RallyNorth.net

Like Trey Wilson | the actor who played manager Joe Riggins in "Bull Durham" | said of baseball, "This is a simple game. You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball." The same can be said of softball — it's a simple game.

I still remember the day I came to understand Chris Perry's success as Amesbury's softball coach.

Perry's coaching record — four state titles, 16 Cape Ann League titles, 459 wins and only 68 losses — spoke for itself, but sometimes, you need to see it with your own eyes to believe it.

The Ghost of Amesbury Past arrived at Martin Field yesterday and dominated a thought-to-be-superior state tournament foe.

The Indians performance was vintage 2005 when they last advanced to the EMass. Division 2 North final at the end of the Ashley Waters era.

CONCORD | For years, the Amesbury softball team could be counted on for an annual appearance in the EMass. Division 2 North semifinal.

Chris Perry's arrival in 1985 cemented the school's status as a perennial softball contender. Four state titles and 16 Cape Ann League titles followed.

AMESBURY | It wasn't perfect and it wasn't exactly pretty, but the Amesbury High softball team has gotten past the first round of the Division 2 North state tournament.

The Indians didn't make it easy for themselves, committing two easily avoidable errors. But behind the arm of Jordan Oliva and the bat and defense of Laura Kaminski, they still came away with a 5-2 victory over the Dracut Middies.

In a game that could've concluded with the Amesbury softball team claiming a share of the Cape Ann League title yesterday afternoon, Triton not only played the role of spoiler but catapulted itself into the same CAL fray.

AMESBURY | It was the showdown both teams had marked on their respective calendars all season long.

When the game finally came to fruition yesterday, the Chris Perry-driven Amesbury Indians, led by the pitcher-catcher tandem of captains Jordan Oliva and Kate Hathaway, sat tied with North Andover atop the Cape Ann League Division 1 standings.

The North Andover softball team has been a mystery that Amesbury cannot solve over the past two seasons.

A familiar pattern played out again yesterday as the Scarlet Knights made plays in key situations while the Indians helped North Andover with two costly errors in a 4-1 loss.

Over the years the Amesbury-North Reading softball rivalry has grown in lore with each program exuding rich championship pedigree.

A year ago, Amesbury got the best of the Hornets twice in 2-0 wins each time, but North Reading had the last laugh winning the Division 3 state championship, while the Indians were bounced in the second round of the tournament.

One player has made herself into the heir apparent to Ashley Waters and the other has been a prime example of versatility in playing three different positions in her four-year varsity career.

In baseball or softball, the saying goes pitching and catching are the two most important positions on the field, the outcome of the game is in their hands because each player is involved in every pitch of the game.