Hanson named Kinney Division MVP
Published July 8, 2021
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — Five players on the North Reading High softball team received postseason honors from the Cape Ann League coaches as three Hornets made the CAL First-Team All-Stars while two others made the Second-Team All-Stars.
Shea Hanson led the way as she was named the league’s Kinney Division MVP. It is her second time on the team as she made it as an All-Star as a sophomore two years ago (there was no season due to the pandemic last spring).
Hanson, a senior pitcher, went 13-2 in the circle. She had an earned-run average of 1.15 with 89 strikeouts and only three walks.
At bat, the co-captain hit .369 with 13 runs batted in and one homer.
“She was very accurate and was able to keep runners off the bases,” said Hornets assistant coach Paul Greene. “She was a good fielder that I called Hoover and she was also a very good hitter.”
Hanson will be attending the University of Vermont in September.
Sarah Gerber was a first-time First-Team All-Star as the transfer from California hit .650 with 22 RBI and four home runs to lead the team in all three of those categories.
“She is a great hitter who led by example,” said Greene, about the senior third-baseman. “She was also solid on defense.”
This was Gerber’s only year on the team and she will be attending Case-Western in Ohio this fall.
Julia Howse was the other First-Team All-Star as the senior shortstop hit .399. She had 17 RBI and two homers.
“She is the best defensive shortstop in the league,” stated Greene about the co-captain.
Howse will go to St. Anselm and plans to play softball there next season.
The two Hornets to make the CAL Second-Team All-Stars are Audrey Vittozzi and Caitlin Reilly. Vittozzi is a senior right fielder who hit .500 with seven RBI and one home run. She is going to Bryant this fall.
“She stepped up this season,” said Greene.
Reilly is a freshman center fielder who hit .600 from the lead-off spot. She knocked in 12 runs.
“She is a phenomenal player who should made the All-Stars for the next three years.” said Greene.
Along with the four senior All-Stars, the Hornets will lose three other seniors to graduation, Rachel Vardinski (infielder), Kaeleigh Arington (catcher), and Gabby Janasiewicz (outfielder). Vardinski and Arington were also co-captains.
“Our senior class was very solid and they will be tough to replace,” said Greene, whose daughter Michelle Morales, was named the CAL Kinney Coach of the Year.
The Hornets reached the Division 2 North quarterfinals before losing 4-3 to Gloucester to end the year at 13-2. They captured the CAL Kinney division finishing 12-1 in the league.
North Reading is slated to return 10 veterans next spring.
“We do have a good nucleus coming back,” said Greene, who just finished his sixth year as an assistant.
On July 6, the team had its awards banquet. Hanson was named the team’s MVP while Vittozzi took home the Unsung Hero Award. Howse and Arington both got the Coaches Award.
