EMILIA YEAKEL picked up two wins in the circle for the Hornets in thrilling victories over Pentucket on Monday and Amesbury on Friday. (Eric Evans Photo)
After press time:
North Reading defeats Lynnfield 6-5 (May 15)
Published May 16, 2024
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — In a high-scoring affair on Monday afternoon, the North Reading High softball team defeated Pentucket 14-10 at home. The Hornets were able to get a split of the season series against the Panthers with the victory.
“Both teams hit the ball really well,” said Hornets head coach Nicole Zimmerman, whose squad improved to 10-2 overall and 8-2 in the Cape Ann League.
Pitcher Keely Hannon got the win in the circle to go to 8-2. She pitched 3 plus innings allowing eight runs (six earned), seven hits, two walks and she struck out two.
Emilia Yeakel pitched the final four innings to record her first save of the year. She gave up two runs, three hits, one walk and fanned eight.
“She did a great job,” stated Zimmerman. “She was able to find the strike zone.”
North Reading trailed 5-0 after the top of the second inning but the offense came alive and plated four runs in the second and five more in the bottom of the third inning.
They finished the game with 11 hits. Kristen Galvin was 3 for 3 with a two-run homer and she was also hit by a pitch. Alivia Heck was also 3 for 3 with one RBI and three runs scored.
Olivia Reilly went 2 for 3 with a walk while her sister, Caitlin, was 1 for 3 with two RBI.
Maggie Schulz was also 1 for 3 with two runs knocked in.
On May 10, the Hornets won 6-2 at Amesbury.
Yeakel was the star of this game pitching all seven innings. She gave up one earned run, five hits, seven walks and she struck out six Red Hawk batters.
“She did awesome against one of the top teams in our league,” stated Zimmerman.
With the score knotted at two, North Reading plated four runs in the top of the seventh inning. The big blow was a two-run homer by Olivia Reilly. Her sister, Caitlin, went 2 for 3 with one RBI.
Jillian Corbett was 1 for 3 with one run knocked in.
“We battled the entire game,” recalled Zimmerman.
The game on May 7 at Triton was postponed and will be made up on May 18 at 11 a.m.
North Reading will play the day before that game as they visit Georgetown on May 17 at 4:15 p.m.
May 20 is the team’s Senior Day as they welcome Hamilton-Wenham at 4:15 p.m.
Before the game, the six Hornet seniors will be honored.
On May 22, the Hornets visit Newburyport with that game starting at 4:30 p.m.
North Reading entered this week ranked 8th in the MIAA Division 3 power rankings. The top 32 teams automatically qualify for the state tournament at the end of the regular season.
