KEELY HANNON shut out Triton in NR’s 2-0 win on April 10, allowing just four hits while striking out five. (Eric Evans Photo)

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

WEST NEWBURY — Last Saturday morning, the North Reading High softball team was edged by host Pentucket, 3-2, in eight innings up in West Newbury.

“It was a heartbreaking loss,” admitted Hornets head coach Nicole Zimmerman. “They have a good team with a lot of returning talent.”

With the loss, the Hornets fell to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the Cape Ann League. The Panthers, meanwhile, improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the CAL.

Pitcher Keely Hannon went to 3-1 in the circle. She gave up two earned runs, five hits, three walks and she struck out six in her seven-plus innings.

“She pitched great,” stated Zimmerman. “She did a great job of keeping their hitters off balance.”

Jillian Corbett was the offensive star for the Hornets as she went 2 for 4 with both runs batted in as she singled in the fifth and seventh innings.

“She has been seeing the ball well,” said Zimmerman.

Pentucket scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

North Reading had six hits overall as Kristen Galvin was the team’s other multiple hitter going 2 for 3 with two walks.

Olivia Reilly was 1 for 3 with a walk and she scored twice while Olivia Heck was 1 for 4 for the other Hornet hit.

It was the first time the Panthers beat the Hornets in nine years.

Izzy Hackett was the hero for the Panthers as she had two hits and knocked in all three runs

On April 10, the Hornets blanked guest Triton, 2-0.

“That was our best win of the season so far,” said Zimmerman, as the Vikings are the defending CAL Kinney Division champs. “Everybody contributed to this win.”

Hannon posted her first shutout of the year going all seven innings. The senior co-captain gave up four hits, four walks and she fanned five Triton hitters.

“She was ill at the start of the season so this was the first game that she was completely healthy,” pointed out Zimmerman. “She was able to change speeds very well.”

Olivia Reilly was the offensive hero in this one with a pair of homers. Her first one was a shot to left-center in the bottom of the fourth inning while her second one went over the center-field fence.

“She was zoned in that day,” said Zimmerman. “She could do no wrong.”

The Hornets had six hits overall as the other four were by Caitlin Reilly, Heck, Corbett and Jocelyn Ostrowsky.

North Reading’s next game will be on April 18 at 4:15 p.m. as they visit Gloucester in a non-league contest.

The Hornets then return to CAL action on April 22 as they welcome Ipswich. That game will also start at 4:15 p.m.