Bryan Farris ’08 hit a rally-capping two-run triple as Andover toppled Belmont Hill, 6-3, to start off an undefeated week. Andover struck first in the bottom of the opening inning with one run. However, after leaving the bases loaded, Co-Captain J.R. Santaniello ’08 took the mound and pitched well through the first six innings. Santaniello came out throwing strikes and his teammates behind him provided solid defense. “I knew the defense behind me would make plays.” According to Santaniello, he worked well with catcher Geoff Lynch ’09. Santaniello said, “[Lynch] and I were on the same page almost the whole game” Santaniello, a powerful southpaw, picked up the win, allowing just 2 runs. He also picked off two Belmont base runners. Lynch had a good day at the plate as well, going 2-3 and driving in the game-tying run. His hit plated Bobby Farnham ’08. In the fifth, Farris stepped up to the plate with two on and two out. Farris smashed a stand-up triple to put Andover up for good. Farnham batted Farris in with a single to make the score 5-2. Belmont Hill, trying to mount a comeback, scored a run in the top of the 6th, but Andover countered in the bottom of the inning when Lynch trotted home on an error. Andover then loaded the bases with a pair of bunt singles and Co-Captain Mike Ciummei ’08 drove in the final run with a bases-loaded walk to make the score 6-3. Andover also beat Cushing 6-3 on Wednesday, helped by a home run from Farnham. “We tried to treat it like another game as much as possible, but we knew that it was a little deeper than that,” said Santaniello. Cushing blew a 6-0 lead in the championship to lose to Andover last year to Andover, and came in clearly looking to avenge its loss. Andover used small ball to scratch runs across the plate throughout the game. In the top of the second, three sacrifice bunts produced three runs. Farnham provided the long ball in the second as well, with a solo shot. Preston Atteberry ’08 made his second start of the year and earned his second win. Although he struggled with his control (five walks) he was able to work out of his jams through five innings. Atteberry gave up one run on three hits while striking out a season- high four batters. Andover added more runs in the third. Mike Palermo ’08 and Ryan McCarthy ’08 each had an RBI in the inning. Andover piled on more runs in the 4th and 6th innings when Santaniello and Jack Walsh ’08 each had RBI’s respectively. Glenn Stowell ’09 came in relief for the last two innings to close out the game, and improve Andover’s record to 3-0. Andover’s schedule heats up as the team faces three games in two days. Andover takes on BB&N on Friday before facing a doubleheader with Worcester on Saturday. Said outfielder John Twomey ’08, “We’re playing great ball right now. The results will come as long as we just keep working hard.”
