NHS 2012 varsity wrap-up
By Coach Steve Malenfant
An eventful 2012 season left the Newburyport High School varsity baseball team with a 15-6 overall record that put us in the Cape Ann League title hunt until the final week of the regular season. We finished 9-4 in the Cape Ann League Division 2, a similar record to 2011 and one game outside of a CAL title.
Led by captains Jimmy Conway and Brett Fontaine the Clippers provided an exciting season. Brett, a CAL all league player, as well as Colton Fontaine and Colby Morris, both CAL all stars, had tremendous seasons with Colton holding a team leading .356 average and Brett holding a 6-2 record with a 1.71 ERA. Morris carried a 2.66 ERA and team average of .288. Meanwhile, pitcher/first baseman Connor MacRae had an outstanding season at pitcher with a 5-0 record with a 0.62 ERA.
First-year varsity player Ian Michaels provided a .303 average for the Clippers with 11 RBI, tied for the team lead with Colton Fontaine and Morris. Colby Morris also had five game-winning RBI for the Clippers. Brett Fontaine hit .391 against the league's better teams.
Colton Fontaine and Ian Michaels led the team in steals with 11 and 10, respectively. The Clippers proved to be outstanding with five one-run game wins. The highlights had to be wins against eventual Div. 3 State Champion North Reading and Division 2 EMass finalist North Andover. In those two games Colby Morris proved to be equal to the task with complete-game victories in each.
The Clippers came out of the gate with a 5-0 record including wins against Revere, North Reading, Hamilton-Wenham, Amesbury, and Triton. The Triton victory came off the pitching of Brett Fontaine and a winning home run by brother Colton.
After two heartbreaking losses the Clippers reeled off a seven-game winning streak headed by a scintillating 14 inning, 4-3 win with yeoman-like efforts put in by Brett Fontaine and game-winner Connor MacRae. After tough shutout losses to Beverly and Masconomet the Clippers finished the regular season winning three out of four games.
The defense of Mike Sweeney was a highlight for, essentially, the entire season as he roamed teft field with a solid effort for the whole season. The pitching staff would not have had the success it had after losing catcher Connor Wile to shoulder injury if not for the leadership and outstanding play at catcher by senior captain Jimmy Conway.
Early in the season the hot bats of Ryan Short and Connor MacRae kept the Clippers in victory mode until the bats of Morris and Brett Fontaine heated up toward the end of the season. The patience and leadership of Cam Roy showed that experience wins out as Roy started the final five games and provided key hits and outstanding defensive skill in his time at third base. Brian Fiascone and Evan Habib were solid contributors over the course of the season with key hits, defensive plays, and bunts at critical points.
An extra inning nine inning 6-5 tournament loss to Bishop Fenwick should not take away from what the Clippers as a team accomplished in 2012. The future bodes well for the Clippers after successful seasons at both the junior varsity and freshman level under the tutelage of Rob Daigle '82 and Kyle Hildebrand. Bill Gurczak '62 provided his continued support of the Clipper program as a solid member of the Clipper coaching staff. The enthusiasm of Sean Sullivan '06 was a positive for the Clippers this season.
