By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — The North Reading A’s kept their playoff hopes alive on July 17 as they doubled up the visiting Northeast Tides, 4-2, at North Reading High School.
That victory snapped a six-game losing streak as the A’s improved to 7-14 while the Tides fell to 8-6-1.
This game lasted just six innings as thunderstorms wiped out the seventh inning. The good news is that the weather held off just late enough as the A’s scored all four of their runs in the bottom of the sixth.
In that sixth, North Reading resident, Aldo Vittozzi and Max Riordan each had RBI singles. John Lyman, in his lone at bat, came through with a two-run single. Those four hits were the team’s total.
Reliever Troy Brennan was the winning pitcher going the final two innings. He allowed not runs, no hits no walks and he struck out two as he improved to 2-2 on the hill.
His brother, Sean, was the starter going the first four frames. He gave up two runs (one earned), five hits, two walks and he fanned eight.
North Reading entered this week in 10th place in the North Shore Baseball League as the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs.
The bad news is that the Kingston Knight Owls, who have the eighth slot heading into the week, have five games in hand as they have only played 16 games.
On July 27, the A’s will host a double-header against the North Shore Storm with the first game starting at 1 p.m.
They wrap up the regular season the next day as they travel to Memorial Field in Essex to take on the Manchester Marlins. That game will start at 4:30 p.m.
