Tag Archives: Sam Stone

Amesbury recovers to win First Round softball 14-5 over Lynnfield

Zoe Fitzgerald races to first with the final out.

Zoe Fitzgerald races to first with the final out.

Annika Han scores the first Lynnfield run

Annika Han scores the first Lynnfield run

(Amesbury MA) The #1 seed Amesbury recovered from a 3-run Lynnfield first inning and went on to defeat the Pioneers, 14-5, in Round One of the D3 North softball tournament on Saturday afternoon.

The Indians (18-3) will now face another Cape Ann League team (Rockport) in the quarterfinals on Monday afternoon at Amesbury’s newly named Chris Perry Field.

The #16 seed Pioneers (13-9) came out of the gates hitting AHS starter Hayley Catania hard getting three hits and three runs in the first inning. After that the Indians freshman scattered five hits (and two runs) while striking out five.

Meanwhile the Amesbury bats were loud and never seemed to quiet down against LHS starter senior Sadie Oliver. Everyone in the Indians lineup had hits in Amesbury’s fourteen-hit afternoon. Also, every batter scored at least one run. It was quite the hitting show.

Sam Stone paced Amesbury with three hits. Autumn Kligerman and Zoe Fitzgerald each homered. Autumn’s was down the left-field line and seemed to roll forever. Zoe’s was a blast over leftfielder Leigh Guerra.

Seniors Hannah Travers and Kelly Hosterman each had two hits for Lynnfield.

Very impressed with LHS centerfielder Annika Han. The Lynnfield junior had a quick jump on fly balls and registered six putouts.

Maddie Napoli on her way to a terrific running catch

Maddie Napoli on her way to a terrific running catch

Another defensive standout was Amesbury shortstop Maddie Napoli. The AHS sophomore recovered from a first-inning bad throw to stay clean the rest of the way. Maddie turned in the play-of-the-game in the 4th inning with a running catch toward the left-field foul line off the bat of Olivia DeLuca. In the promising Pioneers’ (two on, nobody out) sixth, Maddie caught an LHS baserunner off second base.

Sadie Oliver tossed a 2-hitter in Lynnfield’s 12-0 win over O’Bryant in the preliminary round.

Amesbury defeated Lynnfield in April (8-3), May (9-1), and today in June.

Amesbury box

Lynnfield box

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

Hayley Catania was the complete game winner

Hayley Catania was the complete game winner

Hannah Travers had two hits for Lynnfield

Hannah Travers had two hits for Lynnfield

Kelly Hosterman had two hits

Kelly Hosterman had two hits

AHS shortstop Maddie Napoli

AHS shortstop Maddie Napoli

LHS pitcher Sadie Oliver

LHS pitcher Sadie Oliver

Lauren Fedorchak

Lauren Fedorchak

tough chance in left field

tough chance in left field

LHS coach Peter Marinelli visits his pitcher

LHS coach Peter Marinelli visits his pitcher

Kelly Dillon (#6) after interfering with Lauren Fedorchak (#15)

Kelly Dillon (#6) after interfering with Lauren Fedorchak (#15)

close play at second

close play at second

AHS coach Chris Perry puts the stop on baserunner Hayley Catania

AHS coach Chris Perry puts the stop on baserunner Hayley Catania

Kelly Dillon fires to first

Kelly Dillon fires to first

Autumn Kligerman jumps for joy at the end of the game

Autumn Kligerman jumps for joy at the end of the game

 

 

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Amesbury defeats Newburyport 11-2 behind Hayley Cantania

Nine strikeouts for Amesbury starter Hayley Cantania

Nine strikeouts for Amesbury starter Hayley Cantania

Lauren Fedorchak (2B) catches the final out for Amesbury

Lauren Fedorchak (2B) catches the final out for Amesbury

(Amesbury) Perfect softball weather.

The softball played on Monday afternoon…not so perfect but Amesbury did come away with an 11-2 win over neighboring Newburyport.

AHS freshman Hailey Cantania kept nine Clippers off the base paths with strikeouts in her five innings of pitching.  That was significant in a game where the defenses were nowhere near where they will be later in the season.  Overthrows and bad decisions abounded for both sides on balls in play.  The Indians (2-0) had fewer chances to deal with, however,  thanks to Hailey’s pitching.

But this was early season action and with the weather around here who could even tell until recently that there were softball fields in the area.  Practicing indoors in gymnasiums or outdoors in cold/windy weather won’t prepare a team for a season of softball.  This was the opener for Newburyport and it showed.

Down 7-0, catcher Shelby O’Brien whacked a two-run homer or at least we thought she did.  However, an appeal was made that base runner Morgan Johnston had failed to touch third.  Goodbye, two runs!

Emily Robinson (#14) gets mobbed by her Amesbury teammates after 3-run homer

Emily Robinson (#14) gets mobbed by her Amesbury teammates after 3-run homer

Biggest hit in the game?  Three-run blast by junior Emily Robinson of Amesbury to center in the sixth.  The Clippers might have had a chance to get Emily at the plate but on this day the relay throw went to third instead of to home.

Several times for both teams potential double plays were lost because of throws to the wrong base or throws too high to the right base.  I hope I’ve made my point……the defenses were shaky!

I also heard a retiring coach shouting to a second baseman to throw the ball to first (for a double play?) AFTER the second baseman had caught a popup for the third out of the last inning.  It was that kind of game!

Molly Kelley had a good game at second for the Clippers.

AHS relief pitcher Sam Stone

AHS relief pitcher Sam Stone

Helmets?  Glad Sam Stone had one on when catcher Shelby O’Brien’s throw from home struck that helmet as Sam slid back into first base.  The ball ended up caroming out of play.

Masks?  As a photographer I would prefer that the players didn’t wear masks in the field.  However as a parent/grandparent I am uncomfortable seeing infielders not wearing masks.  Way too dangerous, in my opinion.  One line drive up the middle nearly got AHS pitcher Hayley Catania who wasn’t wearing a mask.  Has no one figured out that a batted softball off a metal bat could cause a serious injury?

The weather was a great treat.  Temps close to 70 with plenty of sun.

I enjoyed being back with players and coaches of both teams.  I have been around both teams long enough to know who is new this year and who is missing.  Good folks on both sides.

My current schedule (working part-time at Pickwick Driving School Tuesday-Friday) will keep me from doing many games this season.  I regret it but some things have to be.

I was pleased to see that Dan Harrison, formerly of the Salem News, is now part the the Newburyport Daily News staff.  He is a good writer and the coverage of the area spring sports should be significantly upgraded as a result.

(The pictures above and below will enlarge significantly if you click on them.)

Amesbury lineup

Amesbury lineup

Maddie Napoli (shortstop) throws to first

Maddie Napoli (shortstop) throws to first

trouble in the Newburyport outfield

trouble in the Newburyport outfield

Molly Kelley (2B) about to catch a popup

Molly Kelley (2B) about to catch a popup

Jade Carpenter (3B) prepares to throw home

Jade Carpenter (3B) prepares to throw home

Morgan Johnston

Morgan Johnston

Newburyport team picture

Newburyport team picture

Clippers relief pitcher Carley Siemasko throws to Molly Kelley at first

Clippers relief pitcher Carley Siemasko throws to Molly Kelley at first

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