Sports

Andover Baseball Can’t Find Groove Against BB&N in Loss

Coming off of back to back come back victories last week, Andover baseball looked to keep rolling this week in games against B.B&N. and Worcester Academy. On Friday, the team traveled to Cambridge to take on Buckingham, Browne and Nichols in a non-league match up. This allowed Andover the opportunity to try players in different roles and new positions. Shortstop Mike Siraco ’09 was on the mound and Co-Captain Anthony Morlani ‘09 handled the catching duties. The team found itself in a hole early on, giving up three runs in the bottom of the first inning. However, Andover was able to chip away at B.B& N.’s lead in the top of the second, when Chris Cameron ’11 knocked in Andover’s only run of the game. While it appeared that Andover was climbing back into the game, a BB&N. batter launched a two-run shot to right the next inning to put the opponents up 5-1. Kyle Franco ‘10 and Zach Burdeau ‘09 came to pitch in relief for the last four innings of the game. Meanwhile, the Andover offense struggled to build momentum and string together hits. Bennett Carroccio ’10 led the Andover offense with three hits on the day. However, the team struggled to string together timely hits, and the game ended in Andover’s first loss of the season, 11-1. “It obviously wasn’t the way we wanted to play, but we were able to give players time in different roles. This will be a big help in our versatility as a team moving forward,” said Cameron. The team looked to rebound from its first loss of the season when it took on Worcester Academy on Saturday. Taking the mound in the first game of the doubleheader was Jack Doyle ‘10. Although Worcester threatened with baserunners throughout the game, Doyle strung together five innings and pitched himself out of tough positions, allowing three earned runs and three walks to earn the win. Following Doyle’s strong five innings of work, Glenn Stowell ‘09 came in to finish off the last two innings, returning to his role last season as a reliever. Stowell pitched a lights out two innings of one run baseball, sealing the deal for Andover. The team supported both Doyle and Stowell on offense. Sam Auffant ‘09 hit a long line drive into tennis courts situated in deep left field for his first homerun of the season, and added two more hits in the game to catalyze the Andover offense. Morlani added a triple in the seventh to pad Andover’s lead, and the team’s efforts culminated in a 9-5 victory in the first game of the doubleheader. In the nightcap, Sam Clark ’09 took the mound, giving Andover a strong five innings. Worcester was able to put up four runs early, but Andover battled back in the fourth inning. Tom Palleschi ’12 walked to start the inning, and after a Cameron single and Siraco walk to load the bases, Mike DiFronzo ’11 came through in the clutch, smacking a line drive down the right field line for a three run triple. After tying the game at four in the fourth inning, Andover was unable to manufacture any more big innings offensively. Worcester was able to get to relievers Tom Hamel ’10, Palleschi, and Burdeau and broke the game open for a 16-5 victory. “It’s always tough to sweep a double header, let alone on the road, but we know we can play better than we played in the second game,” said Cameron. In another non-league game on Wednesday, the team traveled to take on Pingree. After playing just over two innings, the game was called off due to poor field conditions. Wrapping up a tough week at 1-2, Andover’s record stands at 5-2 and 3-1 in the league. On Saturday, Andover looks to improve on its league record when it hosts NMH in an important doubleheader.