Published in the July 28, 2016 edition

Set sights on playoffs this weekend

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

SWAMPSCOTT — Last Friday night, the North Reading A’s lost at Swampscott, 10-5, at Phillips Park.

With that defeat, the A’s record dipped to 7-15 while the Sox improved to 20-3. The A’s still are holding on to the eighth and final playoff spot in the North Shore Baseball League while the Sox are in first place.

“They are the best hitting team in the league and I tip my hat to them,” said A’s player-manager Joe Dardeno. “We also left a lot of runners on base that game.”

The A’s offense had 10 hits led by Ben Harrow who went 3 for 4 with one run batted in and one run scored.

“He continues to hit the ball well,” said Dardeno, as Harrow leads the team in batting average at .493, which is second-best in the entire league.

Dardeno and Jeff Mejia were both 2 for 3 at the dish as Mejia also drew a walk and scored twice. Michael Bailey, Xavier Nunes and Kevin Rooney all knocked in one run each.

Robert Sullivan was the losing pitcher, falling to 2-2. He went three innings allowing five runs (four earned).

It was the second loss in a row to the Sox for the A’s as they fell, 8-1, on July 19, also at Phillips Park.

“Their pitcher (Ben Kendrew) was able to hit his spots,” recalled Dardeno.

Kendrew (4-0) went all seven innings while allowing the lone run on eight hits. He walked three and struck out six A’s hitters.

Mejia had an RBI single in the top of the first as he finished 2 for 4. However, the Sox plated six runs in the bottom of the first to take control of the game.

Along with Mejia, the other A’s multiple hitter was Nunez who went 2 for 4 with a walk.

The Sox also scored single runs in the second and fifth innings.

A’s starting pitcher Zach LeBlanc lasted just two-thirds of an inning, allowing six runs as his record fell to 0-1.

This weekend the playoffs are slated to begin. As of press time, the A’s and Sox are slated to play each other in a best-of-three opening round.

On Saturday, July 30, the first game will be played at Phillips Park. The next day, game two will be played at North Reading High School’s Carey Park. The third game, if necessary, will take place back at Phillips Park on Monday, Aug. 1.

The league’s website, northshorebaseball.net, will list the starting times by Friday, July 29.