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Katin pitches Triton past Newburyport

Monday, April, 14 By Dan Guttenplan
Sports editor

Triton picked up its first victory over Newburyport in two seasons Saturday | a 3-2 victory at Lower Field.

Triton's Sam Ferrara scored from third base on a passed ball in the top of the seventh. That run proved to be the difference. Joe Katin earned the complete-game victory for the Vikings in the opener, allowing six hits and one earned run.

Triton last beat the Clippers on May 24, 2006 when the Vikings posted a 7-6 victory in 14 innings. Newburyport came into the game with a 9-1 record against Triton in the last 10 meetings between the teams.

"No Newburyport team rolls over and gives a game away," said Triton's second-year coach Steve Padovani. "I knew they'd give us a great game. It's nice to earn my first victory over an always solid Newburyport team."

Newburyport's Tommy Morris matched Katin for seven innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs. The Clippers had a chance to tie the game in the seventh inning when Kyle LeBlanc had a one-out single to right field with Tyler Stotz on second base. Stotz got caught in a rundown between third and home, eventually becoming the second out.

"We haven't turned the corner yet," said Newburyport coach Bill Pettingell. "We're better than a 1-3 team. All three losses could've gone the other way. But we need to learn to make our own breaks. We're still searching for our identity."

Triton took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by Mike Cerbone. Newburyport responded and held a 2-1 lead in the sixth before Cam Kneeland led off the inning with a double. Katin played him with an RBI single.

"I know we'll be fine pitching-wise," Padovani said of his staff that includes Kneeland, Katin and Matt Emerzian. "We'll be OK defensively. My biggest concern is how well we'll swing the bats."

Triton provided just enough offense against a Newburyport team that has been held to two runs or less in three of its four games. LeBlanc will get the start at Pentucket on Tuesday (3:45 p.m.).

"Now that I'm getting a feel for this team, I've learned we're going to have to manufacture runs in a different way," Pettingell said. "I can't wait to play for a big inning like I've done in the past. We're going to bunt and move runners along. I'm fine with changing my style a little bit."