Tag Archives: Emma DiPietro

May 15, 2019 · 10:27 pm

Solid hitting and pitching sends Amesbury by Rockport 11-3

Freshman Ella Bezanson (2) hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning.

Liv DeLong struck out seven Vikings.

(Amesbury MA) It is not unusual for even the winning coach to find something that the team could have done better.

Not today.

“I have no complaints about this game at all,” said Amesbury coach Jacqui Waters after the Indians had defeated Rockport, 11-3.

The hitting and pitching were nicely in place for the home team on this Wednesday afternoon of Cape Ann League softball.

Amesbury (10-1) scored in every inning, including four runs in their half of the first inning.

“We all hit,” said AHS starter Liv DeLong. “We made good contact.”

The Indians had thirteen hits. Alana Delisle and Ella Bezanson homered, while Olivia Lavasseur had a triple.

Emma DiPietro (3 hits) steals second

Hitting like that can win you games but when you add excellent pitching, the opponent is in trouble.

Freshman Liv DeLong held the Vikings (6-8) hitless into the sixth inning.

“She hit her spots very well today,” explained catcher Avery Hallinan. “Her inside fast ball was very effective.”

Today’s game was a rematch of an April 10^th season opener in which Amesbury won, 5-3.

“This time we weren’t ready to play,” said Rockport coach Julie Ryan. “Their pitching was amazing today.”

Rockport starter Kelsea Anderson

The Indians put four runs together in the first inning with only one hit. Two errors (2B Abby Engel) extended the inning and two wild pitches (Kelsea Anderson) allowed runs to score.

In the AHS second, Avery Hallinan was hit by a pitch, went to 2B on a wild pitch, reached 3B on a fielder’s choice, and scored on a passed ball (Kylie Wheat).

In the Amesbury third, after Olivia Lavasseur was caught stealing, Alana Delisle homered over Taylor Frost’s (CF) head.

The Indians led 6-0 after three innings while Rockport was still looking for its first hit. Kylie Schrock (walk) was the Vikings only baserunner through three innings.

Amesbury collected ten hits over their final three innings scoring five runs and leaving the bases loaded twice.

Emma DiPietro (3 hits) and Liv DeLong had RBI in the 4^th.

Zoe Lucido (shortstop) and Ella Bezanson (base stealer)

Ella Bezanson (3 hits) hit a two-run homer to right center in the 5^th.

AHS starter Liv DeLong had a string of eleven straight batters retired into the sixth inning.

Rockport broke through in the sixth. Errors by Emily O’Donnell (1B) and Ella Bezanson (CF) allowed Liz Higgins to reach third. A perfect bunt by 8^th grader Sophie Lucido scored Liz and gave the Vikings their first hit.

Amesbury got one of those runs back in their half of the 6^th inning. Olivia Lavasseur tripled off the chalk in right field and came home on a passed ball.

Rockport opened the final inning with three straight hits. Liz Higgins drove home two runs (Kylie Schrock & Kelsea Anderson) with a ground ball through the left side.

Catcher Avery Hallinan tags out Kylie Wheat in the 7th

With runners on first and third in that promising inning, the Vikings tried to steal second. However, AHS shortstop Emma DiPietro cut off the throw to second and fired home catching Kylie Wheat trying to score from third.

The Rockport coaches questioned the out call. The catcher must have the ball in order to block the plate. The ruling was that catcher Avery Hallinan did indeed have the ball when she made the tag.

“If I have the ball, and I did, I can block the plate,” said Avery afterwards.

Despite the loss, RHS coach Julie Ryan was optimistic postgame. “We stepped up to the plate at the end. We are still in contention for a playoff spot.”

Sophie Lucido had the first Rockport hit

The Vikings are currently in 3^rd place in the Baker Division with Ipswich and Amesbury ahead of them. Rockport has two games left with Ipswich. A second-place finish, even with a losing record, earns a tournament spot.

Coach Waters: “It was a great team effort. Avery was excellent behind the plate. Ella had three nice hits.”

Liv DeLong: “The defense behind me worked really well. The end was a little rocky. I mixed my pitches and hit my spots.”

Avery Hallinan: “I have probably caught Liv for seven years going back to Little League.”

The weather? The calendar changes but the weather doesn’t. It was cold and windy but NOT raining.

This was my first visit this year to the field at Amesbury Middle School. Attempts have been made to minimize treacherous left field. There is now a fence keeping left fielders from running onto pavement chasing foul balls out there.

Amesbury started five freshmen while Rockport started four freshmen. Both team’s pitchers and catchers were freshmen.

Amesbury box

Rockport box

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

Abby Aponas takes charge on a popup.

Abby Engel

Alana Delisle (home run) congratulated by teammates

Avery Hallinan, Liv DeLong, and Olivia Lavasseur

Catcher Avery Hallinan

Emily O’Donnell

Zoe Lucido (shortstop)

Emma DiPietro (shortstop)

Kylie Wheat (catcher) and run scorer Ella Bezanson

Lauren Hale

Lauren Ryan

Liz Higgins (3B) and base stealer Emma DiPietro

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Filed under Amesbury, Rockport

Tagged as Alana Delisle, Ella Bezanson, Emma DiPietro, Liv DeLong, Liz Higgins, Sophie Lucido

May 9, 2019 · 9:31 pm

Triton bats too much for Amesbury in 9-2 loss

Seniors Bridget Sheehan, Colleen McCarthy, and junior Katherine Quigley celebrate their 10th win

Carisa Boyle slides into 2B ahead of Emma DiPietro’s tag.

(Byfield MA) Sometimes hard work doesn’t pay off.

But it did for Triton this afternoon.

The Vikings struck Amesbury pitching for twelve hits and a 9-2 win on Thursday afternoon.

“We hit every day,” explained Triton coach Dave Dupere afterwards. “Almost an hour and twenty minutes and it shows.”

The loss dropped the Indians (8-1) from the undefeated ranks.

“To be perfectly honest, we got beat by a better team today,” said AHS coach Jacquie Waters.

Emilhy Karvielis – 2 hits, 4 rbi

The Vikings (10-1) jumped on Indians’ starter Liv DeLong for four runs on five hits in the first inning. RBI by senior Emily Karvielis (2), senior Colleen McCarthy (1), and junior Eve Paicos (1) sparked the fast start.

Junior Katherine Quigley tossed a 4-hitter and retired the Indians in order in the first, fourth, and sixth innings.

“I have been shooting the strong-hitting teams inside fastballs this season,” said Katherine. “Today Fay (catcher) was calling for outside pitches and they were hungry for them. It worked to our advantage.”

The Indians got an unearned run (3B Collen McCarthy error) in the third inning. Senior Emma DiPietro’s sacrifice fly brought across junior Meg McElaney.

Abby Aponas throws to first

The Vikings responded productively in their half of the fourth inning, putting hits together (four) and tallying three runs.

Freshman Molly Kimball’s bunt turned into an RBI (Darcie McDonough scored) and later Emily Karavielis’ shot to right center drove across two more (Carisa Boyle & Molly Kimball).

The 7-1 lead after four innings stood up for Triton.

The Vikings added two insurance runs in the 6^th. Colleen McCarthy (3 hits) drove across senior Grace McGonagle. Eve Paicos (2 hits) later brought in Emily Karvielis by singling to right center.

Sophomore Julia Campbell (2 hits) knocked in Amesbury’s 7^th inning run, scoring teammate Liv DeLong.

CF Grace McGonagle makes a running catch to save a run

Two tremendous running catches in the outfield today; Grace McGonagle for Triton and Ella Bezanson for Amesbury.

“She (Ella) has had a couple of great catches this year and today’s was certainly one of them,” said Coach Waters.

Freshman Alana Delisle pitched the last two innings for Amesbury.

The Indians started four freshman; Alana (RF), Olivia Lavasseur (3B), Liv DeLong (P), and Ella Bezanson (CF).

Coach Dupere: “It was a win we needed. Timely hitting. Our senior leadership showed. Katherine hit her spots. She really came through.”

Katherine Quigley: “We were a little nervous because they were undefeated. I knew we needed to get a good jump on them. We hit really, really well early in the game.”

SS Bridget Sheehan closes her glove on a popup

Bridget Sheehan: “We’ve got a great lineup. I am planning to go to Penn State in the fall. I visited there and it felt right.”

Emily Karielis: “The hits just kept coming in the early inning. I will be enlisting in the Navy after I graduate. I have been interested in doing that since middle school. I want to get into law enforcement eventually.”

Colleen McCarthy: “Coming in we knew it would be a big game. That they had to change their pitcher out was a good sign for us. Our goals are to hit and play defense. I will be going to Roger Williams (Bristol RI). I plan to try out for softball and maybe volleyball. I am interested in criminal justice.”

The Vikings have now won five straight. Only loss was to North Reading, 10-7, on April 24^th.

Amesbury’s last loss, before today, was back on June 16^th in 2018 to Austin Prep in the Division 3 North finals.

Busy afternoon at Triton with tennis, lacrosse, baseball, and softball all going on at the same time.

Triton box

Amesbury box

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

Watching the action

Meg McElaney

Liv DeLong

Liv DeLong sets to pitch

Katherine Quigley pitched a 4-hitter

Play at second

Molly Kimball

Grace McGonagle slides into 2B

Eve Paicos – 2 hits, 2 rbi

RF Eve Paicos in on a line drive

Emily Karvielis tries to turn two

Darcie McDonough

Colleen McCarthy rounds third

Carisa Boyle scores

Alana Delisle pitched two innings

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Filed under Amesbury, Triton

Tagged as Colleen McCarthy, Emily Karvielis, Emma DiPietro, Katherine Quigley, Liv DeLong

November 8, 2018 · 11:25 pm

Gracie Doherty goal against St. Mary’s brings Amesbury to D4 North finals

Amesbury team celebrates winning the D4 North semi-finals

Chelsea Lynch (12) and Gracie Doherty (18) celebrate the goal

(Lynn MA) Amesbury’s next opponent might want to check to see who hasn’t scored for the #6 Indians so far and keep an eye on them.

Twice in this year’s D4 tournament, non-scorers have broken through for Amesbury.

Today in the D4 North semi-finals, it was junior Gracie Doherty. In the D4 North First Round it was senior Sara Johnson.

Sara’s goal was part of a 4-0 win over Winthrop.

Goalie Alli Napoli on the ground. Kayla Demers in the air. Meg McElaney nearby.

Gracie’s goal today at Manning Field was all there was as Amesbury took out St. Mary’s 1-0.

That win gets the Indians (14-3-4) into the D4 North finals for the third straight year.

To hear senior Emma DiPietro tell it, the win was nice but not enough. “I got a taste of winning these last three years and I don’t want to lose again. I think that we’re ready to win the whole thing.”

To get the state title Amesbury will need three more wins starting with the Manchester-Essex/Medway winner on Sunday at Manning Field.

The Indians are undefeated in their last ten games since losing to Manchester-Essex in October.

I saw St. Mary’s play Amesbury in the tournament last year at Landry Stadium in Amesbury. I was unimpressed. The final was only 2-0 but the Spartans displayed a game-long inability to generate any sort of an attack.

Riley Lynch (11) and McKenna Hallinan (1)

Today I saw a different team of Spartans. For a little over a half, the play was in the middle of the field or in the upper half of the Amesbury end.

“We had a great first half, “recalled St. Mary’s coach Jim Foley.

There weren’t golden chances, but the Amesbury attack was seriously limited by St. Mary’s.

“We started off with two great chances in the second half,” said Coach Foley. One was off a free kick by Joslyn Deschenes and the other came when Kayla Demers got in close. Amesbury goalie Alli Napoli handled both advances.

And then Amesbury took over.

Sara Johnson (6) dribbles ahead

“We didn’t play our game in the first half,” explained Amesbury coach Adam Thibodeau. “We were playing as individuals. I told them at halftime that if they didn’t play as a team the season could be over. Our seniors stepped up because they don’t want it to be over.”

Amesbury had a great chance in close after nine minutes in their resurgent second half and then senior Emma DiPietro put two long shots on net during the next two minutes.

The pressure on St. Mary’s (13-7-1) was building. Every clearance was being put back into scoring areas by the Indians.

The persistent pressure led to a free kick.

Alyssa Pettet took the kick from straight away. Her kick came toward Spartans goalie Adrianna Bowker. Chelsea Lynch was nearby contesting the oncoming shot.

The long shot bounced off the St. Mary’s goalie and right to junior Gracie Doherty.

Gracie put a charge into a shot and it hit the crossbar and caromed right back in her direction.

Gracie reacted by leaning into a header that settled in just under the crossbar at 27:27.

Sherly Feliz (24) and Emma DiPietro (11)

“What a time for Gracie to get her first goal,” said Coach Thibodeau afterwards. “On championship teams you need goals to come from all over.”

Gracie’s reaction to scoring such a big goal wasn’t too surprising: “I was shocked that it went it!”

I assumed that St. Mary’s would start to press Amesbury with so much time remaining. They called a timeout after the goal, but their offense never got started.

“We really didn’t get any looks after those plays in the beginning of the second half,” said Coach Foley.

Amesbury has now shut out St. Mary’s three straight years in the tournament. They are also unscored on in this year’s D4 North tournament.

It was not a lack of effort on the Spartans’ part.

The Indians had that “team” thing going defensively. The long balls to no one were limited. Instead, teammates were passed to and better control kicked in.

“Defense wins championships,” said Coach Thibodeau.

McKenna Hallinan gets point-blank attempt

Emma DiPietro: “We don’t give up. We came back stronger. We have always been kind of a second half team. In the locker room we said, ‘This is it. All or nothing.”

Certainly, an advantage for the Spartans was that even though they were the lower seed (#10), they ended up with a home game late in the tournament. They have played twelve games at Manning Field this season.

I was very impressed with defender Morgan Mackey in the first half. She prevented the speedy Indians from getting any breakaways.

Ball in the middle

Gracie Doherty’s goal was unassisted although as Emma DiPietro explained, “she assisted herself.”

Not to be forgotten on the eventual game-winner was the terrific send-in by free kicker Alyssa Pettet.

Ten minutes after the Doherty goal, McKenna Hallinan broke in for as clean a look as you could hope for. Spartans goalie Adrianna Bowker should have been arrested for unarmed robbery after she deflected McKenna’s shot wide.

Coach Thibodeau: “A culture was created on the soccer team three years ago. It wasn’t about winning. It was about doing the best we can. That approach has gotten us to the North finals three straight years.”

Coach Foley: “We couldn’t clear it out on their goal. Amesbury is a very good team. Adam (Thibodeau) does a great job. We’ve lost to them three years in a row.”

Fight for the ball

The weather was nice.

The parade of planes flying over, heading to Logan, always interests those of us who seldom hear/see planes of their size.

Despite the 3:30PM start, there was a good crowd in the stands.

Amesbury is in the Cape Ann League. St. Mary’s is in the Catholic Central League.

College plans? Emma DiPietro: “I have applied to go to Boston University. If I go there, I will try to play some club or intramural soccer. I am interested in studying biology and specializing in genetics.”

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

Amesbury GK Alli Napoli leaps to save

Chelsea Lynch (12) and Riley Lynch (11)

Sherly Feliz

High kick

Incoming

Joslyn Deschenes

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Filed under Amesbury, St. Mary's

Tagged as Alyssa Pettet, Coach Adam Thibodeau, Coach Jim Foley, Emma DiPietro, Gracie Doherty, Morgan Mackey

June 14, 2018 · 10:12 pm

Amesbury softball surprises St. Mary’s 4-2 in Division 3 North semifinals

Hayley Catania ended the first and fifth with consecutive strikeouts

Emma DiPietro (triple) scored in the 5th inning to tie the game

(Lowell MA) Neither team expected to even be in this game!

St. Mary’s was young while Amesbury was seriously reconstructed.

On this afternoon, it was the reconstructed team that put enough pieces together to win the Division 3 North softball semifinals 4-2 at Martin Field in Lowell.

The top piece for Amesbury (15-8) was senior Hayley Catania. The AHS pitcher allowed five hits (three of them in the first inning) and struck out ten Spartans. But there’s more to the story: Hayley also had two hits and an RBI. Her alert baserunning keyed one of the Indians runs in the 2-run fifth.

Shortstop Alyssa Grossi makes a nice running catch

Both teams had powered past quarter-final opponents. St. Mary’s had four homers versus Pope John while Amesbury had three long ones against Lynnfield.

Today’s contest had only two loud hits and both of them were by Amesbury. Emma DiPietro had a triple in the 2-run fifth and Hayley had an RBI double in the Indians 2-run seventh.

St. Mary’s (14-9) scratched out a run in the first. Consecutive singles (Felicia D’Alessandro, Marina DiBiasio, Jordan Sullivan) produced a run. This was where Amesbury’s Hayley Catania gave us a glimpse of the kind of game she would have as she then struck out Jennie Iudice and Taylor Sullivan to end the inning.

Amesbury had runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but pitcher Lily Newhall kept the ball in the infield and escaped being scored on.

Starting with the 2 K’s in the first inning, Hayley retired eleven in a row including six strikeouts.

While the pitching was terrific for Amesbury they still trailed by a run until the fifth inning.

Emma Catania singled home a run in the 5th but was thrown out stretching it.

Junior Emma DiPietro tripled with one out over CF Christina Nowicki’s head. Hayley Catania walked but on ball four the ball got away from catcher Jordan Sullivan allowing Emma to score and tie the game. Hayley alertly took second when the Spartans concentrated too much on Emma crossing the plate. That alertness paid off for AHS because when her sophomore sister Emma singled to center, Hayley came home with the go-ahead run.

Now down, 2-1, the pressure was on the St. Mary’s offense. Alyssa Grossi singled to center opening the bottom of the 5^th. A sacrifice bunt (Katie O’Neill) moved her to second with one out. But here came Hayley Catania, doing exactly as she had done in the first inning, striking out the next two batters (Angelina Catino and Christina Nowicki) to hold the slim lead.

Emma DiPietro’s triple goes over CF Christina Nowicki’s head

Both teams went down in order in the sixth.

The seventh was not for the weak of heart on either team!

Amesbury put two runners on with no one out on a walk (Emily O’Donnell) and Julia Campbell reaching on an error by pitcher Christina Nowicki. Freshman Maddie DiPietro pinch ran for Emily. That brought up Hayley and St. Mary’s coach Paige Licata had a meeting at the mound.

“We talked about walking her (Hayley),” said Coach Licata. “I told Christina (Nowicki) to keep the ball away from her, and she did, but the ball was still pulled to left. With a hitter like that you take your lumps and hope you can produce more runs.”

Hayley took that outside pitch over LF Julia Nickolau’s head bringing Maddie DiPietro across and getting Julia Campbell to third. Senior Hannaih Burdick’s grounder to second enabled Julia to tally Amesbury’s 4^th run.

Maddie DiPietro (8) and Julia Campbell (10) wait on the bases to see if Hayley Catania’s long fly will be caught….it wasn’t.

Hayley Catania happy to survive the St. Mary’s 7th

The Indians would need those extra runs in St. Mary’s final at-bats. Things started harmlessly enough (for Amesbury) as two Spartans struck out. Then Hayley walked Alyssa Grossi and Katie O’Neill followed with a 2-strike single to right.

Was a miracle comeback about to happen?

The Spartans created a rundown between first and second and Alyssa Grossi scored as Katie O’Neill got back to first safely. Now the tying run was at the plate.

But Hayley got Angelina Catino to fly out to RF Karleigh Walker insuring Amesbury a trip to Saturday’s North final against Austin Prep.

The Indians reaching the D3 North surprised their coach (Jacqui Waters) as much as anyone: “I have only two players playing where they played last year. This is all ecstasy to me. I never thought we’d be here.”

Lily Newhall gave up five hits over six innings.

Coach Paige Licata was surprised that her team made it as well: “We started 0-3 with a team with no seniors and two juniors. Today we used a 7^th grader (Angelina Catino) at first and an 8^th grader (Lily Newhall) pitching. There was no one crying afterwards because everyone will be back.”

Hayley Catania: “To beat St. Mary’s was a first for me. My best pitch today (like against Lynnfield) was my drop curve.”

St. Mary’s had only three outfield outs, all to RF Karleigh Walker.

Coach Waters: “Our two seniors (Hannaih Burdick & Hayley Catania) have held this team together. Often graduated seniors aren’t like that but our two have stayed attentive. We practice three hours a day, six days a week on the basics and go at it as hard as we can. We’ve gotten better and better as the season has progressed. I learned that approach from previous coach Chris Perry and it has paid off.”

Weather looked as if it could rain at any time.

RF Karleigh Walker successfully handled three fly balls including the one that ended the game.

Funny moment: I asked Coach Licata about Hayley’s pitching and she said that she’d coached against her two years ago. She then asked me laughing, “She’s a senior, I hope, isn’t she?”

No one I talked to afterwards knew when the last time was that Amesbury softball had beaten St. Mary’s. Coach Waters guessed that it might have been 2005. It had obviously been a while!

I did see Amesbury soccer defeat St. Mary’s in the tournament this season at Landry Stadium.

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

Christina Nowicki

Waiting for the game to start

Pitcher Christina Nowicki loses the ball attempting to tag Julia Campbell

Maddie DiPietro turns 3B and heads home in the 7th inning

Hayley Catania after the win

Victory hugs

2B Felicia D’Alessandro tosses to first

Hayley Catania throws to first

Shortstop Alyssa Grossi throws to first

Freshman Marina DiBiaso

3B Julia Campbell throws out bunter Katie O’Neill

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Filed under Amesbury, St. Mary's

Tagged as Emma Catania, Emma DiPietro, Hayley Catania, Jordan Sullivan, Lily Newhall

May 4, 2018 · 9:25 pm

Triton defeats Amesbury 4-1 to gain tourney

Eve Paicos reaches 3B as the throw comes to Sydney Daileanes

Emma DiPietro homered in the first inning for Amesbury

(Amesbury MA) The Triton softball team keeps rolling along. That’s six straight for the team from Byfield.

This afternoon the Vikings (9-1) got themselves into the post-season with a tight 4-1 win over Amesbury.

“This was a big win for Triton,” explained 3^rd year coach Dave Dupere afterwards. “We qualified for the tournament and we did it against two of the best pitchers (Emily O’Donnell & Hayley Catania) in the Cape Ann League.”

Amesbury (4-5) jumped ahead quickly in the first inning as junior Emma DiPietro took advantage of fenceless Perry Field and homered down the left field line.

Katherine Quigley tossed a 4-hitter for the Vikings

“That first-batter homer was a shock,” said Vikings shortstop Bridget Sheehan, “but we are good at bouncing back.”

The immediate 1-0 deficit was a wake-up call for Triton pitcher Katherine Quiqley. “Amesbury is a very good hitting team and I knew that I wanted to keep the ball inside and low on them. That home run pitch got way too much of the strike zone.”

Lesson learned. Thereafter, with better pitch spotting, the Indians were limited to only three hits over the final 6 2/3 innings.

The Vikings broke through on AHS starter Emily O’Donnell in the 3^rd inning. Dani West singled to left before Eve Paicos duplicated Emma DiPietro’s homer with a liner/roller to left.

Now ahead 2-1, the Vikings put three hits together in a row in the 4^th inning to collect another pair of runs. A single by Bridget Sheehan was followed by a triple to left center by Emily Karvielis scoring Bridget. “I thought that the left fielder was going to catch it but then it went into the gap,”said Emily afterwards.” A Colleen McCarthy single on the ground up the middle drove in Triton’s 4^th run.

Eve Paicos rounds second as Amesbury sets up a relay

Sophomore Eve Paicos

The Eve Paicos homer was a big surprise to me. Why? I did the Triton game on Tuesday at Newburyport and never saw Eve play at all. Today, batting 9^th, I wasn’t prepared for her shot to left. Coach Dupere and Bridget Sheehan both insisted afterwards, however, that the sophomore hits for power.

The Vikings had only six hits and Eve had two of them today. Next time I won’t be as surprised.

Not surprising to Coach Dupere was the play of his infield. “In my opinion, we have the best infield in the league.” Hard not to agree. With Katherine Quigley keeping the ball down, there were plenty (fourteen) of infield grounders.

3B Colleen McCarthy was busy with seven of them.

2B Emily Karvielis made a diving stop and threw from her knees to end the Amesbury first.

In the 4^th inning shortstop Bridget Sheehan made a nice running catch in left. Later, in the same inning, she was able to handle a two-out grounder despite having baserunner Abby Aponas go in front of her just before the ball got to her.

Senior Hayley Catania retired eight straight Vikings

The Vikings needed all the pitching and defense they could find on this afternoon because Amesbury was on its game. There were no unearned runs. No walks. In five of today’s innings the Vikings totaled just one baserunner! Relief pitcher Hayley Catania retired the last eight Vikings in a row.

But the four runs were enough for Triton to run their win streak to six. Their only loss has been to undefeated North Reading, 6-2. There is a rematch ahead this month. Might want to see that one!

The Indians haven’t won a game in two weeks. Today’s performance should be a source of encouragement for their games ahead. The defense made plays and the pitching was solid. Now if they can get some hits. Despite the two-week slide, Amesbury still leads the Baker Division of the CAL.

The Indians had won five straight versus Triton. Last Vikings win was in 2013.

Triton has six games before they face North Reading. Four of the teams they face they have already beaten once. The other two opponents have losing records. Never good to count your chickens before they’re hatched, however.

Scary moment in the first inning. A Hayley Catania foul ball curved into the bleachers and caught a lady on the side of the head. There was immediate attention and ice packs and hopefully she is okay.

RF Dani West settles under the final out

Triton nearly had the bases loaded in the 5^th inning but the home plate umpire reversed a walk to Zoe Cesati after owning up to his mistake on the count. Zoe then popped up and Bridget lined out stranding the two runners on 2^nd and 3^rd.

Hayley Catania started the game for AHS at 3B and immediately successfully handled two Triton bunt attempts. Hayley will attend UMass Boston in the fall to study nursing and play softball.

The weather was overcast and in the low 60s.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably.)

3B Colleen McCarthy throws to first

One that got away

Taylor Penniman

Sydney Daileanes

Abby Aponas screens Bridget

Bridget locates the ball

Catcher Hanniah Burdick looks for a sign

Pitcher Katherine Quigley makes a play to first

3B Colleen McCarthy had six assists

Kaylie Cloutier makes a play at first

Shortstop Emma DiPietro

First inning scare

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Filed under Amesbury, Triton

Tagged as Bridget Sheehan, Emily Karvielis, Emma DiPietro, Eve Paicos, Katherine Quigley

November 5, 2017 · 11:25 pm

Amesbury advances to D4 semis with 2-0 win against St. Mary’s

Amesbury put pressure on the St. Mary’s defense. Here Sherly Feliz (24) is chased by Brooke Taylor (7)

Michaela Halloran’s tap heads for the goal line as a lunging Morgan Mackie tries to stop it.

(Amesbury MA) The scoreboard at Landry Stadium wasn’t up to speed but the Amesbury girls’ soccer team sure was as they defeated St. Mary’s, 2-0, in the Division 4 North quarterfinals.

The Sunday evening matchup featured a heavy dose of pressure by the Indians on the Spartans. There were plenty of passes away from the middle that gave Amesbury’s speedsters opportunities to create scoring chances.

“When we play fast, we play our game,” said Amesbury coach Adam Thibodeau afterwards.

Ashley Pettet (8) chased by Joslyn Deschenes (16)

The Indians (14-5-1) scored both of their goals (Hannaih Burdick, Michaela Halloran) in the first half. Instead of playing conservatively in the second half, Amesbury just kept attacking.

And there was only one reason why this didn’t end up being a seven or eight goal game: Alex Iacoviello. The St. Mary’s goalie faced shots from just about everywhere in the second half and dazzled everyone with the saves she came up with.

“She (Alex) kept us in the game,” said Spartans coach Jim Foley. “Several of her saves were unbelievable.”

Chelsea Lynch stopped by Spartans goalie Alex Iacoviello

“Their goalie was absolutely spectacular,” said AHS coach Adam Thibodeau.

By keeping the heat on the St. Mary’s defense, Amesbury was able to limit the chances the Spartans had. But the team from Lynn did have several anyhow.

St. Mary’s top scorer (Kayla Demers) had a good look in the second half.

There was also a situation where Amesbury GK Alli Napoli had the ball get away from her after attempting a save. The ball was loose close to the corner and a St. Mary’s player was about to take a shot at an unguarded net but three Amesbury players slid in to block any straight shot at the goal.

That’s what makes Amesbury so tough: Not only are they fast into the attacking zone but they are also fast to get back to help on defense.

Amesbury GK Alli Napoli (green) gets help from three teammates

“Amesbury is probably the best team in the D4 North,” explained Coach Foley. “We ended up meeting them a little earlier than I had hoped.”

The #6 Indians will meet #2 Essex Tech in the semifinals on Wednesday night at Manning Field in Lynn.

Freshman Alyssa Pettet (5) pressured by Kayla Demers (27)

Hannaih Burdick’s goal was set up by Emma DiPietro seventeen minutes into the first half. A throw-in from the left side reached Emma. Instead of trying to go toward the goal, Emma passed further right to an uncovered Hannaih.

The shot was a long one but Hannaih had experience taking it from that far out. The shot was a high one and sailed into the top of the net on the left side.

“I thought that the shot had gone over the net,” recalled Hannaih afterwards.

The battle AFTER Michaela’s shot had crossed the line

The second Amesbury goal was set up by Chelsea Lynch. Down the middle she came with defenders on either side. Alex Iacoviello came out to challenge and Chelsea’s shot bounced off her and over her. The ball headed ever so slowly toward the net. Michaela Halloran saw it and tapped it just enough to get it across the goal line. Michaela and Morgan Mackie battled for possession inside the net, but the goal had already been scored.

In the second half, St Mary’s (9-8-3) couldn’t get the goal that would have made things more interesting down the stretch. “We’ve had trouble scoring all season,” added Coach Foley.

The speed of Amesbury has been noted. Also important is to have players in the midfield who have the dribbling skills to make players miss. Most opponents attack someone with the ball at full speed. The talented players often make those attackers miss by pulling the ball back. Those of us who enjoy watching Charlie Brown attempt to kick a football with Lucy holding the ball know what I mean! Midfielders Ashley Pettet and Emma DiPietro make players miss on a regular basis.