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
Celebrating begins as Shelby OBrien (#11) crosses home in the first inning
Shelby OBrien was flawless in the field and started a double play
(Amesbury MA)Â “Hey, she’s human!”
That’s what one of the spectators yelled after Amesbury’s Zoe Fitzgerald ripped a grounder down the line past third baseman Shelby O’Brien in the sixth inning.
Why? Junior Shelby O’Brien was having a remarkable game in the field and at the bat. She had handled tough chances and routine chances flawlessly. She even had started a double play. But there were equally good things when Shelby batted: a home run, two doubles and four RBI.
In the end, Newburyport defeated Amesbury, 10-3, on a sunny/windy Monday afternoon of Cape Ann League softball.
Meghan Stanton finishes her run around the bases
Meghan Stanton also homered and Stephanie Gleason added a triple as part of Newburyport’s 13-hit barrage.
Amesbury (6-4) had plenty of hits (nine) but were short on the big hit. The Indians left runners on base in every inning.
Amanda Schell led Amesbury with three hits and two RBI. She also scored a run.
Lauren Singer also had a big day for the Clippers (7-5) with two hits and three RBI.
Newburyport picked up three runs in the first inning. Morgan Johnson singled and Carley Siemasko reached on an error (Maddy Napoli) before Shelby launched a 3-run blast over centerfielder Meagan Aponas’ head.
In the third the Clippers added two more runs. Carley Siemasko ripped a single off of AHS starter Sammy Stone’s glove before Shelby doubled to right center. Lauren Singer’s single to right tallied both runners.
Amanda Schell (3 hits and 2 rbi)
Behind 5-0, the Indians rallied back in their half of the third. An infield hit and an infield error (Morgan Johnson) opened the door for Amanda Schell to drive in both baserunners (Alexi Boswell and Lucy Scholz) with a single to right center.
Newburyport put their big bats back to work in the fourth. Stephanie Gleason tripled to right center and Ashley Hodge singled her home. The Indians looked to be out of the inning after second baseman Lauren Fedorchak started a nifty double play. But on this day the runs kept coming for NHS. After Carley Siemasko walked, Shelby had a wind-blown double to left scoring Carley. Lauren Singer added another run with a single bringing Shelby home.
Next inning (fifth) the Clippers would add two more to their 8-2 lead against Rachel Cyr who replaced starter Sammy Stone. Amy Sullivan walked and was the baserunner when Meghan Stanton homered to right center.
Alexi Boswell at second base
Newburyport carried a 10-2 leading into the bottom of the seventh. Amesbury put three hits together for a run as Autumn Kligerman drove across Amanda Schell but that was it for the Indians.
The win enables the Clippers to sweep the season series with the Indians. Newburyport pulled out a walkoff 16-15 win in April in Newburyport.
Everyone in the Newburyport lineup either scored a run or had a hit.
Vicki Allman went the distance for the Clippers. She surrendered nine hits but gave up no extra base hits and allowed only one walk. Vicki certainly had plenty of run support in this one.
Zoe Fitzgerald had two hits for the Indians.
Amesbury was coming off of a 9-8 eight inning win over a North Reading team that had only lost once.
The sun was very tough for those playing on the right side of the field.
Amesbury returns to action tomorrow at Saugus. Newburyport will wait until Wednesday to resume play when they will host Ipswich.
It takes ten wins for a team to qualify for the post-season tournament.
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Pitcher Vicki Allman (#4) congratulates her teammates after the game
Lauren Fedorchak about to tag Amy Sullivan
Vicki Allman in her pitching motion
Centerfielder Meagan Aponas tracks a fly ball and rightfielder Alexi Boswell looks on
Pitcher Sammy Stone readies to fire to first
Shelby OBrien bats
Morgan Johnson sets to throw to first
Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Newburyport
Carley Siemasko gets congratulated by teammates after homer in the third inning
Vicki Allman struck out nine Royals
(Newburyport MA) Newburyport put together a nice mix of pitching, hitting, and fielding to defeat Georgetown, 10-3, on Wednesday afternoon at cold and breezy Cashman Park in Cape Ann League softball.
The Clippers (6-4) seemed fully recovered from an excruciating 5-4 loss to Manchester-Essex on Monday.
NHS pitcher Vicki Allman retired the first ten Royals she faced and ended up with nine strikeouts. The senior walked one batter and allowed only one extra base hit.
Carley Siemasko led a 13-hit Newburyport attack with three hits including a home run and five RBI. Junior Ashley Hodge also had three hits for the Clippers. This was a game in which Newburyport didn’t have any walks. Maybe they didn’t want to stand in the cold any longer than they had to??
The Clippers defense also had a good game with only one error (shortstop Morgan Johnson).
Danielle Quercia
Georgetown pitcher Danielle Quercia kept Newburyport off the scoreboard in the first inning by striking out Stephanie Gleason with two runners in scoring position.
The Clippers broke through in the second inning. A throwing error by GHS rightfielder Maggie Noelk enabled Lauren Singer to score. Later, Jade Carpenter’s fielder’s choice brought Vicki Allman across.
The visitors unraveled defensively in the third inning with three errors. Those miscues combined with five Newburyport hits paved the way for eleven Clippers to bat and six of them to score.
This was the inning Carley Siemasko homered. The ball went over leftfielder Gianna Faragi’s head and rolled to the fence. Later in the same inning, Carley singled to drive in two more runs.
Molly Kelley was called out for interfering with shortstop Kylie Hayward in that six-run third.
The Royals (2-6) cut into their 8-0 deficit with runs in the 4th and 5th.
Carley Siemasko (5 RBI)
In the 4th, Jen Nutter reached third after a bunt single, fielder’s choice, and a stolen base. Freshman Kylie Hayward’s bunt single delivered Jen with the first G’Town run.
In the 5th, two singles (Danielle Quercia and Hannah Jannell) were followed by Morgan Johnson’s error on a hard-hit grounder by Maddy Crateau that Danielle came home on.
Carley Siemasko had two more RBI in the Newburyport fifth. Both Ashley Hodge and Amy Sullivan singled and moved into scoring position. Carley did the rest.
Georgetown ran into outs in the 6th and 7th innings. Samantha Newbury was picked off first after Molly Kelley caught a popup in the sixth. In the seventh, Shelby O’Brien speared a line drive at third and caught Hannah Jannell off of first before she could get back.
Kaylie Sapienza triples
The Royals, despite the double play, did get a run in the seventh inning. Junior Kaylie Sapienza opened with a long triple to left. Hannah Jannell then placed a full-swing blooper in between the pitcher and the second baseman getting Kaylie home.
Injuries to Dana Edwards, Emily Fraser, and Meghan Stanton kept them out of today’s game.
Georgetown is scheduled to be at Pentucket tomorrow. Newburyport will be at Rockport on Friday.
The Royals have lost five of their last six games.
Danielle Quercia and Hannah Jannell had two hits for Georgetown. The Royals ended up with eight hits.
Vicki Allman and Ashley Hodge each scored two runs.
Jen Nutter made a nice catch in centerfield in the first inning to prevent a run from scoring.
Weather? After being at Newburyport High School on Tuesday, today at Cashman wasn’t that bad. It certainly helped that today’s softball game lasted 75 minutes while the baseball game on Tuesday was more than twice as long.
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
shortstop Morgan Johnson
Ashley Hodge (3 hits)
Amy Sullivan slides home
Jen Nutter eyes a popup
Maddy Crateau
Shelby OBrien sets to throw to first
Filed under Cape Ann League, Georgetown, Newburyport
Pentucket pitchers walked five in the Clippers 5-run second inning
Vicki Allman struck out six batters including two in the seventh inning
(Newburyport MA)Â Â Newburyport caught two Pentucket runners at home in their, 7-4, win over Pentucket on Friday morning in Cape Ann League softball.
The Clippers (5-3) turned a five-walk second inning into five runs and held off the Sachems (4-3) the rest of the way thanks to clutch defensive plays and the pitching of Vicki Allman.
Pentucket was coming off a tough loss yesterday to North Andover as a 2-0 lead evaporated because of a 10-run sixth inning nightmare. Today’s loss may have been just as painful.
After Newburyport loaded the bases in the second inning with one out, PHS starter Carley Desjardins walked Morgan Johnston, Ashley Hodge, and Amy Sullivan to force across three runs. Coach John Walsh brought in sophomore Sarah Stewart and she walked Carley Siemasko to send in a 4th NHS run. The consecutive walks ended as Shelby O’Brien flied to right bringing Ashley Hodge in with the 5th Clippers’ tally.
The Sachems had the makings of a big inning in the 4th when third baseman Shelby O’Brien’s error was surrounded by two singles (Maddy Ammon & MK Corrado). After NHS pitcher Vicki Allman K’d Carley Desjardins, Sydney Snow’s grounder tallied Maddy Ammon with Pentucket’s first run. On Sydney’s grounder, second baseman Molly Kelley opted to try for a play at the plate but Maddy beat the throw. This left the bases still loaded with only one out. Here’s where Vicki Allman’s clutch pitching kicked in. She got Nikki O’Rourke to popup and K’d Jenny Nelson to limit the damage to one run.
Meghan Stanton flips to second baseman Molly Kelley
The Sachems were right back threatening for more runs in the 5th inning. A bad throw by shortstop Meghan Stanton and an infield out put pinchrunner Amy McDonnell on third with one out. Newburyport first baseman Carley Siemasko followed with two huge defensive plays. Maddy Ammon hit a grounder to third that Shelby O’Brien fielded okay but her throw reached first on several hops. Huge play Number One: Carley scooped out the low throw to get the out at first. The runner at third (Amy McDonnell) opted to try for home. Huge play Number Two: Carley fired a strike home to catcher Lauren Singer to nab Amy on a very close play. The unfortunate bottom line for Pentucket was that they came away with no runs.
That wasn’t the case with Newburyport as they added two runs to their 5-1 lead in the bottom of that same fifth inning. Meghan Stanton singled and took second on a wild pitch. Vicki Stanton singled to left scoring Meghan and got all the way to third base when leftfielder Jenny Nelson bobbled the ball. Jade Carpenter ran for Vicki and raced home on Morgan Johnston’s infield grounder.
Tyler Feeney circles the bases as leftfielder Amy Sullivan throws in to Meghan Stanton
Now down 7-1 after five innings, the Sachems had their most productive inning of the game as they pushed three runs home. They could have had more…..but more on that later. Junior Tyler Feeney led off by crushing a ball over leftfielder Amy Sullivan’s head and quickly circling the bases for a homer.
Pentucket was then able to get MK Corrado (3 hits) and pinchrunner Corie Lucier to second and third with one out. Nikki O’Rourke followed with a hard-shot single to centerfield that scored two runs and went by centerfielder Ashley Hodge to the fence. Ashley quickly retrieved the ball as Nikki circled the bases. Ashley relayed to shortstop Meghan Stanton who threw a strike home to nab Nikki in a second close play at the plate. This was the second time in the game that Newburyport turned an error into an out at the plate. How often does that happen?
Carley Siemasko catches the final out
The Sachems threatened again in the seventh but came away empty. Maddie Binding led off with a triple over Ashley Hodge’s head in CF. With batters 2-3-4 coming up it wasn’t hard to envision a big inning. Vicki Allman, however, struck out both Kassidy Kennefick and Maddy Ammon looking and then got Tyler Feeney (home run in previous inning) to pop out to Carley Siemasko.
Clearly a tough defeat for Pentucket. They have been a 5-14 team the last two seasons but certainly look this time around to be much better than that. They surely need to be a little more patient on the bases!
Maddy Ammon started a double play
Newburyport hit into a double play in the first. Sachems’ second baseman Maddy Ammon made a nice catch on an infield popup to short center and doubled baserunner Amy Sullivan off of first.
Both teams will be back in action on Monday at home. Pentucket hosts Lynnfield while Manchester-Essex comes to Cashman Park.
I saw at least one girl on the Pentucket side visibly upset as the game turned Newburyport’s way. I trust that someone will remind the young lady that no one person ever loses a team game.
I learned (indirectly) at today’s game that Vicki Allman will be attending Regis College (Weston MA) next year.
Weather? It went from sunny to cloudy but with little wind. I wonder if yesterday’s wind had an influence on the Pentucket/North Andover game.
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Meg Hubbard
Sarah Stewart
Meghan Stanton slides in with the 6th Newburyport run
Maddie Binding (2 hits)
Carley Desjardins
Amy Sullivan puts down a bunt
Shortstop Kassidy Kennefick dives for a grounder
Filed under Cape Ann League, Newburyport, Pentucket
Morgan Johnston walks home the winning run for Newburyport
Maddie Napoli puts the tag on Lauren Singer
(Newburyport)Â Newburyport batted around in two of the last three innings and overtook Amesbury, 16-15, on a very windy Monday afternoon in Cape Ann League softball.
The Clippers (2-2) were down by two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but a two-run single by Lauren Singer tied things at 15-15. A catcher’s interference call followed loading the bases and pitcher Rachel Cyr’s walk to Morgan Johnston forced across the game winner.
This game was anything but smooth. The 20-30 MPH gusty winds made every ball in the air an adventure. Infield popups dropped among players. Outfield flies sailed over the heads of outfielders. In fact, line drives right at players were dropped.
Lucy Scholz races to third
Things weren’t much better on the ground. Part of the trouble for the infielders was the steady collection of baserunners serving up distractions. There were way too many throws to the wrong bases.
The Indians (2-1) dominated the first four innings. They led, 8-3, and already had eleven hits off of NHS starter Vicki Allman while AHS starter Rachel Cyr was limiting the Clippers to just three hits.
Newburyport turned things around in the fifth inning. They sent twelve players to the plate and collected eight runs on just four hits. Junior Morgan Kelley tripled in two of the runs. Amy Sullivan scored twice.
Alexi Boswell
Amesbury hit the ball hard all game and finished with seventeen hits. Five of the hits came in their sixth inning and they made Newburyport’s 11-8 lead disappear in a six-run inning. The Indians sent eleven batters to the plate. Alexi Boswell had two hits in the inning.
Newburyport went quietly in their sixth inning and trailed, 14-11.
The Indians added another run in the seventh as Amanda Schell hit a ball sharply to right. NHS rightfielder Morgan Johnston looked to have a chance on the ball but it got by her to the fence. Amanda was able to circle the bases for Amesbury’s fifteenth run.
Sammy Stone pitched the scoreless sixth for the Indians and 2/3 of the seventh inning.
In the seventh Newburyport got down to its final out before five straight Clippers reached to win on a walkoff walk by Morgan Johnston.
One reason for the Clippers win may well have been that despite getting hit hard pitcher Vicki Allman only walked two.
Carly Siemasko catches a popup
Sixteen players scored runs in this game. Thirteen players had RBIs.
Rachel Cyr drove in four runs while Molly Kelley and Lauren Singer drove in three each.
Amy Sullivan scored three times.
Alexi Boswell led all players with four hits, while teammates Lucy Scholz and Rachel Cyr had three apiece.
Meagan Aponas catches a fly just beyond the reach of Maddie Napoli
Lauren Singer had four hits for the Clippers including two triples.
Meghan Stanton looked good taking over for Kendra Dow at shortstop for Newburyport.
Weather? No question it was windy but it was also warm.
Next game for Amesbury will be hosting Rockport on Wednesday. Newburyport will be traveling to Saugus on the same day.
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Lauren Singer triples over Alexi Boswell
Amy Sullivan scores as the ball gets by catcher Amanda Schell
Jade Carpenter fires to first
Lauren Fedorchak
Amanda Schell near home after circling the bases
Amy Sullivan and Coach Lori Solazzo
Shelby OBrien
Vicki Allman
Filed under Amesbury, Cape Ann League, Newburyport
Indians celebrate quarterfinals win over Newburyport
Amanda Schell had three hits, three RBI, and scored three runs
(Amesbury) The stars were out and so was the sun screen as (#2 seed) Amesbury defeated neighboring Newburyport, 11-1, in the Division 2 North quarterfinals at toasty Amesbury on Saturday afternoon.
Impressive win for Amesbury (19-2). They will play again on June 5th (Wednesday) in the D2 North semi-finals.
Good news for Amesbury today was that Tewksbury took out #1 seed Danvers. Last year in the tourney, the Falcons ended Amesbury’s season, 2-1, at Danvers.
Five of the Indians were honored by the Cape Ann League a few days ago for their play in the 2013 season. Against the Clippers those selections looked golden. Let me take you through what each of those players did today:
(1) Pitcher Carolina Merrill – Gave up an unearned run in the first and survived a bases loaded jam in the second.  The Amesbury senior then retired 16 of the last 17 Clippers she faced.
(2) Shortstop Amanda Schell – Had 3 RBI, 3 hits, and 3 runs scored and flawlessly handled six chances in the field.
(3) First baseman Erin Leary – Had a hit, an RBI, and scored a run.
(4) Catcher Cassie Schultz (D2 CAL POY) – Had three hits and drove in three runs.
Ashley Valme heads for home as Kendra Dow throws from the outfield
(5) Leftfielder Ashley Valme – Had a two-run homer that reached the stadium wall beyond leftfield.
Newburyport had been blown out by Amesbury a month ago, 18-1, enduring a thirteen-run second inning along the way. The Clippers obviously needed to stay away from the big inning against Amesbury.
And they did, until the bottom of the fifth inning. The Indians lead was only 2-1 and NHS starter Vicki Allman had retired eleven straight Amesbury hitters.
The fifth, however, started ominously for Newburyport as errors by 3B Meghan Stanton and pitcher Vicki Allman gave Amesbury baserunners they shouldn’t have had. Five of the next six Indians’ batters had hits, including a double (Amanda Schell), triple (Cassie Schultz), and a homer (Ashley Valme), and the home team had seven runs and the dreaded big inning Newburyport wanted to avoid.
NHS coach Lori Solazzo visits the mound
Up 9-1, Amesbury added two more in the sixth. Amanda Schell tripled in Jenna Bartley and later scored on a wild pitch to close the scoring.
The Clippers had only four hits (Kendra Dow, Lea Tomasz, Casey Barlow, and Meghan Stanton). Carley Siemasko drove in their lone run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning.
Newburyport had the bases loaded with one out in the second inning but Carolina Merrill got a force out and a fly out to end the threat.
Amesbury answered with two runs in the bottom of the first thanks to their first three batters. Cassie Schultz’s double brought in Amanda Schell and Erin Leary.
Weird ending to that Amesbury first. Pitcher Vicki Allman thought she had struck out Autumn Kligerman so she headed off the field and everyone followed including baserunner Lucy Scholz who was on second base. The problem was that it was only two strikes and everyone stopped exiting including baserunner Lucy. Rightfielder Casey Barlow had reached second base during the exiting part and was there to take the throw from catcher Lauren Singer and tag Lucy out for the third out as she scrambled to get back. That’s 2-to-9 for those scoring at home!
Jenna Bartley had two hits, scored two runs, and drove in a run for Amesbury.
AHS coach Chris Perry and NHS coach Lori Solazzo
The coaches-of-the-year for the CAL were on hand for this one – AHS Chris Perry and NHS Lori Solazzo.
Amesbury had a 10-game winning streak stopped by Division 1 Methuen in their last regular season game.
Newbury finished 15-7 winning four of their last six. Their best game of the season may have been the 4-3 victory on Thursday over Marblehead with a nice combination of pitching, fielding, and hitting.
The Clippers will have to replace senior starters Jackie Krusemark, Lea Tomasz, Kendra Dow, and Casey Barlow. Lea and Kendra have been starters for three (?) years.
Autumn Kligerman makes a nice catch to end the game
Third baseman Autumn Kligerman made two key defensive plays for Amesbury.
The ice cream truck had the good business sense to drive into the parking lot adjacent to the field giving off its usual sound effects. I was shocked that a good part of the sizable crowd didn’t temporarily exit to find something cool.
This was Amesbury’s fifth straight win over Newburyport.
(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Casey Barlow loses a battle to a tough sun.
Jenna Bartley scores the sixth run for Amesbury on a wild pitch
Kendra Dow sets to throw
pre-game prep
parking lot diversion
Cassie Schultz loses the ball in the second inning
Carley Siemasko drops a popup but recovers quickly to tag out Amanda Schell
Filed under Amesbury, Newburyport
Newburyport celebrates 4-3 win over Marblehead in D2 North tourney opener
(Marblehead)Â Newburyport reached the Sweet Sixteen of Division 2 North with a tight, 4-3, win over Marblehead on a very hot Thursday afternoon.
The Clippers (15-6) now gets a third try against Amesbury. This time in the D2 North quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon (3PM) at Amesbury Middle School.
Vicki Allman tossed a three-hitter and had two hits herself
Vicki Allman pitched a complete-game, three-hitter for Newburyport in the do-or-die atmosphere of tournament play.
The #10-seed Clippers put four of their nine hits together in the top of the sixth inning to collect two runs and get the lead (4-3) for good.
Marblehead (#7 seed) threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Pinchrunner McKenzie Joyce stole second with two outs but Vicki Allman got Emily Promise to foul out to first baseman Carley Siemasko to end the threat and Marblehead’s season.
Newburyport jumped in front with a run in the first. Lauren Singer drilled a triple off Magician past leftfielder Allison Kapoll. Lea Tomasz singled through the hole between short and third driving Lauren home.
Marblehead (14-7) didn’t get a hit until the fourth inning but that didn’t stop them from getting two runs in the first off a very shaky Newburyport defense in their half of the first inning. A two-out bobble by shortstop Kendra Dow extended the inning. Two batters later, leftfielder Ashley Hodge dropped a fly ball allowing both Anistasia Vainis and McKenzie Joyce to score.
Things got a little weird in the Clippers half of the second inning. Newburyport loaded the bases (a Sarah Bornstein error was in the mix) with one out. Kendra Dow struck out but catcher Emily Messinger dropped the ball and Shelby O’Brien scored from third (barely…….Why didn’t she slide?) to tie the score at 2-2.
Lea Tomasz eyes a line drive
Two more Clippers errors in the Marblehead fourth put the Magicians up by a run. Centerfielder Lea Tomasz tried for a two-out shoestring catch but Rachel McKay’s line drive got past her enabling Rachel to reach second. Third baseman Meghan Stanton then threw away Alexa Brown’s grounder allowing Rachel to cross with Marblehead’s third run.
That run started to look like a game-winner after the Clippers went quietly in the fifth and then made an out to start the sixth.
However, Newburyport then had consecutive singles by Casey Barlow, Carley Siemasko, and Shelby O’Brien to tie the score. Shelby sent a 2-strike pitch to center for the RBI. Another single (Vicki Allman) loaded the bases with one out. Jackie Krusemark’s fly ball delivered Carley Siemasko from third (barely……Why didn’t she slide?) with what turned out to be the winning run.
Carley Siemasko tags up as leftfielder Allison Kapoll prepares to throw to the plate
Carley Siemasko scores
Lea Tomasz, Shelby O’Brien, and Vicki Allman had two hits each for Newburyport.
Rachel McKay had two hits for Marblehead.
Michaela Leblanc was ruled out for interference leading off the fourth inning. Catcher Lauren Singer’s throw on a bunt hit Michaela in fair territory.
Lea Tomasz was ruled out on an appeal play for leaving third base too early on a one-out fly ball in the third inning.
Sarah Bornstein
Third baseman Sarah Bornstein made a nice play on a line drive in the fourth inning for Marblehead.
The game was delayed in the fifth inning as Lauren Singer was tended to.
There was a breeze but the heat (high 80’s) was oppressive.
The playing field at the middle school was in excellent condition.
Yes, there were two Newburyport infield errors, but they also handled eleven other infield chances flawlessly.
Emily Messinger popped out to first baseman Carley Siemasko all three times she batted.
A big play in this game was in the final inning. After Rachel McKay singled, Alexa Brown hit a grounder past pitcher Vicki Allman. It looked like Newburyport trouble but shortstop Kendra Dow reacted quickly and got a force play at second.
Third baseman Meghan Stanton throws a strike to first
Two years ago I saw Marblehead eliminate Triton (at Triton) 7-1. Michaela Leblanc pitched that day. Junior Michaela holds the Marblehead school record with 32 wins.
A very good North Reading team went out again in the opening round (5-2 to Reading). Last year the Hornets were the #1 seed and lost to Saugus after having the Sachems down, 5-1, in the last inning. Ouch!
On May 1st, Amesbury put an 18-0 mercy rule game on Newburyport. The Indians had an 18-batter, 13-run second inning in that one. Vicki Allman was hit hard (18 hits) and the Clippers defense was weak. However, the pressure could be on the #2 seed Indians playing at home. The game is sure to be interesting.
(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Rachel McKay had two hits and scored a run
Carley Siemasko, McKenzie Joyce and Coach John Gold in the 7th inning
Casey Barlow
Kendra Dow
Shelby OBrien
Olivia Vener
Lauren Singer tripled in the first
Michaela Leblanc throws out Lauren Singer at first
Kendra Dow snags a liner in the third inning
Filed under Marblehead, Newburyport
Casey Barlow (3 hits) caught in a rundown.
Catcher Julia Hartman waits for the throw as Kendra Dow tries to score.
(Salisbury) The Newburyport Clippers scored the last seven runs of the game and defeated Triton, 9-5, at Lions Park on a nice Monday night.
The Clippers (12-5/9-4) have now won six of their last seven games and are still in the hunt for the Cape Ann League Division 1 title. They trail D1 leader North Reading (10-3) by a game and are looking for help from Masconomet which hosts the Hornets on Wednesday.
This was yet another tough loss for Triton (7-9). The Vikings have now dropped five straight after being a promising 7-4 not too long ago. Fielding miscues were the primary culprit in the loss to Newburyport.
Seniors Kelsey Trudel and Cory Simons converge on a popup
Triton closes its season tomorrow at Manchester-Essex. The Hornets (1-13) won their opening game and haven’t won since. One of the teams tomorrow will be ending a losing streak.
The keys to the Newburyport win were clutch hitting and errorless defense. The Clippers rapped fourteen hits off of Triton’s Mara Spears and only left five baserunners.
The infield defense of Kendra Dow (SS), Jackie Krusemark (2B), and Carley Siemasko (1B) was flawless.
Kendra’s best play and was a catch of Kylie Gilroy’s hard-hit liner that put an end to Triton’s three-run third inning.
Carley took care of two potential doubles down the first baseline off the bats of Mara Spears and Kelsey Trudel.
The solid Clippers defense enabled pitcher Vicki Allman to retire eleven of the last twelve batters she faced, including nine straight. The only Vikings baserunner over the final four frames was Cory Simons.
And while the Vikings were held scoreless over the final four innings the Clippers pounded two doubles (Lauren Singer and Casey Barlow) and eight singles collecting seven runs over the final four innings.
Rylee Culverwell injured on this play
It certainly hurt the Vikings to have #3 hitter Rylee Culverwell leave the game injured in the third inning. Freshman Rylee’s bat was missed the rest of the way as well as her excellent defense at third.
Of the seven, last-four-innings, runs for Newburyport only five of them were earned. A bobble at third (Casey Ross) and a single that turned into a 2-base error (CF Ashley Shute) allowed the two extra runs.
Newburyport opened the scoring in the second inning. Ashley Hodge and Vicki Allman singled and both Ashley and Vicki’s pinch-runner (Molly Stanton) came home on 2B Kylie Gilroy’s two-out error.
Triton put together a single (Kylie Gilroy), double (Cara Orlandi), and a single (Julia Hartman) to tie the score, 2-2, in the second.
Rachel McCarthy caught stealing
The Vikings jumped ahead by three (5-2) in the third. A double (Cory Simons) and three singles (Rylee Culverwell, Kelsey Trudel, Lily Anderson) were keys. However, the promising inning ended when pinch runner Rachel McCarthy was tossed out trying to steal and the next batter’s line drive was taken by NHS shortstop Kendra Dow. The Viking would have only one hit the rest of the way but at the moment they had a 5-2 lead after three innings.
Newburyport pulled ahead for good with four runs in the fourth. A big hit was Kendra Dow’s two-out double to the CF fence driving in a pair.
In the fifth, Casey Barlow (3 hits) hit a rope to center and reached third with no outs when the ball skipped by CF Ashley Shute. Ashley Hodge’s sacrifice fly delivered Casey with the Clippers seventh run.
Lea Tomasz
Newburyport added to its 7-5 lead with two more runs in the seventh inning. The Clippers went double (Lauren Singer), single (Lea Tomasz), double (Casey Barlow), and single (Ashley Hodge) to get the pair of runs.
Lily Anderson made an excellent play on a foul popup in the fourth inning.
Rylee Culverwell had her right arm in a sling afterwards. I believe that her injury occurred when she slid home scoring Triton’s fourth run.
Casey Barlow paced the Newburyport hitters with three. Lauren Singer, Lea Tomasz, Ashley Hodge, and Vicki Allman had two hits each.
Senior Cory Simons led Triton with two hits. Teammate Kelsey Trudel scored two runs for the Vikings. Both of these quality players will be suiting up for their last game tomorrow.
Lions Park was a nice setting. The infield was smooth and the outfield was green. One of the bank of lights went out in the seventh inning but most of the fast-paced game was played in daylight.
Triton is a team that certainly has had some highs and lows. They are the only team to beat Amesbury (4-3). They defeated Newburyport the last time they met. But then there’s the loss early in the season to 2-12 Ipswich.
(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Carley Siemasko and Cory Simons
Ashley Hodge settles under a flyball
pitcher Mara Spears
Pitcher Vicki Allman
Cara Orlandi
shortstop Kelsey Trudel
Casey Ross
Filed under Newburyport, Triton
Catcher Shelby OBrien gets Hannah Lorden at the plate.
Meghan Stanton gets home on a wild pitch
(Newburyport) That’s three straight for the Clippers.
Newburyport (8-4) rallied from a two-run deficit to defeat Rockport, 9-3, on a dry-wet-dry Wednesday afternoon at Cashman Park.
The Vikings (4-7) put two runs up in the first inning but had a quiet final six inning thanks to the pitching of Vicki Allman.
Vicki allowed six hits in the game but more important was that she didn‘t walk anyone. The visitors had few scoring opportunities.
On the other hand, Newburyport had baserunners in all six innings thanks to nine hits and seven walks.
The Clippers tied the score in the third inning and then added three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good.
Kendra Dow
Carley Siemasko
Kendra Dow (3 hits/3 runs/2 RBI) and Carley Siemasko (3 hits/1 run/1 RBI) were the hitting stars for NHS.
Hannah Lorden paced Rockport with a triple, single and run scored.
In the opening inning, Kayla Parisi’s fielder’s choice drove in Meghan Tupper. Later, Mollie Watson came home on Emily Fauld’s RBI single up the middle.
The Clippers had two runners on in both the first and second but came away empty. Pitcher Hannah Lorden ended the Clippers scoring chance in the second by spearing Molly Kelley‘s liner up the middle.
Newburyport tied the game in the third inning. A throwing error at the end of a single (Kendra Dow) and a double (Meghan Stanton) produced a run. Meghan Stanton would later add a second run when she came home on a wild pitch.
Molly Kelley steps on home as catcher Mollie Watson chases a bad throw
The Clippers broke the game open in the fourth inning with some “exciting“ base running. A walk by Shelby O’Brien and a single by Molly Kelley gave NHS two baserunners with one out. Next batter Kendra Dow put a high, outside pitch on a line down the first baseline. Kendra is very fast and the other two baserunners…….not so much. By the time Kendra rounded third she and the other two baserunners were all between third and home. A good throw from the outfield to home would have nailed at least two of them I suspect. But on this day, the throw was up the third baseline and all three runners crossed home safely.
The Vikings cut a run off that 5-2 deficit in the fifth. Hannah Lorden tripled over Ashley Casellini’s head in left and when the throw back in was off target the Vikings had a run.
Meghan Tupper slides in with the first Rockport run
The Clippers got that run back in the bottom of the fifth. Carley Siemasko singled, advanced to third via a walk and a wild pitch and came home on Jackie Krusemark’s sacrifice fly.
Newburyport added to their 6-3 lead with three more runs in the sixth inning. They loaded the bases with no outs and Lea Tomasz drove in Molly Kelley with a sacrifice fly to left. Carley Siemasko then singled in Kendra Dow. Later in the inning, after the bases were again loaded, Meghan Stanton raced home on a wild pitch.
The six-run spread was more than enough the way Vicki Allman was pitching. She faced only six batters in the final two innings.
In the sixth inning, after Kayla Parisi singled, her pinch runner (Rachel Davis) was doubled off first on a line drive to second baseman Jackie Krusemark.
Mollie Watson
Junior catcher Mollie Watson has already been a Cape Ann League All-League player twice. Watching her stop a lot of pitches in the dirt showcased her defensive skills. She also threw out Casey Barlow trying to steal second base.
Isobel MacCrate made a nice catch in left field in the first inning for the Vikings.
Rockport lost CAL All-Leaguer Gabby Munoz to Pingree.
The Clippers recovered nicely from a humiliating loss (18-1) a week ago at Cashman Park to Amesbury. With their eighth win, the Clippers need just two wins in their final eight games to qualify for post-season action.
Newburyport will be at Georgetown on Friday afternoon. Rockport will be hosting North Reading tomorrow.
The weather was hard to figure. I had my camera put away for part of the game because of drizzle. Cameras and scorebooks never do well in rain!
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Kendra Dow throws to first
Emily Faulds caught in a rundown with Meghan Stanton
Molly Kelley
Pitcher Hannah Lorden
Third baseman Meghan Stanton ready to toss to first
Pitcher Vicki Allman set to throw to first
Filed under Newburyport, Rockport
McClelland Miscellanea 
