Baseball team set for playoff bid

Published in the June 1, 2017 edition

By Stephen Martellucci

The North Reading High baseball team edged its way into the Division 3 state tournament last Saturday as they defeated Lynn English, 4-2, in nine innings in the consolation game of the Nipper-Clancy Tournament at Fraser Field in Lynn. With that win, the Hornets finished the regular season at 10-10.

 “It was one of our better games of the season,” said Hornets manager Eric Archambault. “We were down to our final two outs in the seventh inning but John (Merullo)and Pat (Davis) got some key hits to keep us alive.”

 Marco Vitozzi then had a fielder’s choice to allow the second run to score and send the game into extra innings.

The Hornets then plated two runs in the top of the ninth as Mike McCauley had an RBI.

Dan Madden was the winning pitcher improving to 5-2. He went eight innings allowing two runs, (one earned), six hits, six walks and he struck out two.

 Ryan Connor pitched the seventh to record his first saves of the year.

The Hornet offense had 10 hits led by Davis who went 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Bob Donohue also had an RBI single in the first inning.

In the first game of the tournament last Friday, the Hornets were edged by Lynn Classical, 6-5, in ten innings.

“It was a heartbreaking loss,” acknowledged Archambault. “They have a very good team and were fighting for a Super Eight slot.”

 The Rams led, 3-0, in the first inning but North Reading fought back.

 The Hornet offense had 12 hits led by Connor who went 3 for 5 at the dish. Jeff Mejia also had a good game at bat going 2 for 3 with two walks and two runs scored. Donohue was 2 for5 with one RBI.

John Day was the tough-luck loser in relief. He went 8 1/3 innings allowing three earned runs, five hits, nine walks and he struck out five.

 “He kept us in that game,” stated Archambault.

 On May 24^th, the Hornets finished up a home game against Masconomet that was under protest from back on April 11^th. They played the final 1 1/3 innings as the Chieftains won, 3-1.

McCauley was the losing pitcher falling to 0-5. He went the first 5 2/3 innings back in April. He allowed three runs (one earned), two hits, six walks and he struck out two.

 Day had the lone RBI as the Hornets finished at 7-9 in the Cape Ann League.

 On May 23^rd, the Hornets lost at Lynnfield, 9-2, at the Pioneers were able to complete the season sweep.

“They have a very good team,” said Archambault.

 Connor suffered his first loss of the year on the hill falling to 5-1. He gave up five runs (four earned), four hits, four walks and struck out one in his four innings of work.

Mejia and Matt DeBenedetto had RBI’s with sacrifice flies.

The Hornets first playoff game will be on Saturday as they host Saugus in the preliminary round of the Division 3 North state tournament. That game will start at 4 pm. the Hornets are the 14^th -seed while the Sachems are the 19^th-seed.

Saugus enters the game at 8-12.

The winner of that game visits Lynnfield the next day at 4 pm. The Pioneers are the this seed at 18-2.