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Amesbury's David Smith was 3 for 3 with a home run. John Tassanari was also 3 for 3. Mike Corrigan was 1 for 2 with a home run on his birthday.

Amesbury (3-10) will miss the EMass. state tournament for the first time since 2005.

The undefeated Chieftains (8-0) scored double-digit runs for the fourth time in eight games and beat Ipswich 19-1 behind sophomore Chris Splinter, who belted a three-run homer and totaled five RBI. Kyle Shepard picked up his third win on the hill with seven strikeouts in five innings of work and Pat Matvichuk helped the offense with a 4 for 5, 4 RBI showing.

For Triton, Masconomet's home park has proven to be a house of horrors the past two seasons.

Last year, the Vikings' season ended there in extra innings against the Chieftains in the second round of the state tournament. In their only scheduled meeting this year, Triton's luck was no better.

Surprised?

Hardly.

The Masconomet Regional baseball team is not at all surprised by their torrid 6-0 start in which they've dominated on the mound, at the plate and in the field.

After winning three in a row, the Vikings (4-2) ran into the unbeaten Chieftains (6-0) on the road and came away very impressed with the Cape Ann Div. 1 powerhouse.

"They could be one of the best teams in the state," noted Rockport head coach John Parisi. "Their starting pitcher kept us off-balance, throwing hard and then mixing in some tough curveballs."  

Pat Matvichuk's hard-hit grounder plated the walk-off run in the seventh inning to lift the undefeated Chieftains (4-0) over North Andover, 5-4. James Riordan shined with a complete game effort and didn't surrender an earned run as errors led to all of North Andovers scoring plays. If that wasn't enough, the senior's second inning grand slam accounted for the Chieftains other runs.

Cold weather is the bane of a hitter's existence in the spring, but Masconomet seems to have a found a way around it early in the season. Masconomet scored 17 runs against Everett in its opener, 12 against Gloucester in its next game, and it thumped Bishop Fenwick, 10-0, yesterday.

Evan Bunker bashed two homers in the sixth inning as the Chieftains (2-0) sent 12 men to the plate and scored nine times to blow the game wide open and top Gloucester 12-3.

Kyle Shepard fanned seven Fishermen in recording the win and also had two hits, two runs and an RBI to help his own cause. Pat Matvichuk drove in three runs to help Masco's hot bats, which have produced 29 runs in the first two games of the season.

Masconomet's baseball team won 19 games last season and made it all the way to the Division 2 North final. It looks like Masco is serious about having that type of season again.

The Chieftains opened the season in spectacular fashion yesterday, ripping 17 hits in a 17-3 non-league win over Everett.

Last year's record: 19-5 (Lost in Division 2 North final)

Coach: Joe Marchesi (Second year, 19-5)

Key returnees: Cam Greely Sr., 2B, Kyle Shepard Sr., P; Evan Bunker So., OF/P; James Riordon Sr., P; Chris Splinter So., SS; Pat Matvichuk Jr., 3B/P; Dan Duval Sr., LF