Andover Baseball showed outstanding offensive talent this week, cruising past Northfield Mount Hermon in a double header and continuing its streak against Brooks. In the three games this week, the team scored a total of 35 runs. “We had a really good week, we were hitting on all cylinders during practice leading up the games and it directly translated in our play,” said Tim Salvadore ’15. Andover’s closest game of the week came in the first half of the double header when it defeated NMH 2-0. Connor Farrell ’13 and John Festa ’15 scored for Andover, providing offense for the game. Co-Captain Rory Ziomek ’13, who was lights out on the mound, anchored Andover. He pitched all seven scoreless innings, striking out ten and only allowing only three hits and three walks. “We couldn’t have asked for anything else from our starting pitcher. He really set the tone for the double header” said Salvadore. After a quick intermission, Andover picked up right where it left off and proved to be an offensive force, defeating NMH 18-3. Andover had a quick start, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning as Matt Hosman ’15, Chris Hohlstein ’14, Festa and John Simourian ’16 all trotted across home plate off of an infield hit and two errors. NMH came back strong, scoring three runs in the top of the second, but Andover then seized control of the game and kept its foot on the gas. Andover’s offense was present throughout the entire game, racking up 14 hits and adding some clutch base running from start to finish. “We have really started to hit up and down the lineup in the last few games. We’re feeling locked in and it really showed this weekend in the sweep” said Hohlstein. Salvadore, Thomas Lane ’15 and Hosman combined to pitch a combined five and third innings, only allowing two hits and one walk, while tallying six strikeouts, five of which came from Salvadore. Andover finished off its week with a bang as it traveled to Brooks on Monday and dominated the game from start to finish, winning 15-4. Andover started off strong and grabbed a four run lead in the top of the first and never relinquished it. Simourian and Corbin Lee ’13 came up with clutch RBI singles, McCullough grounded out to bring a run home and Festa stole home on a wild pitch. Andover’s offense continued its domination from the NMH games, out-hitting Brooks 17-6. Lee led the charge with six RBIs on his four hits. “[Lee] was outstanding every time he came to the plate I knew he was going to hit the ball square. [Lee] worked harder than I’ve seen any player this off-season and its really paying off for him this season,” said Salvadore. Lane got the win for Andover. Over his four innings of work, he allowed two earned runs on four hits, with no walks and ten strikeouts. Hosman finished the last two innings by giving up only one unearned run on two hits and one walk, while striking out one. “Overall we played Big Blue Baseball, [and we] couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Salvadore. “This weekend is a big weekend for us, everyone is zoned in for this double header.” Andover looks to build off of its momentum and pick up four key wins as it hosts BB&N this Friday and Exeter for a doubleheader on Saturday. The team then travels to Cushing on Wednesday.
