In the second game of a double-header this Saturday, shortstop Sarah Boylan ’09 and second baseman Alayna Garbarino ’10 turned a quick double-play up the middle in the final inning, preventing a Deerfield comeback and punctuating a brilliant all- around team effort in the field in Andover’s 8-3 victory. In Saturday’s opening game, Andover’s bats came alive with a bombardment of 18 hits and its pitching dominated, finishing off Stoneleigh- Burnham, 15-0, in a game shortened to six innings because of the score. Michelle Hollebeke ’08 made the start at pitcher against Deerfield and was masterful, tossing 6 innings and surrendering just two hit while tallying five strikeouts. Veda Eswarappa ’08 pitched the seventh, inducing the highlight-reel double play and striking out the last batter to finish off the game. Andover jumped to an early 5-0 lead before Deerfield fought back to make the score, 6-3. But Andover stayed poised, posting two more runs to thwart the comeback. The key at the end of the game was defense, however, as Andover’s hard work all season paid off by preventing unearned Deerfield runs to cross the plate. “Our main strength against Deerfield was our composure,” said third baseman Shannon McSweeney ’11. “We definitely had some great plays that game that can only come with time.” In the opener, the mercy- rule came into effect as Andover pounded an overmatched Stoneleigh-Burnham with 18 hits in six innings. Onorato had a game-high four hits and Captain Stephanie Clegg ’08 continued her dominance at the plate with four runs batted in. Emily Cokorinos ’08, Riley Gardner ’10, and McSweeney also had great games at the plate. Hollebeke started and Boylan and Eswarappa split the remainder of the game, as the three pitchers combined to throw a three- hitter in Andover’s second shutout of the season.
