At the end of the day, both the Newburyport boys and girls lacrosse teams played programs on Monday that will make them better in the long run.
The boys welcomed a match against Cape Elizabeth (M.E.) for the third year in a row, and fell in a hard-fought game, 17-13. The Clippers took down the Capers up at their place a season ago, but the Capers used that setback to fuel a Maine Class A Championship run.
Meanwhile on Monday, the Newburyport girls lacrosse team fell to a strong squad from Andover, 11-4.
Meleedy does a bit of everything for Newburyport softball
Emily Meleedy has long had the ability to dominate a CAL softball game by herself, and Monday was another such example.
The senior threw a complete game in the circle with 12 strikeouts, and also went 2-for-4 at the plate with a three-run home run to lead Newburyport to a non-league win over Beverly, 8-2. Her first homer of the season came in the top of the fourth inning, and gave the Clippers (2-1) a commanding 5-0 lead at the time.
All told, Newburyport belted out 14 hits for the day.
Emma Keefe was 3-for-3 with an RBI, Cassidy Bolcome went 3-for-5 (RBI) out of the leadoff spot, Grace Habib had two hits and Keira Dowell crushed a two-run single.
Johnson’s HR helps Triton cruise to victory
The Triton softball team didn’t appear fazed on Tuesday after nearly a week off, getting a pair of strong performances to take care of Malden Catholic, 11-1. Mallory Johnson crushed a two-run home run to power the offense for the Vikings (2-1), and Emma Penniman also had two hits while striking out 12 M.C. batters in the circle.
Pentucket softball does it again!
No local team has been as clutch as Pentucket softball has been to start the spring season.
The Panthers already have a comeback win over Newburyport and an extra-inning victory over North Reading this year, and did it again on Monday. Trailing by a run in the bottom of the sixth, the Panthers plated three in the frame and would hold on for the 6-4 win over crosstown rival Haverhill.
Sophomore Sarah Freitas went a perfect 3-for-3 on the day with three RBI, and had a clutch double in the sixth to give Pentucket (4-0) the lead. Izzy Hackett stayed hot at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance and two RBI, and both Kayla Murphy and Mia Bartholomew also had hits.
And in the circle, Molly LeBel struck out nine while none of the runs she allowed were earned.
White, Amesbury lacrosse blasts Malden
The Amesbury boys lacrosse team picked up its first win of the season on Monday, getting some massive performances offensively to cruise past Malden, 20-4. Max White led the Redhawks with 6 goals and an impressive 8 assists, and both Chase Linsey and Ben Berg also had three goals apiece.
Shawn Asselin, Evan Murphy and Nicky Creps each had a pair of goals, Grady Hagan had 1 goal and 2 assists, and the duo of Brooks Linsey and Braden Delisle also had helpers.
Triton lacrosse falls to Methuen in nailbitter
Goals came at a premium between the Triton and Methuen boys lacrosse teams on Tuesday, but in the end it was the Rangers pulling out the close victory over the Vikings, 5-4.
It was a 3-3 game heading into the fourth quarter, but the Rangers took a lead and didn’t give it up. Shawn Twomey scored two goals for Triton, and Michael Taylor (1 assist) and Paxton Laxy had the other tallies. Elsewhere, the trio of Seamus Cahill, Alex Pasquini and Ryan Burzynski also had assists, and Colin Fidler, Mackie Wallwork, Liam Cummings, Caleb Palowich and Carl Lucy were all credited with playing stellar defense in front of goalie Charlie Clare (13 saves).