Published June 6, 2019
NORTH READING — The NRHS baseball team said thank you to their seniors one final time (in the regular season at least) when they hosted Northeast Metro Tech on Friday.
The Hornets beat the Golden Knights 12-4 as Ryan Connor, Alex D’Ambrosio, Andrew Giannattasio, Matthew Capozzoli, Ryan Veneziano, Cole Doke, Matthew Solecki and Aidan Wyatt all got the send off they were hoping for. All seven of the senior Hornets who were active picked up a hit on Senior Day.
THE SENIORS were honored before NR’s victory over Northeast Metro Tech Friday. Pictured left to right with their families are Matthew Solecki, Cole Doke, Ryan Veneziano, Matthew Capozzoli, Andrew Giannattasio, Ryan Connor and Alex D’Ambrosio. (John Friberg Photo)
Solecki led the way with three hits and four RBI’s. D’Ambrosio had a single, double and triple to go along with two RBI’s.
Connor had two hits and two RBI’s, Capozzoli had two hits and a RBI, Veneziano had a hit and a RBI and Giannattasio picked up a base hit and scored a run.
RYAN VENEZIANO pitched a terrific game for the Hornets, picking up the win on Senior Day.(John Friberg Photo)
Veneziano made it a senior day to remember as he got the win on the mound going four innings and allowing just one hit and one earned run.
North Reading lost their final league game on May 30, 6-2 against Manchester-Essex. The Hornets ran into Manchester-Essex ace Harry Painter who was recently named the Player of the Year in the CAL Baker Division.
Painter went six innings and allowed just one hit to Michael Vittozzi in the 4th but North Reading couldn’t get any runs around to cut into a 4-1 Manchester-Essex lead.
The Hornets will quickly put this one behind them as they earned the 11th seed in the Div. 3 North Tournament.
North Reading started the year 2-6 but came back with a blistering 9-3 record in May to punch their ticket to the dance.
ANDREW GIANNATTASIO makes a play at second base during NR’s win on Senior Day. (John Friberg Photo)
The Hornets will play No. 6 O’Bryant on Thursday, 3:45 p.m. at Madison Park High School.
O’Bryant finished the season with a 13-6 record and a 7-1 league record in the Boston City League.
It’s another familiar bracket this season. In the same region as the Hornets is old foe Lynnfield who drew the 3 seed. The Pioneers play the winner of Weston and Wayland in the first round. If both teams can get past their first round opponents it will be another rivalry game in the quarterfinals, most likely pitting Pioneer ace Fernando Gonzalez against Hornet ace Joey Frammartino, both southpaws.
Gonzalez and the Pioneers beat Frammartino and the Hornets 6-2 on opening day but the Hornets won the rematch on May 11, 7-1.
Gonzalez pitched a gem against North Reading in the playoffs last year getting a 2-0 win in the quarterfinals.
Also in the Div. 3 North again is reigning state champion Austin Prep. The Cougars finished the season at 19-1 but still got snubbed from the Super Eight and will return to the Div. 3 North Tournament as the top seed. Austin Prep has defeated Lynnfield in the D3N final in each of the last two seasons.
