Two of the best pitchers in the Cape Ann League gave everyone an absolute show on Friday.
On one side, you had Newburyport’s Emily Meleedy.
The other, Amesbury’s Izzy Levasseur.
And for nine long innings, basically neither of them blinked.
But somebody had to win.
Eventually, in the top of the ninth inning, Newburyport found the winning run and held on for the 2-1 victory over Amesbury. Cassidy Bolcome started the frame on second base, similar to the MLB’s extra-inning rule, and was promptly doubled home by Emma Keefe. The Clippers (11-5) were then able to find the final three outs in the bottom half to secure the victory.
The real story, though, was the two pitchers.
Meleedy was superb for the Clippers, going all nine innings while allowing just two hits with 12 strikeouts. Keefe finished with a 2-for-4 day, and a home run by Sophie Lavallee in the top of the second inning was Newburyport’s only other hit.
Levasseur, meanwhile, took the tough-luck loss, but surrendered just the three hits with 14 strikeouts. Cali Catarius and Lexi LeBlanc had the only two hits for the Redhawks (11-3), who scored their lone run in the bottom of the sixth.
Friis (11 Ks) locked in for Triton
Safe to say that Liam Friis was in the zone for the Triton baseball team on Saturday.
The junior tossed a complete-game one-hitter with 11 strikeouts, and was basically unhittable in a 5-0 shutout of Manchester-Essex. Friis is definitely rounding into playoff form, as just two days earlier he tossed a pair of relief innings in a victory over Ipswich and had six punchouts.
The Vikings (9-7) belted out eight hits on Saturday, with both Nick Bonasera and Gavin Fraser having two each. They were followed by the trio of Genaro Carrillo, Josh Hersey and Connor Rumph each going 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Freitas stays hot
Talk about having a week.
On Friday afternoon, Pentucket’s Sarah Freitas went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI, helping her Panthers beat Hamilton-Wenham, 12-0. It capped an excellent seven-day, three-game stretch where the sophomore blasted three total home runs and had 10 RBI.
Of course, junior Molly LeBel posted the shutout in the circle and had eight strikeouts. Kayla Murphy went 2-for-4 with three RBI for the Panthers (11-5), and both Michaela Gabardi and Tannah Gatchell had two hits.
Grant hits 300 Ks, but Royals fall
For the past three years, Maddie Grant has taken on the responsibility of starting pitcher for Georgetown softball, a job she earned as an eighth-grader, and over the weekend the now-sophomore reached a career milestone by recording her 300th strikeout.
For the Royals, it was a moment to rightly celebrate.
Unfortunately, they weren’t able to get past a strong North Reading team in an eventual 9-3 loss on Friday. Grant also went 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, and fellow sophomore Ava Fair went 2-for-4. Georgetown (9-5) will try to rebound at Newburyport on Monday.
Clippers fall to No. 1 Lynnfield
The Lynnfield boys tennis team is currently ranked No. 1 in Division 4, and it certainly flexed that status over the weekend with a 4-1 victory over Newburyport. Caden Eiserman and Brindley Fisher had the lone victory for the Clippers (8-6) at No. 1 doubles.