By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — Last summer, the North Reading A’s (ages 18 and over) missed qualifying for the North Shore Baseball League playoffs by only one point as they finished tied for 10th-place in the 13 team league with a record of 9-15.

They had a total of 18 points as it was the second year in a row they missed qualifying by one point.

This season, the A’s, who return 20 of their 30 players from last summer’s roster, are looking to return to the post-season for the first time since 2016.

The league has 11 teams this summer and, entering this week, the A’s are 6-11 as they sit in 5th place. The top eight teams qualify for the post-season.

“Our pitching and hitting has been good,” said A’s player-assistant coach Joe Dardeno. “The problem we have had so far is that we are stranding too many runners and not getting the timely hits.”

Dardeno is in his 19th-year as a player and his 12th season as a coach as he has handed the head coach duties to Frank Cassarino.

Along with Dardeno and Cassarino the other A’s from North Reading are Aldo Vittozzi, his cousin Mike Vittozzi and Derek Reilly.

Also on the team is the grandson of legendary North Reading High baseball coach Frank Carey, Chris Faraca.

Heading into this week, the team’s top hitter was Kevin Murillo (second base) who is hitting .326. Jack Mihalchik (center field) is right behind him at .325.

“Kevin and Jack have been a big help on offense,” said Dardeno, about the newcomers.

Mihalchik is the team leader in runs batted in with seven while Lucas Rincon is one behind him with six.

Rincon is the team leader in on-base-percentage at .452 as he had a team-high seven walks. Mihalchik who walked three times, is second in OBP at .413.

Sam Kalvas is the A’s top pitcher with a team-low, earned-run average of 1.24 in 17 innings. He also has saved two games.

Sean Brennan is second in ERA at 1.53 in 17.1 innings. He is 2-1 on the hill with 19 strikeouts and four walks.

“Sam has only allowed three runs so far,” pointed out Dardeno. “Sean, and his twin brother Troy, have been the backbone of our staff along with Sam.”

Troy is 1-2 with an earned run average of 2.80.

The next game for the A’s is July 7 at 1 p.m. as they take on the host Northeast Tides at Exeter High School in New Hampshire.

On July 10, the A’s host the Peabody Champions at North Reading High. That game will start at 6 p.m. Admission is free.