Published in the July 30, 2015 edition
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — In their last game of the regular season, the North Reading A’s baseball team was no-hit by host Peabody, 9-0, at Twi-Field in Danvers on Monday, July 27 in North Shore Baseball League action. With that loss, the A’s finished the regular season at 6-17-1.
“They have a strong-hitting team,” said A’s player-manager Joe Dardeno, about the Champions, who improved to 15-6-1. “They also had three solid pitchers that shut us down.”
The Champions scored six times in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back.
A’s pitcher Anthony Lupi fell to 2-3 as he lasted 3 1/3 innings. He gave up nine runs and 13 hits.
Falls to Phillies
The A’s were shut out by the North Shore Phillies, 8-0, on Saturday, July 25 at Breed Field in Lynn.
“We had only nine players and Matt (Diveccia) who normally plays in the infield, pitched for us,” explained Dardeno. “He stepped up and ate some innings for us and I appreciate it.”
North Reading had seven hits in that game led by Jon Gravallese, who went 2 for 4 and was the team’s lone multiple hitter.
“Jon had a good game,” pointed out Dardeno.
John Sirois, Tyler Mezquita, Zach Szczechowicz, Justin Dekow and John Lyman had the five other A’s hits.
With the loss to Peabody, the A’s sit in seventh place in the league standings. They qualified for the playoffs for the first time in four years and are slated to start the playoffs next Monday.
It is a best-of-three series and the A’s will either play the Kingston Night Owls or the Phillies. North Reading will be away on Monday and home on Tuesday. Game three will be on Wednesday if necessary. Check the league website northshorebaseball.net for more details.
“The guys, especially the veterans, are looking forward to the playoffs,” stated Dardeno.
