RallyNorth.net

Weisman strong in North Andover victory

Saturday, April, 30 By Chuck Frye
Staff writer

 
WEST NEWBURY — The value of discipline is easily understood but hard to put into practice, especially in high school sports.
In a key early Cape Ann League test yesterday, discipline at the plate made the difference.
No matter what Pentucket pitchers threw, North Andover’s batters kept their hands, and their bats, flowing effectively through the strike zone. And with Scarlet Knight lefty Mike Weisman throwing his project pitch — his change-up — for strikes along with his fastball and curve, the Sachem hitters started guessing. Shortening their swings and feeling for the ball, Pentucket rarely had convincing contact.
North Andover (6-1) stretched its winning streak to six with a 7-3 victory over the Sachems (4-3).
“One of the biggest stories in this game was how (the North Andover) hitters got their hands through a lot of pitches,” said Sachem head coach Tom L’Italien. “They fouled off a lot of quality pitches and put a couple of good pitches in play for hits. They had some good at-bats.”
It started right from the first inning when leadoff hitter David Foote took a 2-and-2 curveball from Corey McNamara and hooked it through the shortstop hole for a single. After a wild pitch and fly out, Weisman fell behind 0-and-2 but popped a soft line single to center field to score Foote.
Power entered the picture in the second inning when junior Brandon Walsh launched a ground-rule double to deep left field, but ninth hitter Griffin Coakley earned more style points when he slashed an inside fastball to left field for an RBI single.
The wheels then fell off Pentucket’s wagon temporarily. After three walks, a passed ball, and a perfectly placed single from DH Alec Jillson (three hits, two RBIs), the Knights had batted around, taking a 5-0 advantage.
“We’ve talked about it this year, the mental approach to the game,” North Andover head coach Todd Dulin said. “That was probably our weakness last year. We let plays or things get inside of our game and we wouldn’t recover. Having a veteran squad definitely helps.”
Sachem senior and No. 9 hitter Zach Bruk lashed a gap shot — almost miraculously caught by center fielder Foote — for a two-run double in the bottom of the second, and McNamara settled down to retire 10 of the next 12 batters he faced in only 29 pitches, but the damage was done.
After Bruk’s double, Weisman rebounded to strike out four Sachems in a row. He allowed just one more base runner, who was retired on a double play, through five innings.
“I don’t know if it’s early in the year, but the first inning I’ve been shaky,” Weisman said. “Then I settle in and get into a groove.
“I mix my pitches, throw the curve and fast ball for strikes, and I’m trying to mix in the change-up more and more. I definitely love getting kids out with the curve, setting batters up for the curve.”