North Reading 12-year-old Williamsport team starts 1-2, hosts Wakefield Sunday

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — On Sunday, the North Reading 12-year-old Williamsport baseball team lost 8-1 to Andover at Benevento Field.

With that loss, North Reading fell to 1-2 in District 13 play.

“They had a tall, over-powering pitcher,” explained North Reading head coach Greg Mello. “He pitched five innings and we did not get any hits off their reliever in the sixth.”

Drayden Turcott accounted for the team’s lone run with a homer to left field in the top of the fourth inning (Andover won the coin toss and was the home team even though the game was in North Reading.).

Andover scored four runs in the first inning. They then scored three in the bottom of the third and one more in the fourth.

“We had three errors in the first and dug ourselves too much of a hole,” said Mello.

Owen Quinn was the losing pitcher going three plus innings. He gave up eight runs (four earned), nine hits, three walks and she struck out six.

The day before, North Reading was shut out by host Billerica 2-0.

“They also had a good pitcher that threw very hard,” said Mello. “We ended up with only five hits.”

Billerica, who was the designated road team as North Reading won the coin toss, scored single runs in the first and sixth innings.

Cam Isnor had a solid game on the hill. He went all six innings allowing two runs, 10 hits, one walk and he fanned seven.

“Cam pitched very well,” said Mello.

In the tournament opener on June 27, North Reading belted host Wilmington, 33-5, in a four-inning mercy-rule game at Bourwell Field.

The mercy-rule is 15 runs as North Reading led, 18-5, after the third inning. They then plated 15 runs in the top of the fourth and shut Wilmington down in the bottom of the fourth to end the game.

The 33 runs is an all-time record for any North Reading 12-year old team.

“I have never seen anything like that before,” said Mello.

Isnor was 4 for 4 with three runs batted in while Drew Harrington had a monster day going 4 for 5 with a team-high seven runs batted in.

Harrington’s biggest hit was a grand-slam homer to center field.

Ethan Sharp was 3 for 4 with four RBI while Turcott was 3 for 5 with three RBI.

Quinn was the winning pitcher going two innings. He gave up three runs, four hits, no walks and he struck out six.

Isnor pitched the final two innings allowing two runs, four hits, six walks and he struck out two.

North Reading’s next game will be at Benevento on July 7 as they take on Wakefield at 5 p.m. To advance, North Reading must win and hope for some help in other games.