ONLY IN NEW ENGLAND. Hornet pitcher Greg Johnson delivers as the snowflakes fall in North Reading’s first game of the season, a 7–4 loss to Bedford. (John Friberg Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — Trailing, 3–0, heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the North Reading High baseball team rallied scoring four runs to beat visiting Northeast Tech, 4-3, in a non league game on Monday afternoon.
With that win, the Hornets improved to 2-1.
“We just continued to compete,” said Hornets rookie manager Eric Archambault. “We kept fighting.”
North Reading took advantage of some defensive mistakes with two unearned runs. Shawn DiVecchia had an RBI single while John Merullo drew a bases-loaded walk to end the game with one out.
Pitcher Greg Johnson got the win in relief pitching 1/3 of an inning to go to 1-1.
The Hornets finished with five hits led by Derek Hogan who went a perfect 3 for 3.
Last Saturday, the Hornets went to 1–0 in the Cape Ann League as they nipped guest Pentucket by a final of 3–2.
Hogan was the winning pitcher with a complete game effort. The two runs he gave up were unearned as he allowed only one hit. He walked five and struck out four.
“He pounded the strike zone,” said Archambault, who recorded his first-ever varsity win as a manager. “He also worked fast.”
North Reading’s offense had five hits led by Taylor Robinson who went 2 for 2 with a walk. He had a pair of doubles and knocked on run in.
Jared Valade had an RBI double while Pat Driscoll had a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth to break a 2-2 tie.
In the season opener on April 8, the Hornets lost at home to Bedford, 5-4, in a five-inning game shortened due to the snow.
Johnson pitched all five innings allowing four earned runs and 12 hits. He walked two and fanned five.
Mike Driscoll and DiVecchia led the offense as each player went 2 for 3 at the dish. DiVecchia had one RBI as well. Hogan knocked in the other RBI with a two-run single.
On April 16, the Hornets visit Masconomet. On April 18, they go to Triton and next Tuesday they host Manchester–Essex.
All these games will start at 3:45 pm.
