By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — On Sunday evening, the North Reading A’s beat the host Beverly Recs, 9-7, at Beverly High School in a six-inning game (darkness) That win was the second in a row for the A’s as they improved to 7-8 while Beverly fell to 6-7-1.
Derek Hoh, the team’s lead-off hitter, led the A’s offense going a perfect 3 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored. Ryan Brown was the team’s other multiple hitter going 2 for 2 with a walk. He knocked in two runs and scored three times.
“Derek was impressive,” stated A’s player-manager Joe Dardeno. “Ryan also had a big game hitting our of the third slot.”
Lucas Rincon had a two-run double while Dardento had an RBI double. Michael Soares and Joe Gil both added one RBI.
Brown had two steals while Rincon and Hoh both had one steal.
Emerson Tucholski was the winning pitcher in relief going the final 2.2 innings. He gave up two hits and the one run that scored was unearned. He struck out three and walked one to go to 1-1.
Eric Whitehead pitched the sixth inning to record his second saved of the summer.
“Emerson did a good job of holding them down,” said Dardeno.
On July 7, the A’s nipped the North Shore Freedom, 1-0, at Memorial Field in Essex. Troy Brennan was the star in this game pitching a complete-game shutout to go to 1-2. He gave up just one hit, two walks and he fanned eight.
“He was a beast out there,” stated Dardeno. “”It was one of the best performances I have seen in recent memory.”
Robert Hallowell had the lone RBI on a fielder’s choice.scoring Gil in the top of the fourth inning.
North Reading had five hits overall.
The home game against the North Shore Storm on Monday was rained out (makeup date unknown as of press time).
On July 13, the A’s go to Haverhill Stadium to take on the Kingston Knight Owls at 8 pm. On July 16 at 1 pm, North Reading will visit Hampton, New Hampshire to take on host Powerhouse, the newest team in the North Shore Baseball League.
The A’s then go to World Series Park in Saugus on July 17 to face the North Shore Storm.
North Reading then hosts Powerhouse on July 19 at 6 pm at North Reading High.