Tag Archives: Colton Fontaine

June 5, 2013 · 10:19 pm

Opportunistic Whittier defeats Newburyport 6-2 to reach Division 3 North finals

Whittier teammates gather around winning pitcher Andrew Wells

Andrew Wells gets a force-out at home

(Lynn) Whittier Tech made the most of their chances and defeated Newburyport, 6-2, on Wednesday afternoon at Fraser Field.

The victory sends the #5 seed Wildcats to the D3 North finals to be played at Lelachuer Park in Lowell on Saturday.

Whittier (17-6) had two-out, two-run doubles (Ralph Francesconi and Anthony Licciardello) in the first and fifth innings. They also scored a run in the sixth inning on a two-out wild pitch.

Scott Webster scambles into third

Newburyport (15-8) scored two runs but it will be the runs they didn’t score that they’ll be remembering for a while. Let me list the opportunities they had:
(1) First inning – bases loaded with one out,
(2) Third inning – runner on second with no outs,
(3) Fourth inning – bases loaded with no outs,
(4) Fifth inning – leadoff double
(5) Sixth inning – bases loaded with two outs,
(6) Seventh inning – runners on first and second with no outs.

The Clippers did come out of those opportunities with two runs but their chance to have a really big inning was in place over and over again. But it didn’t happen on this season-ending day.

Whittier starter Andrew Wells allowed only six hits. Two of those hits (Colton Fontaine and Connor Wile) came in the first inning when a Connor MacRae fielder’s choice drove home the first Newburyport run.

Anthony Licciardello

The Wildcats set the tone for the afternoon in their half of the first inning. They took what the Clippers gave them (first two batters were walked by NHS starter Connor MacRae) and followed with an infield single by Anthony Licciardello to load the bases with no outs. A fielder’s choice (Jaylin Deveau) brought home one run and a 2-out double delivered two more.

Whittier added to their 3-1 lead in the fifth inning. A bunt single by Connor Manning and an infield error by Travis Wile set the stage for the second 2-out, 2-run double. Anthony Licciardello’s two-bagger to deep center put the Wildcats ahead, 5-1.

The Clippers got a run back in the sixth. Connor MacRae reached on an error and his pinch runner (Caleb Stott) came around on Scott Webster’s triple to left.

The Wildcats put up a run in their half of the sixth. Jaylin Deveau doubled to right center leading off. Evan Habib came on to relieve NHS starter Connor MacRae. Jaylin took third without a throw and with two outs came home on a wild pitch. That gave Whittier a 6-2 lead which they preserved in the seventh inning.

Third baseman Colton Fontaine throws out a bunter

The Clippers ended up stranding eleven runners. The Wildcats stranded just three runners.

Whittier had five errors including two in the final inning.

Terrific execution by Whittier in the fifth inning. After Brian Fiascone doubled to lead off the inning, Connor Wile hit a grounder to third baseman Stefano Zarro. The freshman looked Brian back toward second and threw to first. Brian took off for third when the throw was made but first baseman Jorge Martinez gunned a throw back to Stefano to nail Brian for a double play.

Andrew Wells

Coach Joe Boland opted to walk Colton Fontaine to load the bases in the sixth inning with two outs. That strategy worked as Andrew Wells struck out Brian Fiascone to end the threat with only one run scored.

Anthony Licciardello had two hits and two RBI for Whittier.

Colton Fontaine paced Newburyport with two hits and also scored a run.

The Clippers best game of the season could well have been the 4-0 upset of North Reading yesterday.

Next year looks to be a serious rebuilding year for the Clippers. Seven of their nine starters today are seniors.

The last time Newburyport played at Fraser Field was in 2011 and it was for the D3 state title against Pioneer Valley. It was also on the same day that the Bruins paraded the Stanley Cup through the streets of Boston.

Whittier boxscore

Newburyport boxscore

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

Stefano Zarro gets a force at third

Alex LoGuidice gets the fifth Whittier run

Andrew Fiascone and Scott Webster

watching warmups

Connor MacRae

Clippers head for final handshakes

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Filed under Newburyport, Whittier

Tagged as Andrew Wells, Anthony Licciardello, Colton Fontaine, Connor MacRae, Scott Webster, Stefano Zarro

June 4, 2013 · 9:40 pm

Newburyport upsets North Reading 4-0 to reach Division 3 North semi-finals

Pitcher Colby Morris celebrates after the final out

Ian Michaels dives into third with an RBI triple in the sixth inning

(North Reading) Newburyport lost twice to North Reading during the regular season but it didn’t matter as the Clippers upset the #1 seed Hornets, 4-0, in the Division 3 North quarterfinals at North Reading on a sunny Tuesday afternoon.

Newburyport (15-7) scored two unearned runs in the fourth and two insurance runs in the sixth and, combined with the shutout pitching of Colby Morris (6 hits/5 K’s), had enough to stun the D3 defending champions.

The # 8 seed Clippers have now won eight straight and return to action tomorrow (Wednesday) at Fraser Field in Lynn (4PM) to face Whittier in the D3 North semi-finals.

The last time Newburyport played at Fraser Field was when they won the Division 3 state title in June of 2011.

Ryan McAuliffe took the loss for the Hornets. Ryan had defeated Newburyport, 9-1, on April 17th striking out fifteen Clippers in a special victory that was Coach Frank Carey’s 700th win. This time around Ryan registered eight strikeouts but surrendered eight hits including a triple (Ian Michaels) and two doubles (Colton Fontaine and Scott Webster).

Winning pitcher Colby Morris struck out five while allowing six hits. The key for Colby was keeping the ball down as he limited NR to two flyball outs.

A low throw from shortstop Ryley Warnock gets away from Mike Brandano

A throw from Mike Brandano goes wide of Ryley Warnock

The unearned runs (4th inning) came after both Colby Morris and Connor Wiles singled with one out. First baseman Mike Brandano tried for a force at second, after fielding Connor MacRae’s grounder, but threw wide left of shortstop Ryley Warnock allowing Colby Morris to score. Later shortstop Ryley Warnock took a chance at getting Scott Webster on a slow roller and his throw went past Mike Brandano enabling Connor Wiles to come home with the second Clippers run.

Coach Carey visits Ryan McAuliffe in the sixth inning

The 2-0 lead grew to 4-0 in the sixth inning. Connor MacRae reached on a fielder’s choice with two outs. Ian Michaels, who had struck out twice previously against Ryan McAuliffe, blasted a high 2-strike pitch over Dennis Rollfs’ head in left field for a triple scoring Connor MacRae. Next batter, freshman Scott Webster, singled to left bringing Ian Michaels home.

The Hornets put two on with two out in the bottom of the sixth but Eric Gordon grounded out to second to end that threat.

In the bottom of the seventh, Shane Driscoll singled to lead off. However, Colby Morris struck out Ryan Sanborn looking and got Dennis Rolffs to ground into a 6-3 double play to end it.

NR had two on and two out in the third inning. However, Colby Maiola’s hard shot down the first baseline was snared by Travis Wile.

Scott Webster caught in a rundown

Newburyport tried a suicide squeeze in third inning but the bunt didn’t happen. Scott Webster, however, found a way to get back to third.

North Reading caught Colton Fontaine (he had doubled) in a rundown in the first inning.

An interference call on Hornets baserunner Dennis Rollfs turned a force-out at second into an inning-ending double play in the NR fifth.

The Clippers loaded the bases in the seventh inning but Ryan McAuliffe whiffed Connor Wile and got Connor MacRae to fly to centerfield.

North Reading was 22-4 in 2012. This season ends for them at 19-3. Coach Frank Carey’s career record now stands at 716-273.

Scott Webster had three hits for Newburyport and drove in a run.

Dennis Rollfs led NR with two hits.

Newburyport boxscore

North Reading boxscore

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

Keith Linnane steals second

Colton Fontaine caught in a rundown

Steve Malenfant and Frank Carey discuss the rules

Travis Wile stretches for the last out

Colby Morris

Newburyport dugout

Ryley Warnock gets a forceout at second base

Connor Wiles crosses with the second Newburyport run

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Tagged as Coach Frank Carey, Colby Morris, Colton Fontaine, Connor Wile, Dennis Rollfs, Ian Michaels, Ryan McAuliffe, Ryley Warnock, Scott Webster

May 16, 2013 · 10:33 pm

Newburyport rallies to defeat Triton 8-7 in Cape Ann League baseball

Scott Webster struck out four and earned a save against Triton

Nick Desrocher (#2) hit a 3-run homer over the centerfield fence.

(Byfield) Plenty of excitement in this one.

Newburyport ended a three-game losing streak defeating Triton, 8-7, at windier-than-usual Triton on Thursday afternoon.

The game had runs, hits, errors, clutch relief pitching, and controversy.

(It was also the game where my camera stopped working and it surely wasn’t from lack of use!)

The Clippers (8-7) had a nice 6-1 lead going into the bottom of the third inning. However, a 2-out error by shortstop Colby Morris enabled the Vikings to add four runs to the two they already had scored in the inning. After three innings, the home team had a 7-6 lead.

Newburyport would regain the lead in the fifth inning with two runs. One scorer (Mike Sweeney) reached on an error (Jon Seward) and another (James Nutter) was hit by a pitch.

Those two Clippers runs provided the one-run margin that held up for the winners.

The hero for Newburyport was reliever Scott Webster. The freshman righty came on with the bases loaded in the fifth and two outs. He fell behind 3-1 to leadoff batter Dmitri Hunt before getting him to ground out.

Triton came very close to tying the game in the sixth. A two-out walk to Nick Cornoni was followed by a double over rightfielder Ryan Short’s head. The Clippers were fortunate that the double bounced over the fence because with two outs Nick probably would have tied the game if the ball had stayed in play. But it didn’t and Scott fanned pinch hitter Matt Souliotis to escape with Newburyport’s one-run lead (8-7) still in place.

Brian Fiascone

Controversy was a big part of the Newburyport half of the seventh inning. One sure way to create “excitement” if you’re umpiring is to make one call and then change it in a one-run game. But that’s what happened. Blame Brian Fiascone. Thinking there were three outs (there was only two) after grounding into a force play, Brian left the field and headed for the Clippers bench. Both coaching staffs realized what had happened and Brian scampered back to first……..barely and was called “safe.” The Triton coaching staff had a bad reaction to the call and got the two umpires to discuss it. Next thing we knew Brian was “out.” Now it was Newburyport’s turn to get a bad reaction. A protest was going to be filed by NHS coach Steve Malenfant and in addition Connor Wile and Andrew Fiascone were kicked out of the game for their comments.

But the “out” call stood and the inning was over.

The bottom of the seventh was all Scott Webster. He K’d the side getting Nick Desrocher (who had hit a 3-run homer in the third) as the final out to earn the save.

Justin Cashman

Justin Cashman surrendered ten hits and took the loss for the Vikings but five of the eight runs against him were unearned by my figuring. Second baseman Jon Seward had a rough day in the field with three errors.

Conditions were tough in the field. The combination of bright sun, gale-force winds, and swirling dust gave both teams trouble.

Two errors in the first inning (Jon Seward and Brad Whitman) allowed the Clippers to get off to a 3-zip lead.

Triton got one back in the bottom of the first. A two-base throwing error by third baseman Colton Fontaine, a fielder’s choice, and a wild pitch (Evan Habib) enabled Dmitri Hunt to score.

In the second inning, Newburyport added a pair of runs. Smart base-running was the key. James Nutter walked, stole second and came home on Colton Fontaine’s single. Colton took second on the throw in and scored from there on Colby Morris’ single to left.

Catcher Bob Wolcik waits for Chance Carpenter

The Clippers ran into an out in the third but came away with their sixth run. Chance Carpenter went from first to third on a wild pitch. However, his attempt to get home on, what looked to be, a suicide squeeze failed because he left early and was tagged out easily. But with two outs Ryan Short walked, took second on a passed ball, and rode home on James Nutter’s single to center.

Triton started the third with a walk (Cote Wolcik) and three straight singles (Justin Cashman, Nick Cornoni, and Adam Chatterton) and had two runs in with two outs. Colby Morris’ error led to the third Vikings run and then Nick Desrocher delighted the sizable Triton crowd with a 3-run blast to straightaway center. No question the wind helped. It was Nick’s first home run.

The Clippers capitalized on an error and a hit bats man in the decisive fifth inning to set the stage for an RBI double (Colton Fontaine) and an RBI sacrifice fly by Brian Fiascone.

James Nutter (#6) scored the 8th Newburyport run

Colton Fontaine scored a run, had three hits, and drove in two runs. Colby Morris had two hits while James Nutter scored two runs.

Adam Chatterton had two of Triton’s five hits and an RBI. Nick Desrocher walked twice and had the 3-run long one.

Jake Barlow filled in for Connor Wile behind the plate in the seventh inning.

The Clippers defeated Triton, 4-3, at Newburyport on April 19th.

Both teams return to action on Saturday (10AM). Triton hosts Pentucket while Newburyport hosts Hamilton-Wenham.

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

Triton wind/dust

Rough day in the field for second baseman Jon Seward

James Nutter slides into second

Dmitri Hunt scores the first Vikings run

Colby Morris slides back to first as Adam Chatterton waits to apply the tag

Brad Whitman reaches first on a bad throw

3B Billy Mical and slider Chance Carpenter

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Filed under Newburyport, Triton

Tagged as Brian Fiascone, Colton Fontaine, James Nutter, Nick Desrocher, Scott Webster

April 18, 2013 · 7:57 pm

Newburyport gets first win 9-5 over Saugus in baseball

Colton Fontaine had three hits and scored three runs against Saugus

Connor MacRae picked up the win for the Clippers

(Newburyport) Newburyport picked up its first win of the season as they defeated Saugus, 9-5, on a lovely Thursday morning in a nonleague baseball contest.

Lefty Connor MacRae went the distance for the Clippers (1-2) allowing five runs (one earned) on five hits. The senior K’d six.

This game was a struggle for both teams in the field.

Saugus (1-3) paid heavily for their miscues in the first two innings and fell behind, 7-0. It was Newburyport’s turn late in the game to pay for their mistakes but the Clippers early advantage was too much for the Sachems to overcome.

Shortstop John Prentice (back on his heels) had trouble with two grounders

The Clippers turned a nifty 6-4-3 double play in the first inning but that was the last time “nifty” would be used to describe either team’s defense.

Both teams had four errors and they were the costly kind. Of the fourteen runs scored, four of them were earned by my figuring. Equally stunning (shocking?) was the total inability of either team to throw out runners attempting to steal second. Again, by my unofficial count, eleven runners were able to make that first-to-second move and there was never a close play!

There were also walks (five for each team) and several wild pitches.

You get the point: there were plenty of lowlights but for the home team it was Win #1 of the young 2012-13 season with plenty of games left to get better.

Shane Ripley starts his slide into third as Colton Fontaine waits for a throw

Tom Trainor pitched the first two innings for Saugus when Newburyport built a 7-0 margin.

Shortstop John Prentice had two-out boots in both innings that accounted for three of the Clippers runs.

Colton Fontaine reached the leftfield fence in the first inning driving home teammate Ian Michaels with the first NHS score.

Later in the second inning Tom Trainor walked in two runs and tossed a wild pitch to allow yet another Newburyport tally.

Down 7-0 after two innings I started to wonder if there might be a mercy rule in a few innings. (Saugus had lost the day before to Danvers, 20-7, in a game both coaches stopped after six innings so that they would have pitchers available for today’s game.)

The Sachems picked up a run in the fourth inning. Tom Trainor singled past short to deliver Dante Deltorto.

Dante Deltorto had two hits and pitched three strong innings

Dante Deltorto pitched innings 3-5 and limited the Clippers to one run and one hit. But even that run (#8) was tainted as Colton Fontaine (3 hits/3 runs) was able to score from second on a fielder’s choice. Give Colton credit for taking advantage of the Sachem defense.

Saugus added two runs in the fifth to close to 8-3. Victor Dematteo’s sacrifice fly brought Shane Ridley (2 hits/2runs) home. The throw home by rightfielder Ryan Short went past catcher Connor Wile out of play and another Sachems run (Peter Pulicari) was allowed home.

Two more Saugus tallies were recorded in the sixth inning. Newly entered shortstop Caleb Stott threw away a 2-out, bases-loaded grounder and the Sachems moved to within three (8-5).

Shane Ridley pitched the Newburyport sixth. Ian Michaels was hit by a pitch leading off. Ian broke for second drawing a throw from catcher Victor Dematteo that sailed into centerfield allowing Ian to get third. A Shane Ridley wild pitch enabled NHS to add an insurance run.

That four-run spread (9-5) looked tenuous in the Saugus seventh after the first two runners reached – one on a dropped throw by first baseman Travis Wile.

Nick Enos and Travis Wile near the end of the game

However, on the next ball in play Travis made a big defensive play. Third baseman Colton Fontaine fielded a grounder and tagged the runner (Dante Deltorto) going from second to third. However, Colton decided to also try and throw the batter out and his throw was in the dirt. Travis made the block and prevented the ball from going out of play and giving Saugus another score.

Pitcher Connor MacRae then struck out Tom Trainor and got Nick Sweeney to pop to first ending the game.

Ian Michaels had a hit and scored three runs.

Catcher Connor Wile walked three times, had a hit, and scored two runs.

Dante Deltorto had two hits for Saugus and scored a run.

The weather was terrific for April – temps in the 60’s, with plenty of sun and a nice breeze.

Colton Fontaine caught in a sixth inning rundown

The next game for both teams will be on Saturday. Saugus is at Swampscott (10AM) while Ipswich will host Triton (10AM).

Saugus will be completely in the Cape Ann League next year.

Saugus in 2011-12 had enough wins in the Northeastern Conference to qualify for the Division 3 state baseball tournament. They reached the D3 North semifinals where they lost to eventual state champ North Reading.

Newburyport was 15-6 last season.

Newburyport boxscore

Saugus boxscore

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

Shane Ripley had two hits and scored two runs

Connor Wile reached base four times and scored two runs

Ian Michaels scored three runs

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Filed under Newburyport, Saugus

Tagged as Colton Fontaine, Connor MacRae, Connor Wile, Dante Deltorto, Ian Michaels, Shane Ripley

January 30, 2013 · 1:44 pm

Newburyport holds off Lynnfield in overtime 66-62 in boys basketball

Colton Fontaine (twenty points and twelve rebounds) breaks away in overtime

Pat Kearney (31 points) drives past Adam Traxler

(Newburyport) I overheard Clipper coach Tom L’Italien say to his team before overtime started, “I told you that this was going to be a struggle.”

And it sure was but Newburyport (9-4) held off a good Lynnfield (8-6) team, 66-62, in overtime on Tuesday night in Cape Ann League action.

The shorthanded Clippers were missing starters Ian Michaels (illness) and Matt Canning (injury) and labored to be consistent on offense and defense with replacements.

The Pioneers weren’t much better through three quarters missing a ton of shots. But in the final quarter (down 38-26 at the start) Pat Kearney (31 points) and Eddie Moore (10 points) caught fire and led the visitors through a 26-point quarter all the way back to overtime.

Conor Sullivan (#10) ties the score in regulation with ten seconds left

Pat had three long ones and Eddie had two in the remarkable comeback. An inbounds play with Corey Sullivan on the scoring end, with ten seconds left, finished the Pioneer run back to a tie (52-52).

The Clippers took charge in the five-minute overtime despite losing shot-blocking, rebounding, seventeen-point producing Dillon Guthro on fouls after little over a minute had gone by.

Senior John Baribeault tallied the go-ahead-for-good basket with 1 ½ left (60-57) in OT and Lynnfield ran out of the long-range success they needed to come back.

Senior Pat Kearney had eight points in the overtime to reach thirty-one points. It was hard for me to believe that this was the same player I saw held to four points by undefeated North Reading four days ago in the Hornets’ 62-36 win. When you’re hot you’re hot, when you’re not…….

Clipper John Baribeault (six points in OT) sees a possible turnover

This was a tough loss for Lynnfield. They have now lost four straight with a home game ahead with a strong Manchester-Essex team on Friday night at home.

The good news for Lynnfield, however, is that they are on top in the CAL Division 2 standings. That position alone, at the end of the regular season, would gain them a spot in the post-season state tournament. They could be formidable in Division Four.

Newburyport (9-4) moves a win short of making the tournament in Division Three. This was a win pulled off without several starters while losing formidable big man Dillon Guthro in overtime, and squandering a twelve-point lead. The Clippers continued to add “excitement” in overtime by missing six of fourteen free throws.

The Clippers visit undefeated North Reading on Friday night. I came away from NR’s 62-36 win over Lynnfield four days ago believing I had seen the best player in the Cape Ann League. That player is 6-4 John Mastascusa. The transfer from Malden Catholic had twenty points, including four dunks, without forcing his offense against Lynnfield. John plays on the perimeter so I suspect that Colton Fontaine will draw the very tough defensive assignment.

Colton Fontaine scores despite a block attempt by Pat Kearney

6-1 Colton led the Newburyport scorers against Lynnfield with twenty points and also took in twelve rebounds.

John Baribeault (11 points) and Colby Morris (10 points) also reached double figures for the winners.

Impressive ball-handling performance at halftime by a large delegation of Bresnahan students.

Newburyport boxscore

Lynnfield boxscore

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

Colby Morris (10 points) shoots over Traverse Briana

halftime performers

Drew Bourdeau rebounds

John Baribeault puts Newburyport ahead for good in OT

Eddie Moore (eight points in 4th quarter comeback) defends

Dillon Guthro beats Adam Buchanan to the hoop

Pat Kearney blocks the shot of Mike Shay

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Tagged as Colton Fontaine, Dillon Guthro, John Baribeault, Pat Kearney

January 21, 2013 · 8:28 pm

Newburyport holds off Ipswich 50-39 for eighth win in boys basketball

Sophomore Mike Shay had two layups off Ipswich turnovers

Colby Morris (15 points) had four 3-pointers

(Newburyport) The Newburyport withstood a late Ipswich rally and defeated the Tigers, 50-39, on Monday afternoon in a nonleague game.

The Clippers lead, which had been as high as fifteen points (37-22), was only six (41-35) with four minutes left in the fourth quarter.

At that point, the home team answered with a game-deciding seven straight points on layups by Colton Fontaine (14 points) and a 3-pointer by Colby Morris (15 points). A tenuous six-point lead quickly became a much more comfortable thirteen-point lead with two minutes left.

Newburyport (8-3) needs two more wins in their six remaining games to qualify for the MIAA tournament. The Clippers will be at Georgetown on Friday night.

Newburyport stung Ipswich (2-10) with six 3-pointers. Colby Morris had four of them including three in the first 5 ½ minutes of the game.

Adam Traxler and Matt Jaeger

While Colby had nine first-period points, Ipswich’s Matt Jaeger also had a three as well as two jumpers. The Tigers trailed only 15-13 after a quarter.

If Ipswich coach Alan Laroche could erase one of the four quarters in this game it would surely be the second quarter. Why? The Tigers tallied just five points, had seven turnovers, watched Newburyport score eleven straight, and trailed by ten (28-18) when that quarter was over.

Sophomore Mike Shay came off the bench to be the finisher twice in that quarter after Ipswich miscues. In the eleven-straight segment Ian Michaels (8 points) nailed a three and Colton Fontaine added a layup and a free throw.

The Clippers had another run of unanswered offense (eight straight) in the third period. A second Ian Michaels three combined with a layup, a converted rebound, and a free throw, all by Colton Fontaine, did the damage for Newburyport. This surge gave the Clippers a commanding 37-22 advantage with three minutes left in the third quarter.

Colton Fontaine (14 points) looks for an opening against Ipswich shot-blocker Erik Fyrer (11 points)

Ipswich was down but not entirely out as Erik Fyrer (11 points) led the Tigers back into a challenging position during the next six minutes of playing time. The 6-4 junior, despite heavy coverage by Colton Fontaine, posted eight points during the Ipswich rally and helped cut the Newburyport margin down to 41-35.

However, Newburyport was able to regain control and come away with their eighth victory of the season.

The Clippers have won four of their last five. The Tigers have lost seven of their last eight.

Ipswich will host Hamilton-Wenham on Friday.

Both Doug Hoak (Hamilton-Wenham) and Dave Clay (Triton) were interested spectators.

Colby Morris drives past Kyle Blomster

A team with multiple 3-point shooters will always be difficult to defend. With Colby Morris back, after missing five games, the Clippers can hurt opponents long range with Colby and Ian Michaels.

Colby Morris didn’t play in the regular season game with Ipswich that the Clippers won, 38-26. That was the game in which the halftime score was an uninspiring, 13-7.

Erik Fyrer ended up with eight rebounds and four blocks according to my statistician.

Dillon Guthro slid painfully into the stands.

Newburyport boxscore

Ipswich boxscore

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

Matt Canning defended by Aleks Kuljic (12) and Kyle Blomster (15)

Erik Fyrer goes for the block against Ian Michaels

Erik Fyrer puts a block on Drew Bourdeau

Dillon Guthro and Quinn OConnor

young Tiger fan

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Tagged as Colby Morris, Colton Fontaine, Erik Fyrer, Ian Michaels

June 6, 2011 · 9:55 pm

Six-Run Fifth Gets Newburyport into the D3 North Semis over Austin Prep 8-3

Brett Fontaine collects his batting helmet after a collision with catcher Joe Barry at home in the fifth inning. Brett pitched a four-hitter and drove in two runs for Newburyport.

Ryan O’Connor congratulates Coach Bill Pettingell for a win in his last home game.

(Newburyport) Newburyport broke open a 2-2 game in the bottom of the fifth with six runs and went on to defeat Austin Prep, 8-3, on Lower Field at NHS on Monday afternoon.

The victory in the quarter finals puts the Clippers (19-5) into the D3 North semi-finals against Bishop Fenwick on Thursday at a neutral site.

Junior Brett Fontaine had a lot to do with the win as he pitched a complete-game four hitter and drove in two runs in the game-deciding fifth inning.

That fifth inning will be remembered as very good or very bad depending on where your loyalties were located. The Clippers will remember the six runs, five hits, and the successful execution of a suicide squeeze. For the Cougars (13-9), it’ll be the wild pitch, four walks, and mishandling the suicide squeeze.

In that decisive fifth inning, Austin Prep coach Steve Busby opted to have starter Ryley MacEachern intentionally walk Matt Mottola to load the bases and pitch to Brett Fontaine. That didn’t work out so well for the Cougars as Brett singled to right and the Clippers fourth (Colton Fontaine) and fifth (Ryan O’Connor) runs came in.

Later in the fifth, Connor Wile put down a suicide squeeze bunt with Brett Fontaine heading full-speed from third. Cougar catcher Joe Barry blocked Brett away from the plate before he had the ball and the umpire awarded Brett home. Sam Barlow followed with a walk driving in the sixth run (Jim Conway) of the inning and boosting Newburyport’s advantage to, 8-2.

Ryley MacEachern breaks into a home run trot after his shot over the left field fence in the sixth inning.

Ryley MacEachern led off the sixth with a homer over the left field fence to make it 8-3 but the Cougars went quietly (one hit) the rest of the way.

This was the last home game for Newburyport’s 600+ win coach Bill Pettingell. You could see/hear that he was fired up during this game.

The weather was excellent with plenty of sunshine although I’m not sure that the left fielders for each team were that thrilled with the sun being directly in their eyes.

Austin Prep put up a run in the first inning. Bobby Batchelor walked and reached third after a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice. He scored easily on Ryley MacEachern’s double to right center.

Sam Barlow tallies Newburyport’s first run in the third.

Newburyport received two gift runs in the third inning. A two-base throwing error by left fielder Mark Mezzina followed Clipper singles by Sam Barlow and Colby Morris. Sam scored on the error and Colby reached third. He later crossed the plate on a MacEachern wild pitch.

The Cougars got a gift run in the fifth inning. The visitors from Reading, loaded the bases on a single (Chris Bundock) and two walks. Jon Saurman (pinch running for Chris Bundock) reached home on a Fontaine wild pitch.

Newburyport erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fifth and that was enough to carry them in with an 8-3 win.

Catcher Connor Wile made a nice play on a popup in the fourth inning.