By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

ESSEX — In their final game of the season, the North Reading A’s lost to the Manchester Marlins, 8-1, at Memorial Field in Essex on July 28.

With that defeat, the A’s ended the season at 8-16 while the Marlins improved to 12-10-1.

North Reading’s offense struggled as they had just four hits. They were led by North Reading resident Mike Vittozzi, who went 2 for 3.

The run batted in was by Derek Reilly.

Sean Brennan pitched all six innings. He gave up eight runs (three earned), 15 hits, three walks and he struck out nine as he finished at 2-3 on the hill.

On July 27, the A’s split a home double-header against the North Shore Storm at North Reading High.

In the first game, the A’s won, 6-4, while the Storm won the second game, 5-1.

In the win, the A’s had seven hits led by North Reading’s Joe Dardeno who was 3 for 3 with two runs batted in.

Max Riordan was the team’s other multiple hitter going 2 for 3 and he also had one steal.

Aldo Vittozzi, Mike Vittozzi and Frank Cassarino all had one RBI.

Jack Mihalchik led the team in steals with two.

The winning pitcher was Troy Brennan who pitched six innings. He gave up four runs (two earned), five hits, two walks and he struck out eight to improve to 3-2.

Sam Kalivas pitched a scoreless seventh to record the save.

In game two, the A’s offense had seven hits but they were only able to muster one run as the hits were scattered. Mike Vittozzi, who went 1 for 2 with a walk, had the team’s lone run batted in allowing Mihalchik to score.

North Reading had no multiple hitters in that game.

The Storm scored all of their runs in the sixth inning. Jameson Twombly was the losing pitcher in relief of starter Conor Quinn who pitched a scoreless five innings.

Twombly (1-4) went one-third of an inning allowing two runs, (on earned), and one hit, He also hit one batter.

Kalvas allowed the other three runs pitching the final two-third of the sixth as he gave up three hits and one walk.

The A’s finished in 10th place in the North Shore Baseball League as they will miss the playoffs for the eighth-consecutive year.

Only the top eight teams in the league qualify for the postseason as there are 11 teams in the league this summer.