Published in the May 26, 2016 edition
FRESHMAN PITCHER Cassandra Pascucci shut out Newburyport at the Little School field, throwing 79 pitches in five innings. (John Friberg Photo)
By BOB TUROSZ
NORTH READING — The NRHS girls varsity softball team clinched the Cape Ann League Kinney Division title last Friday, with a close 3–1 win over the Sachems in Pentucket. Tara Driver drove in two of the North Reading runs and pitcher Julia Perrone effectively scattered six hits to frustrate the Sachems’ bid for an upset.
Senior Taylor Connor made a diving catch in the bottom of the seventh with one out and two runners on base to help preserve the victory. Perrone threw 108 pitches, 63 percent for strikes and helped her cause with a double. Perrone, (2), Abby Paine, Driver, (3), and Cassidy Gaeta all had hits for the Hornets.
North Reading 12, Triton 0
The Lady Hornets notched their 15th win of the season on May 23, a 12–0 beatdown of Triton in five innings at the Little School field. North Reading pounded out 14 hits against against two Viking pitchers. Julia Perrone and Cassandra Pascucci split the hurling duties for North Reading, with Perrone getting the win with four innings, (49 pitches, 77 percent for strikes) and Pascucci throwing final frame on just eight pitches.
Cassidy Gaeta homered for North Reading with Tara Driver and Abby Paine smashing doubles. Gaeta had 3 RBIs, Pascucci contributed 2 with Carly Swartz, Tara Driver, Taylor Connor and Jess Ferrazzani also driving in runs.
Hit parade continues, 12 – 0
Freshman Cassandra Pascucci started the game and went the distance as the Hornets dominated Newburyport, 12–0 in a game that was shortened to five innings last Wednesday.
Pascucci threw 67 percent of her 79 pitches for strikes and limited the Clippers to only three hits and four quality at bats. The game was effectively over in the first inning as North Reading jumped all over starting pitcher Paige Gouldethrope for six runs in two–thirds of the inning. Taylor Connor clubbed a no–doubt home run and Cassidy Gaeta doubled. North Reading did not score in the second inning, but then tacked on two runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Stephanie Gleason came on to pitch the final 3.2 innings for Newburyport, but the Clipper defense didn’t help either pitcher much by committing six errors.
Connor accounted for three of the Hornet RBIs. Tara Driver and Gaeta contributed two. Single RBIs were added by Lily Malloy, Sarah Sabella, Julia Perrone and Haley MacIntyre as North Reading pounded out 10 hits.
