Baseball: Boys Notch Two Clean Sheets

With two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Andover Baseball sealed its 6-0 victory over Bridgton when Post-Graduate (PG) right fielder Nick Latham ’16 snagged a high fly ball to prevent a Bridgton grand slam.

The team’s win on Saturday, along with its subsequent 2-0 home win against Tabor, brought Andover’s record to 2-0 to start the season.

In Andover’s shutout against Bridgton, PG pitcher Matt Wesoloski ’16 held Bridgton to just two hits in a five inning, three strikeout performance. Robby Cerulle ’17 closed out the final two innings, getting two strikeouts and only allowing one hit while preserving Wesoloski’s shutout.

Wesoloski said, “With the defense we have behind us, any kind of out is good. Three strikeouts, but the guys behind me made every single play, so it didn’t matter whether I struck them out or not, because I knew that the guys behind me were going to make the plays.”

With Wesoloski leading on the mound, Andover overall had a terrific defensive showing. The defining play of the game came in the top of the fifth inning when Latham scaled the right field wall and prevented a grand slam.

In addition to Andover’s fine defensive showing, it also excelled in the batter’s box. Five of its six runs came during a rally in the bottom of the fifth, which was capped off by a two run doubles from Joe Simourian ’18.

Joe Simourian said, “ We were all fired up from Latham robbing a grand slam, and we got the bases loaded with two outs. It was a 3-1 count and he gave me something I could drive, so I swung away.”

Later in the week, Andover secured its first Central New England Prep School Baseball League (CNEPSBL) win at home against Tabor. Cerulle picked up where he left off on Saturday, taking the hill to start the game. Cerulle pitched five and one-third shutout innings, giving up three hits and recording as many strikeouts. Wesoloski came in for the final one and two-third innings, maintaining the shutout and notching six strikeouts of his own.

Andover’s pitching was once again backed up by stellar defense. Second baseman Matt Whalen ’16 and PG shortstop Richie Ciufo ’16 held down the infield, turning a key double play in the 7th inning.

First baseman Payton Jancsy ’16 said, “Matt Whalen had a huge game defensively for us. He did a great job playing second base. He and Richie Ciufo are definitely a great tandem in the middle infield.”

Jancsy, who had two stolen bases on the day, also batted in fellow Co-Captain John Simourian ’16 for Andover’s first run of the game. Taylor Beckett ’17 doubled in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Latham singled to bring him in.

Andover’s next game is at home against Belmont Hill on Friday.