport) That’s three straight for the Clippers.
Newburyport (8-4) rallied from a two-run deficit to defeat Rockport, 9-3, on a dry-wet-dry Wednesday afternoon at Cashman Park.
The Vikings (4-7) put two runs up in the first inning but had a quiet final six inning thanks to the pitching of Vicki Allman.
Vicki allowed six hits in the game but more important was that she didn‘t walk anyone. The visitors had few scoring opportunities.
On the other hand, Newburyport had baserunners in all six innings thanks to nine hits and seven walks.
The Clippers tied the score in the third inning and then added three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good.
Kendra Dow
Carley Siemasko
Kendra Dow (3 hits/3 runs/2 RBI) and Carley Siemasko (3 hits/1 run/1 RBI) were the hitting stars for NHS.
Hannah Lorden paced Rockport with a triple, single and run scored.
In the opening inning, Kayla Parisi’s fielder’s choice drove in Meghan Tupper. Later, Mollie Watson came home on Emily Fauld’s RBI single up the middle.
The Clippers had two runners on in both the first and second but came away empty. Pitcher Hannah Lorden ended the Clippers scoring chance in the second by spearing Molly Kelley‘s liner up the middle.
Newburyport tied the game in the third inning. A throwing error at the end of a single (Kendra Dow) and a double (Meghan Stanton) produced a run. Meghan Stanton would later add a second run when she came home on a wild pitch.
Molly Kelley steps on home as catcher Mollie Watson chases a bad throw
The Clippers broke the game open in the fourth inning with some “exciting“ base running. A walk by Shelby O’Brien and a single by Molly Kelley gave NHS two baserunners with one out. Next batter Kendra Dow put a high, outside pitch on a line down the first baseline. Kendra is very fast and the other two baserunners…….not so much. By the time Kendra rounded third she and the other two baserunners were all between third and home. A good throw from the outfield to home would have nailed at least two of them I suspect. But on this day, the throw was up the third baseline and all three runners crossed home safely.
The Vikings cut a run off that 5-2 deficit in the fifth. Hannah Lorden tripled over Ashley Casellini’s head in left and when the throw back in was off target the Vikings had a run.
Meghan Tupper slides in with the first Rockport run
The Clippers got that run back in the bottom of the fifth. Carley Siemasko singled, advanced to third via a walk and a wild pitch and came home on Jackie Krusemark’s sacrifice fly.
Newburyport added to their 6-3 lead with three more runs in the sixth inning. They loaded the bases with no outs and Lea Tomasz drove in Molly Kelley with a sacrifice fly to left. Carley Siemasko then singled in Kendra Dow. Later in the inning, after the bases were again loaded, Meghan Stanton raced home on a wild pitch.
The six-run spread was more than enough the way Vicki Allman was pitching. She faced only six batters in the final two innings.
In the sixth inning, after Kayla Parisi singled, her pinch runner (Rachel Davis) was doubled off first on a line drive to second baseman Jackie Krusemark.
Mollie Watson
Junior catcher Mollie Watson has already been a Cape Ann League All-League player twice. Watching her stop a lot of pitches in the dirt showcased her defensive skills. She also threw out Casey Barlow trying to steal second base.
Isobel MacCrate made a nice catch in left field in the first inning for the Vikings.
Rockport lost CAL All-Leaguer Gabby Munoz to Pingree.
The Clippers recovered nicely from a humiliating loss (18-1) a week ago at Cashman Park to Amesbury. With their eighth win, the Clippers need just two wins in their final eight games to qualify for post-season action.
Newburyport will be at Georgetown on Friday afternoon. Rockport will be hosting North Reading tomorrow.
The weather was hard to figure. I had my camera put away for part of the game because of drizzle. Cameras and scorebooks never do well in rain!
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Kendra Dow throws to first
Emily Faulds caught in a rundown with Meghan Stanton
Molly Kelley
Pitcher Hannah Lorden
Third baseman Meghan Stanton ready to toss to first
Pitcher Vicki Allman set to throw to first
Filed under Newburyport, Rockport
Vicki Allman reaches third in the seventh inning after a 2-out, 3-run triple to tie the score.
(Newburyport) Triton survived a shaky seventh inning and went on to defeat Newburyport, 10-7, in eight innings on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon along the Merrimack River.
The Vikings (2-4) had a three run lead (7-4) with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but Vicki Allman cleared the bases with a triple to right center tying the score.
Big play in this game? Triton pitcher Mara Spears threw a wild pitch to the next batter (pinch hitter Ashley Casellini) and Vicki Allman tried to score. Catcher Julia Hartman retrieved the ball, tossed to Mara covering home, and Vicki was tagged out to end the inning. If Vicki had scored the game was over.
Mara and Vicki head for the plate.
Mara tags Vicki out to end the seventh inning
Triton won the game with three runs in the eighth. Cara Orlandi singled to left leading off. After a force-out by Mara Spears, Rylee Culverwell, attempting to sacrifice bunt, ended up with a bunt single. Both runners moved up on catcher Lauren Singer’s passed ball before Kylie Gilroy’s 2-strike single delivered Mara. On Kylie’s RBI, Rylee ended up on third and Kylie took second on the throw. A hard hit grounder by Kelsey Trudel with two outs overwhelmed second baseman Molly Stanton allowing two more Triton runs.
That three-run margin stood up nicely as pitcher Mara Spears retired the Clippers in order in the bottom of the eighth.
Cori Simons down with a leg injury
The exciting win may have been costly for Triton because Cape Ann League All-Leaguer Cori Simons injured her left leg in the fourth inning. There was no collision involved, the talented senior was just going back to second after a pitch had been thrown. Let’s hope/pray it isn’t serious. (I got an update this AM on Cori. It appears to be strained ligaments. She will be on crutches and could be back playing in a couple of weeks.)
Carley Siemasko and Vicki Allman pitched for Newburyport while Mara Spears went the distance for Triton. The trio gave up seventeen runs but only five of the runs were earned, by my figuring.
Mara had six errors by her teammates while the Clippers pitchers had four errors by their teammates.
Newburyport put a single (Lauren Singer), RBI double (Ashley Hodge), and 2-run homer by Lea Tomasz together in the third inning to take a 3-2 lead. Lea’s home run rolled to the fence in left field.
Kelsey Trudel had three RBI
The fourth inning was a disaster for Newburyport as they gave up five runs. The bad combination of three walks and two errors (Shelby O’Brien and Vicki Allman) was joined with a 2-run triple by Kelsey Trudel.
Down 7-3, the Clippers got a run back in the sixth. An error by second baseman Kylie Gilroy extended the inning. NHS had runners on first and third with one out. Molly Stanton broke for second and was tagged out while Vicki Allman raced home.
In the bottom of the seventh the Clippers put three on the board to tie but Vicki Allman was tagged out going for the game winner.
Vicki relieved Carley Siemasko (making her first start) in the fourth inning with one out and five runs in. The hard-throwing junior K’d Brittany Gallant and Rose Gaffin to end the inning.
Vicki cruised through innings 5-7 before the Vikings reached her for three hits in their big 8th.
Mara Spears slides home (safely) as Carley Siemasko waits for throw
Triton will host Pentucket tomorrow while Newburyport will travel to Pentucket on Friday. Today Pentucket visited North Reading and gave the Hornets their first loss in Cape Ann League play.
Vicki Allman had three RBI while teammate Lea Tomasz had two RBI.
Vicki also had three hits and struck out six Vikings.
Rylee Culverwell, Cori Simons, Lily Anderson, and Cara Orlandi each had two hits for Triton. Kelsey Trudel had three RBI for the winners.
Beautiful weather at Cashman Park after an overcast morning.
(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Viking caught in a rundown
Freshman Rylee Culverwell had two hits and scored three runs
Rylee Culverwell tosses to first to get Shelby OBrien
Cori Simons
Kendra Dow
Carley Siemasko
Filed under Newburyport, Triton
Newburyport seniors Beth Castantini, Molly Rowe, and Maddy Stanton after playing their last home game.
Cassie Schultz waits for Casey Barlow to arrive
(Newburyport) The Amesbury Indians (15-4) swept the season series with Newburyport on the strength of a 7-6 win at Perkins Playground on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon in Cape Ann League softball.
Newburyport (10-8) gave away five runs in the field during the first two innings but came back with their bats to nearly pull this one out in the bottom of the seventh.
This was the last regular season home game for Newburyport’s three seniors (Beth Castantini, Molly Rowe, and Maddy Stanton) and they were honored by NHS coach Lori Solazzo before the game.
Sophomore Amanda Schell was the hitting star for the Indians collecting four RBI including two in Amesbury’s 2-run sixth. Those two runs provided the winning margin as the Clippers tallied two runs in the bottom of the seventh to get within one run.
Amanda Schell – two hits and four RBI
In their previous meeting, Amesbury won 9-2 on April 24th. That time around starter Carolina Merrill tossed a 4-hitter to get the victory. This time around Newburyport stroked thirteen hits but could never get more than two runs in an inning.
The first inning was not pretty for either team defensively. I counted five throwing errors by some normally reliable infielders on both teams. Second baseman Alexis Boswell had a bobble on a potential inning-ending grounder.
When the defensive dust settled Amesbury led, 4-2, after one inning.
The Indians picked up another tainted run in the second. A two-out, strikeout by Molly Rowe got past catcher Lauren Singer and Janine Fatal raced home with Amesbury’s fifth run.
Newburyport trailed, 5-2, going into the bottom of the fourth but ran themselves out of a promising inning. A Casey Barlow single to left was followed by Lauren Singer’s single to right sending Casey to third with one out. Amy Sullivan was put in as a courtesy runner for Lauren. Amy tried to steal second but Indian catcher Cassie Schultz threw a strike to Amanda Schell to nab Amy. Casey Barlow broke for home as the play at second was completed and Amanda threw a strike back to Cassie getting Casey by plenty.
The Clippers picked up two runs in the fifth to close to 5-4. Kendra Dow singled and reached third after two infield outs. Carley Siemasko brought Kendra home with a single to left. Later it was Beth Castantini delivering Lea Tomasz with a single up the middle.
Janine Fatal scores an Amesbury run
Amesbury answered with two runs of their own in the sixth. A walk (Rachel Cyr) and a single (Alexis Boswell) forced a Clipper pitching change as Beth Castantini replaced Molly Rowe. After Alexis stole second Amanda Schell hit a loud double to left center deep enough to score both runners.
Newburyport made things interesting in their last at-bats. They got runners (Lea Tomasz and Carley Siemasko) on first and second with two outs. Senior Beth Castantini drove in Lea and fellow senior Maddy Stanton brought home Carley. But that’s where the comeback ended as AHS pitcher Carolina Merrill got Vicki Allman to pop out to first baseman McKenzie Cloutier.
Janine Fatal and Amanda Schell each had two hits to pace Amesbury. Janine and Alexis Boswell both scored two runs.
Carley Siemasko – had three hits and scored two runs
Freshman Carley Siemasko had three hits for the Clippers while Kendra Dow, Lea Tomasz, and Beth Castantini collected two hits. Beth had two RBI.
Third baseman Maddy Stanton turned a pop fly into a double play in the 4th inning.
Indian pitcher Carolina Merrill had Lea Tomasz’ line drive go off her leg in the 7th inning.
A dog joined the action in the 4th inning even bringing along his own ball.
Amesbury has a 15-4 season going with no seniors. The Indians close their regular season tomorrow (Thursday) at St. Mary’s.
The Clippers will be involved in the North Andover tournament starting on Friday.
Both Amesbury and Newburyport have qualified for the post-season tournament. The Clippers will be playing on the road whereas the Indians may get a home game or two.
I can report now that this game was not at Cashman or Bresnahan? Only an individual who had gone to both places could give you that sort of information.
(All of the pictures above and below enlarge if you click on them.)
NHS coaches Mark Rowe and Lori Solazzo
Amanda Schell jumps for second as Kendra Dow reaches for the throw
ready to play
Pitcher Molly Rowe fires to first as Maddy Stanton and AHS coach Chris Perry watch
Lea Tomasz beats the tag of AHS catcher Cassie Schultz
Filed under Amesbury, Newburyport
Lauren Singer tagged out at third by Julia OReilly.
Rachel Shamon pitched nine innings and had three RBI
(Newburyport) A lot of, “Where have you been’s,” were probably heard after the Masco/Newburyport softball game at Cashman Park on Friday afternoon.
Why? Those on hand saw nine innings and thirty hits (fifteen apiece) before Masconomet (4-0) defeated Newburyport, 9-6, and some of those attending may have gotten home a little late for supper.
The Clippers (1-2) tied the score in the sixth on a Lauren Singer RBI single and had promising opportunities in the seventh and eighth to get a walk-off win.
Masco pitcher Rachel Shamon, however, escaped a 2-on situation in the 7th by getting Molly Rowe to ground out. In the 8th, Carley Siemasko led off with a single and reached second on a wild pitch but Rachel got Lea Tomasz to fly to right to end that threat.
Maddie Stanton – three hits and two RBI
The Chieftains won this game with three runs in the ninth. Rachel Shamon drilled a shot to center that brought home two of the runs. Later, Alexandra Mendelsohn would deliver the third run with a single to right.
That was more than enough runs for Rachel to work with in the bottom of the ninth. She gave up a hit to Beth Castantini to lead off the inning but retired the next three batters in order to end the game.
Rachel (junior) ended up with three RBI and five strikeouts.
Masco took a 1-0 lead in the second when Shannon Beaton’s bloop single over the drawn in Clipper infield scored Alexandra Mendelsohn.
Vicki Allman came across in the second for Newburyport on Kendra Dow’s single to right to tie the score.
RBI’s by Molli Marshall and Rachel Shamon put Masco in front 3-1 after 2 ½ innings but the Clippers came right back with three runs of their own to get ahead, 4-3. Lauren Singer drove in the first of the three runs with a single past first and later Maddie Stanton’s single up the middle brought in two more.
The Clippers handed out two gifts in the fourth. After Julia O’Reilly reached on an infield single, Shannon Beaton dropped down a bunt. The Clippers tried to get the runner going to second. The throw was wild and by the time Newburyport recovered, Julia had scored and Shannon was on third. So instead of an out and a runner on, Masco had a run in and a runner on third. A wild pitch enabled Shannon to score Masco’s third run of the inning and sixth run of the game.
Carley Siemasko nailed at third.
In the bottom of the fourth, Newburyport ran into an out. Molly Rowe reached on an infield single. Carley Siemasko hit a long triple scoring Molly but was picked off after putting on the brakes too far beyond third. As luck would have it, two batters later Lauren Singer hit a single that would have scored Carley. The Clippers had to settle for only one run in that inning but they had tied the score at five.
Masco went ahead once more in the fifth as Julia O’Reilly’s sacrifice fly scored Alexandra Mendelsohn.
Newburyport would rally to tie the game in the 6th and have chances to end it in the 7th and 8th. Masco, however, held on and put this one away in the ninth.
Shortstop Taylor Evans had three hits for Masco and made several strong throws in the field.
Freshman Lauren Singer and Senior Maddie Stanton each had three hits for Newburyport. Lauren took a ball on the thigh (she’s the catcher) that was painful.
Beth Castantini pitched the first five for the Clippers and Molly Rowe the last four.
Shortstop Kendra Dow made a complete recovery in the field from the adventure she had against North Reading.
(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Taylor Evans reaches second
Alexandra Mendelsohn slides home
Kendra Dow tries to get runner going to third
Carley Siemasko – triple, single, two walks, and two runs scored
Masco mound conference
Filed under Masconomet, Newburyport
McClelland Miscellanea 
