RallyNorth.net

Mon, May 19, 2008 03:45 PM @ Triton

Team	Final
Amesbury	0
Triton	5

Triton hurts Amesbury's chances to clinch CAL title

Tuesday, May, 20 By Evan Mugford
Staff writer

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.

After succumbing to the Indians earlier in the season, 1-0, the Vikings exacted sweet vengeance with a 5-0 home win behind great performances from freshman pitcher Marion Dulleau and first baseman Kristina Spencer.

The Indians struggled all game long, recording only three hits and one walk. Along with five 1-2-3 innings, Dulleau notched three strikeouts on her way to the shutout. It was the first time Amesbury failed to score this season.

The Vikings got it going early. After Jordan Oliva walked Marissa Strangie (1 for 2, walk, run) and Kerri Carleton sacrifice bunted Strangie to second, Spencer (2 for 3, triple, double, RBI, run) crushed a pitch to center and forced home Triton's first run. Oliva (4 Ks, 2 walks, 6 hits, 5 runs) struck out the next two batters.

Katelyn Bartley (1-3) was left stranded after she hit a soft single to start the second.

The Vikings, however, were still warming up. After another walk and sac bunt combination, Krista Landry hit her own triple to right, scoring Katie McCance (1 for 2, 2 RBIs, run, walk) from second. Alyssa Conley brought Landry home when she poked a sacrifice fly to right. Oliva ended the threat with a force-out at second.

Amesbury made some noise in the third when Kerri Salvatore and Abby Pare (2-3) obtained second and third with two outs, but a nice throw from Strangie to Spencer helped extinguish any Indian spark.

The Vikings continued surging in the third. Spencer slapped one down the right field line and made her way to second, After a Laura Sargeant strikeout, Caitlin Stevens (1 for 3, stolen base, run) laid down a bunt, pushing Spencer to third. Following a Stevens stolen base, McCance cracked a two-run single up the middle, pushing the score to its inevitable resting place.

Again, Amesbury seemed poised to make a late game rally, but a collective sigh came from the Indian dugout after the Vikings pulled a double play thanks to a nice grab and quick flip to first by McCance.

Though the offense gets the credit, key defensive plays from Dulleau, Strangie, McCance, and Conley proved most powerful.

"It's a team thing," said Spencer. "When we all work hard and do our jobs, great things happen. Marion pitched a great game. The win feels really good and I just hope we can keep it up for Wednesday's game (at Pentucket)."

A strong believer that practice makes perfect, Dulleau is reaping the benefits in her first year as a Viking.

"It takes a lot of work," stated Dulleau. "Practice with my brothers definitely helps. It was a nice win. We played very well. Beating a great team in Amesbury feels good, but we need to keep pushing ahead and continue winning."

Vikings coach Jim Hounam was very pleased with his team's execution.

"We hit the ball early. Marion pitched well. She changed her speeds. It was the best she's pitched all season," explained Hounam. "She kept them off balance, and Gail LeBrun called a great game. Christina has been hot for us, and Alyssa has been playing great in right all year."