Alexi Boswell
Rachel Cyr
Autumn Kligerman
Jen Nutter
Maddy Crateau
Meredith Kercher
Hannah Travers (#20)
Paige Zeval
Julianna Kostas
Alex Mendelsohn
Kylie Currier
Vicki Allman
Ashley Hodge
Catcher Sophia Warner
Kassidy Kennefick
Maddie Binding
Kayla Parisi
Mara Spears
(Annika Han, Melanie Carter, and Jackilyn Murphy also made the team.)
Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Georgetown, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Masconomet, Newburyport, Pentucket, Triton
Taylor Johnson tagged out at third base by Meg Stanton as Triton coach Michele Brewer watches
Shelby OBrien hit a 3-run homer in the first inning
(Newburyport MA) Shelby O’Brien’s three-run homer was the big hit for Newburyport in their, 5-2, win over Triton on Monday afternoon.
A huge win for the Clippers (9-8) as they try to qualify for the post-season. They now need one win in their three remaining games to get it done.
The loss ended a three-game slide for the home team. Their next game is at Pentucket on Wednesday.
Triton (5-13) had a five game win-streak in mid-season but have struggled in the games before and after that run of good softball.
The Vikings were missing four starters (Rylee Culverwell, Casey Ross, Christine Ciccone, Julia Hartman) for today’s game. That put inexperienced players into unfamiliar places.
Newburyport scored three in the first inning and two in the third inning. Triton got its runs in the first two innings.
Morgan Johnston and Vicki Allman after the 9th Newburyport win
Senior Vicki Allman pitched a 5-hitter for the Clippers with no walks. After the first two innings, only one Viking (Emma McGonagle) was able to get to second base over the final five innings.
Vicki was hit hard in the first inning in more ways than one. Mara Spears led off with a triple to left center. Third batter (Kylie Gilroy) lined a shot off of Vicki’s left knee. Vicki was able to recover and throw Kylie out but Mara scored and Vicki went down with a sore knee. With backup pitcher Stephanie Gleason nowhere in sight, I’m not sure what NHS Lori Solazzo would have done for pitching if Vicki couldn’t continue. But Vicki did continue and immediately had another liner hit at her which she caught ending the inning.
Newburyport put up three runs of their own in their half of the first. Morgan Johnston beat out an infield hit and Carley Siemasko singled on the ground to right. Shelby O’Brien followed with a high fly deep to the right-field corner. Rightfielder Cailin Fraser had trouble finding the ball because it was over her head, hit high, and influenced by some gusty wind. Shelby was into third before the ball was even picked up and reached home easily.
The Clippers would load the bases after the homer but Mara Spears struck out Shianne Sneider to limit the damage to three runs.
Olivia Lees
Triton got a run back in the second. Sophomore Olivia Lees singled in the hole with two outs and was driven home by Taylor Johnson’s double. The inning ended with Taylor being tagged out by Newburyport third baseman Meg Stanton.
The Clippers added two runs to their 3-2 lead in their half of the third inning. Meg Stanton singled and Molly Kelley walked before junior Shianne Sneider hit an RBI single to right. Ashley Hodge followed with an RBI double to left.
That 5-2 count would hold up the rest of the way. There were few baserunners as the pitchers (Vicki Allman & Mara Spears and later Haley Johnson) threw strikes and had flawless defense behind them.
Weather? We had the Big Three in this one: cloudy, rainy, and sunny. I actually watched quite a few innings from my truck! My only regret was that Shelby’s homer was hit during the rainy part of the game and my camera was staying dry in my truck.
Casey Barlow, Kendra Dow, and Maddy Stanton were on hand to support their former Newburyport teammates.
Triton plays its last game on Wednesday at Saugus.
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Vicki Allman caught in a rundown
Shianne Sneider (one RBI) reaches 3B as Emma McGonagle awaits the throw
Meg Stanton sets to throw out baserunner Shannon Lyons
Infield grounder gets by second baseman Kylie Gilroy
Mara Spears watches the pitcher
Second baseman Molly Kelley camps under a popup
Haley Johnson
Triton pitcher Haley Johnson throws to 1B Lilly Anderson
Carley Siemasko looks for a popup hit by Mara Spears
Shannon Lyons tracks down a base hit
Filed under Cape Ann League, Newburyport, Triton
Pentucket sophomore Jenny Nelson dominated Triton
Pentucket shortstop Kassidy Kennefick chases down a foul popup
(Byfield MA)Â Way too much Jenny Nelson for the Triton Vikings on this sunny Monday afternoon.
The Pentucket sophomore struck out eleven and scattered two hits (both by Mara Spears) as the Sachems defeated Triton, 5-0, in Cape Ann League softball.
The last three games for Triton (5-11) have been a big surprise to anyone connected to their program. The Vikings had put five straight wins together but since then have not only lost three straight but haven’t scored a run in twenty-three straight innings.
Pentucket (7-7) has now won two straight. They need to get to ten wins in the remaining six games to qualify for the post-season tournament. You have to like their chances after the way they played today.
Mary Kate Corrado fields a grounder
The Sachems collected an unearned run in the first inning. Sophomore Maddie Binding and junior Kassidy Kennefick started the inning with singles. Tyler Feeney’s sacrifice fly moved Maddie to third. Mary Kate Corrado’s two-out grounder was booted by shortstop Rylie Culverwell scoring Maddie Binding.
Pentucket loaded the bases with singles in the third with one out. Mary Kate Corrado’s grounder to short resulted in a baserunner interference call on Tyler Feeney but pinchrunner Sarah Stewart reached home with Pentucket’s second run.
confusion in the Triton outfield
Ahead 2-0, the visitors created two runs in the fifth inning off of Triton reliever Haley Johnson. Kassidy Kennefick put down a perfect bunt to reach. Then Tyler Feeney lofted a popup into right field that was misjudged by rightfielder Cailin Fraser allowing Kassidy to reach third. Kassidy then scored on Sydney Snow’s RBI single with Tyler taking third. Tyler surprised the Vikings by stealing home after a throwback from catcher Julia Hartman to pitcher Haley Johnson.
The final Pentucket run was set up in the sixth inning by a sacrifice bunt (Jenny Nelson) that alert baserunner Nicolette Kent used to get from first to third on. That baserunning put Nicolette at third where she came home on senior Allison Knowles sacrifice fly.
Pitcher Jenny Nelson eyes an infield popup with second baseman Sydney Snow behind her
And while Pentucket was finding ways to score runs, the Vikings struggled to get baserunners. They had only four in the entire game. Triton had only one fly-ball out. They did get runners to second and third in the sixth inning but pitcher Jenny Nelson handled Emma McGonagle’s popup to end the inning.
Shortstop Kassidy Kennefick made a nice running catch in foul territory in the fourth inning.
Triton’s second baseman Kylie Gilroy put on quite a show in the Pentucket seventh. The senior captain handled three tough chances flawlessly: (1) running catch on a popup, (2) speared a line drive to her right, and (3) came up with a hard-hit grounder to throw out Sydney Snow. Good stuff!
The top four hitters in the Pentucket lineup (Maddie Binding, Kassidy Kennefick, Tyler Feeney, and Sydney Snow) each had two hits. The rest of the batting order…………..not so much!
Triton’s next game will be at Masconomet on Wednesday. Pentucket hosts Manchester-Essex tomorrow (Tuesday).
Weather? When you get a breeze at Triton that feels good, you know it’s warm out and it was.
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Mara Spears
Lilly Anderson
Triton second baseman Kylie Gilroy had 3 defensive gems in the 7th inning
Triton shortstop Rylie Culverwell throws to first
Freshman Haley Johnson
Kassidy Kennefick heads home with the 4th Pentucket run
Kylie Gilroy
Nikki ORourke
Jenny Nelson
Sydney Snow
Filed under Cape Ann League, Pentucket, Triton
Triton pitcher Mara Spears sets to throw to first.
The Triton defense was flawless. Here 3B Christine Ciccone catches a foul popup
(Byfield MA)Â That’s two straight for the Triton softball team.
The Vikings (2-8) defeated winless Ipswich, 13-1, on a windy, cold Monday afternoon of Cape Ann League softball.
The game ended in the fifth inning when Taylor Johnson slid across after a wild pitch to kick in the 12-run mercy rule.
Mara Spears, coming off a 3-hitter in the Vikings, 2-0, win at Saugus on Friday, tossed another 3-hitter against the visiting Tigers. Mara walked only one Tiger and the Triton defense was flawless behind her.
Carolyn Lynch scores the Ipswich run
Ipswich put the three hits together in the second inning and got their only run as Amy Neenan drove in teammate Carolyn Lynch with a single.
The Vikings took full advantage of Ipswich walks, wild pitches, and errors through the first three innings to take a commanding, 9-1, lead.
In the final inning plus, Triton rapped six hits to collect four more runs.
The Vikings sent nine batters to the plate in three of the 4+ innings they batted.
Christine Ciccone paced Triton with two RBI both on walks. Lily Anderson, Rylee Culverwell, Casey Ross, and Mara Spears had one RBI each.
The top three in the Vikings’ batting order (Rylee Culverwell, Casey Ross, Mara Spears) each scored three runs. Mara had as many hits (three) as she gave Ipswich.
Second baseman Gabby DAgostino stops a grounder
IHS starter sophomore Abby Sadoway issued nine walks in three innings of work. Five of the nine runners that scored did so on wild pitches.
Freshman Katie Lynch started the fourth and yielded four runs on six hits.
Ipswich (0-5) has allowed 83 runs through five games with the large number of free passes hurting the Tigers. IHS coach Jim Hounam (coached Triton for 20+ years) will look to turn things around tomorrow when Ipswich hosts Georgetown.
Triton has turned its season around after starting with eight straight losses under first-year coach Michele Brewer. In the string of losses, the Vikings were on the wrong end of three one-run games.
shortstop Rylee Culverwell
In the 2-0 win over Saugus, Rylee Culverwell had a home run.
Triton will be at Lynnfield tomorrow (Tuesday).
Carolyn Lynch (Ipswich) and Mara Spears (Triton) were Cape Ann League All-League selections in 2013. Jill Lombard (Ipswich) was a CAL All-Star.
Sophomore Rylee Culverwell looks like a natural at shortstop. She played 3B last year.
Triton catcher Julia Hartman walked all four times she batted.
Weather? Any time you come to Triton there will be wind. If you ever come there when it is cloudy you can expect it to be colder than you planned.
Triton used to only have a fence in right field. It is now extended around the entire outfield. There was no way a ball could ever be hit over that fence the way the wind was blowing in from left field this afternoon.
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Shannon Lyons about to catch a fly ball
Jill Lombard
Carolyn Lynch set to throw to first
Katie Lynch
Casey Ross gets 3B as Carly Coughlin reaches for the ball
Mara Spears
Kylie Gilroy fields a grounder
Abby Sadoway
Julia Hartman (4 walks)
Filed under Cape Ann League, Ipswich, Triton
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
Casey Ross scores the eventual game-winner for Triton
Mara Spears allowed six hits and retired the last seven Amesbury batters
(Amesbury) Amesbury fell from the undefeated ranks as surprising Triton upset them, 4-3, on a lovely Monday afternoon of Cape Ann League softball.
Triton (4-4) has now won four of their last five games and have certainly come a long way since their, 12-2, nonleague loss to Amesbury in the opener on April 10th.
The Indians (8-1) were coasting through five innings thanks to pitcher Carolina Merrill. Triton was hitless and she had allowed only two baserunners on walks. Amesbury had built up a 3-0 lead and looked completely in charge.
But visions of a no-hitter ended in the sixth inning. Pinch hitter Rose Gaffin hit a leadoff single to left and Alexa Reilly ran for her. That was the end of the no-hitter.
Amesbury’s three-run lead also disappeared before that sixth inning was over. Three errors (Lauren Fedorchak, Cassie Schultz, Autumn Kligerman) opened the door for the three Vikings runs that tied the score.
On the first error (drop of a throw) it took an overrule by the home-plate umpire or there would have been a forceout at second base.
The second error was a throw after picking up a bunt try that went past first into right field. Alexa Reilly beat the throw home…..somehow, for Triton’s first run.
Autumn Kligerman prepares to throw to first during the Vikings 3-run sixth inning
The Indians looked to be out of the inning with a 3-1 lead in place but a two-base throwing error enabled both Mara Spears and Rylee Culverwell to cross with the runs that tied the score.
Now tied going into the seventh, the Vikings pushed across what turned out to be the winning run. Julia Hartman singled to left with one out. Casey Ross ran for Julia. Alexa Reilly sacrifice bunted Casey to second with two outs. Mara Spears singled into right field and Casey Ross was able to score before Mara was thrown out trying for second.
On that run-scoring play, Mara’s single reached rightfielder Jenna Bartley in a hurry. Her quick throw in was cut off by pitcher Carolina Merrill who appeared to have a good shot at the baserunner trying to score. But the throw instead went to second (getting Mara) as the run scored.
Pitcher Mara Spears retired the Indians in order in the bottom of the seventh to notch the win. Mara, in fact, retired the last seven Amesbury batters in order.
Alexi Boswell reaches third
Amesbury scored their first run in the second inning. Alexi Boswell (two hits/two runs) tripled to left with one out. Amanda Schell drove Alexi home with a single to right. The Vikings escaped further damage that inning when Erin Leary lined to short (Kelsey Trudel) and Cassie Schultz was picked off second after the catch.
The Indians would add two more runs in the fifth inning. Alexi Boswell singled down the thirdbase line then reached third after a steal and a sacrifice bunt. Erin Leary blooped a single over the pitcher to score Alexi with two outs. Erin would then score Amesbury’s third run when Ashley Valme’s high fly to right center was dropped when Vikings rightfielder Cara Orlandi collided with centerfielder Rachel McCarthy. Next play, however, Rachel made a nice running catch in left center to get the Vikings out of the inning.
Mara Spears has been a key to Triton’s turnaround. In the 12-2 loss in the opener she allowed thirteen hits. This time around there were only six hits and none in the last 2 1/3 innings with the game on the line.
There was a scary moment for Mara and the rest of us on hand. In the bottom of the fifth, after Amesbury had scored a couple of runs, Mara threw a pitch and crumpled to the ground. It looked serious and having seen Cori Simons down and out five days ago you feared the worst. However, Mara got up, got some medical counsel, and resumed not allowing a base runner the rest of the way.
Carolina Merrill allowed only three hits and one earned run
Carolina Merrill deserved a better fate. The talented senior surrendered only three hits and one earned run. Her normally defensively reliable teammates let her down in Triton’s 3-run sixth.
Ashley Valme and Alexi Boswell each had two hits for Amesbury.
Besides pitching the six-hitter, Mara Spears had a hit, scored a run, and had an RBI.
Cara Orlandi and Peyton Hunt tried to bunt with two strikes on them in the fifth and ended up striking out.
Third baseman Rylee Culverwell and catcher Julia Hartman had trouble with Autumn Kligerman’s bunt in the fourth inning.
The last time Amesbury lost was June 3, 2012 to Danvers (2-0) in the Division 2 North quarterfinals at Danvers.
Cori Simons was a frustrated spectator for Triton. She hopes to get back playing before too long.
Alexa Reilly about to score on a very close play
Next for Triton is hosting Lynnfield on Wednesday. On the same day Amesbury travels to Newburyport.
(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Autumn Kligerman eyes a foul fly
Collision course in the Vikings outfield
Mara Spears down
Julia Hartman
Lauren Fedorchak and Jenn Bartley chase a foul ball
Shortstop Amanda Schell fires to first
Alexi Boswell steals second
Rylee Culverwell and Julia Hartman pursue a bunt
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
Catcher Molly Mello after tagging Cori Simons for the final out.
Jill Lombard (#13) hits a 2-run double over the glove of Rachel McCarthy in center in the third.
(Byfield)Â One team had runners in scoring position with two outs in three different innings and came away with six runs.
The other team had the bases loaded with one out in three different innings and came away with one run.
Therein lies the key data in the Ipswich Tigers, 6-2, win over the Triton Vikings on Monday morning/afternoon in non-league Cape Ann League softball action.
The Tigers (1-1) collected four of their runs in the last two innings to break away from a 2-2 tie after four innings.
If Ipswich coach Doug Woodworth was handing out a game ball to the top performer afterwards …….good luck! A number of players were deserving for sure.
My choice, after studying the stat sheet, goes to sophomore Molly Mello just for her heroics in the seventh inning.
At the bat in the seventh, it was Molly dropping a bloop single into left that brought home teammates Carolyn Lynch and Carly Coughlin with insurance runs five and six.
Maybe even better for Molly, and the Tigers, was what happened in Triton’s last at bats in the seventh. For the third time in the game the Vikings had the bases loaded with one out.
Molly Mello catches a foul pop in the seventh inning
In that game-on-the-line situation, Julia Hartman hit a foul popup up the first baseline that Molly reacted to from her catching position and caught with her back to home plate. Meanwhile, Triton’s Cori Simons (on third base) saw the plate unattended and tried to score. Molly raced back to home and tagged Cori out for the final out.
Senior Sami Brouillette got the win for the Tigers. Sami had control trouble early, giving up three straight walks and a wild pitch in the first inning. The Vikings came away with just one run (Cori Simons) as one runner (Mara Spears) was forced at the plate and shortstop Carolyn Lynch handled an infield grounder for the final out.
Ipswich picked up their first two runs in the third. A bunt single (Meredith Kercher) and a sharp single (Carolyn Lynch) between third and short set the Tigers up in their first 2-on, 2-out situation. Jill Lombard’s blast over Rachel McCarthy’s head in center then delivered the first two Ipswich runs.
Rylee Culverwell rounds third and heads in with the second Vikings run
Triton tied the score in the fourth inning. Freshman Rylee Culverwell singled, stole second, and scored Mara Spears RBI single to center.
The Tigers picked up a pair of unearned runs in the sixth inning. A one-out error (dropped fly ball by centerfielder Rachel McCarthy) was surrounded by a single (Carly Coughlin) on one side and two-out RBI singles (Jessie Spencer and Kaysee Lemonosky) on the other. Molly Mello and Sydney Law scored the runs for Ipswich.
Molly Mello’s two-out hit in the seventh gave the Tigers the 4-run cushion that stayed that way to the game’s end despite a scary (for Ipswich) bottom of the seventh.
Triton hurt themselves on the bases a couple of times. In the third, base-runner Kelsey Trudel interfered with shortstop Carolyn Lynch with the bases loaded for the final out. In the sixth, pinch-runner Ashley Shute was picked off third by Carolyn Lynch with one out.
Pitcher Mara Spears and first baseman Lily Anderson each had two hits for Triton.
Ashley Shute picked off third by Kaycee Lemorosky as Triton coach Jim Hounam looks on
Carolyn Lynch, Jill Lombard, and Molly Mello did the same for Ipswich.
A couple of veteran coaches in action in this one: Doug Woodworth (28th season) and Jim Hounam (27th season.)
Shortstop Carolyn Lynch (2012 CAL All-Star) made a nice final-out, running catch toward the foul line in the sixth inning.
Rightfielder Sydney Law made a tough catch in the Triton sixth.
Next game for Ipswich is at Georgetown at 10AM on Wednesday.
Next game for Triton is at Masconomet on Wednesday at 3:45PM.
(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Triton boxscore
Ipswich boxscore
Alexa Reilly reaches for a grounder
Sydney Law makes a tough catch in right
IHS coach Doug Woodworth
Tigers pitcher Sami Brouillette
Jill Lombard and Christine Ciccone
Carolyn Lynch
Rylee Culverwell charges a bunt
Cori Simons
Triton pitcher Mara Spears
Meredith Kercher scores the first Ipswich run
Amanda Boswell slides home safely
Jenna Bartley heads for home
(Byfield)Â Triton was in trouble even before their game with Amesbury started.
Cape Ann League All-Star Shannon Sinton was sidelined because of a preseason injury. The Vikings shortstop will be back with the team in a couple of weeks.
In the season opener for both softball teams Amesbury came away with a decisive, 12-2, win on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon.
The Indians were 17-5 in 2012 and have plenty of that team back. They had hits and base runners in every inning.
Carolina Merrill
And while the Indians were hitting and running the bases and building up an 8-0 lead, their pitcher (senior Carolina Merrill) held Triton scoreless scattering two hits and striking out five.
Amesbury had thirteen hits (by my count) and took the extra base time after time.
Amanda Boswell was the ideal leadoff batter for Amesbury in this one. The speedy junior reached base on all five at bats and scored four runs.
Mara Spears absorbed the loss for Triton. The Viking junior walked only one but despite some pretty good speed couldn’t keep the Indians from making good contact.
Cori Simons had a 2-run single for Triton in the final inning.
This was a non-league game. The CAL league game between the teams is on April 29th.
Erin Leary circles the bases
Today’s game featured three 2012 CAL All-League players – Cori Simons, Cassie Schultz, and Erin Leary. In this game, Erin had a home run down the left field line.
Kelsey Trudel, Shannon Sinton, Carolina Merrill, and Amanda Schell made the CAL All-Star team in 2012.
Last time I saw Amesbury play they were losing a tough 2-0 game at Danvers in the post-season tournament.
Triton’s next game is hosting Pentucket on Friday. Amesbury hosts Georgetown on Thursday.
(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Amanda Boswell
Amanda Schell
Two Triton runners score
Kelsey Trudel
Lexa Reilly
Lily Anderson and Lucy Scholz
Amanda Schell tags out Lexa Reilly
Carolina Merrill and Erin Leary
Triton pitcher Mara Spears
Hannah Lorden scores on a Triton passed ball
Kristen Turner pitched a four-hit shutout
(Byfield) Memo to the rest of the Cape Ann League softball teams: Rockport is good….very good.
Undefeated Rockport (8-0) shut out Triton, 9-0, on a windy Friday afternoon in Cape Ann League action at Triton.
(Since both teams are the Vikings, I’ll limit my use of the name.)
Senior Kristen Turner allowed Triton (2-6) only four singles and walked no one earning the win.
Triton’s lone threat was in the sixth. They loaded the bases on two singles (Mara Spears & Cori Simons) and an error (Kendra Adams) with no outs. However, a force at home, a popup, and an infield grounder ended the one and only potentially big inning for Triton.
Triton’s starter (Cori Simons) didn’t fare as well when Rockport loaded the bases against her in the first inning with no outs. Passed balls brought in two runs (Hannah Lorden & Mollie Watson) and a fielder’s choice RBI by Kendra Adams scored Gabby Muniz with Rockport’s third tally.
Mara Spears reaches third
That was more than enough runs for Rockport as Kristen locked down Triton with only two singles through the first five innings.
Rockport had runners on in every inning and it was a credit to pitcher Cori Simons and her teammates that they recovered from the first inning (three runs) and held Rockport scoreless over the next three innings.
Rockport collected their fourth run in the fifth inning. Kendra Adams reached on an error (Kylie Gilroy), went to third on a Kayla Parisi single, and scored on a passed ball.
A walk (Hannah Lorden), an RBI double (Mollie Watson), and an RBI triple (Gabby Muniz) and Rockport had two more runs in the sixth. A passed ball allowed Gabby to score Rockport’s seventh run.
Two more runs were added in the seventh. After two outs, Hannah Lorden walked, went to second on a passed ball, and scored on Lily Anderson’s (first baseman) drop. Gabby Muniz (single) drove in Mollie Watson with the final run.
Hannah Lorden – three runs, two hits, three walks
The top three in the Rockport batting order were extremely productive. Leadoff hitter Hannah Lorden was 2-for-2 plus three walks and three runs scored. Mollie Watson was 2-for-5 including a double, scored three runs, and had an RBI. Gabby Muniz was 2-for-4 including a triple, scored two runs, and had two RBI. These three girls are all sophomores! Last year Gabby was Player-of-the-Year in CAL D3 while Mollie was a CAL All-Star.
Kayla Parisi had two hits for Rockport and Cori Simons had two for Triton.
Rockport went 9-11 last season and lost in the first round of the state tournament. I can’t guess how they’ll do in the 2012 state tournament but I am quite certain, from what I saw today, that they will be a high seed in the tourney.
Triton pitching (Cori Simons & Mara Spears) gave up six walks and nine hits. The mix of base runners and passed balls was not a good one for Triton.
Rockport’s next game is home against Masco on Monday afternoon. Masco lost its first game today versus Lynnfield.
Third baseman Casey Ross fields a grounder.
Triton travels to Georgetown on Monday.
It is easy to pick the Triton fans from others. On a sunny afternoon with temperatures in the 50s elsewhere, they show up wearing what could pass as winter gear – warm hats, gloves, etc.. And as they know from experience, by the time the game ended that gear made perfect sense.
Kristen Turner has pitched four years for Rockport. Coach Diane Parisi told me that her freshman daughter (Kayla) can pitch.
Triton coach Jim Hounam sent up three pinch hitters in the bottom of the seventh and Kristen struck out all of them. She had six K’s for the game.
According to the Gloucester Times, Rockport’s 7-0 start was the best ever for the softball program. That was topped today with an 8-0 start.
(The pictures above and below enlarge significantly if you click on them.)
Kristen Turner throws out Cara Orlandi
Gabby Muniz – two hits, two runs, two RBI
Coach Diane Parisi
Kendra Adams
Kayla Parisi – two hits
McClelland Miscellanea 
