NR gets ready for Pete Frates tournament this weekend

Published in the May 10, 2018 edition

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

NORTH READING — The NRHS baseball team got a full week of tough CAL matchups to test their midseason form. After dropping a home game to Hamilton-Wenham, 9-6 on May 2, the Hornets beat Rockport, 9-1 on the road the following day and dropped a tough game to CAL-best Masco, 17-1 on Tuesday.

The Hornets ran into a tough Hamilton-Wenham offense at Carey Park last Wednesday. The Generals scored all nine of their runs in the first three innings. A good sign from the Hornets was that they battled back with four runs in the 4th and two in the 6th.

“We were down 9-0 but the kids showed a ton of resiliency by scratching their way back,” said head coach Eric Archambault. “We didn’t play great to start but we settled down and Ryan Veneziano pitched very well in relief.”

Veneziano pitched the final three innings, giving up just two hits and no runs.

The Hornets got an RBI double from Derek Reilly and came away with eight hits to put the pressure on the Generals’ defense.

THE HORNETS stuck together and supported each other even during a tough start to the Hamilton-Wenham game on May 2. It’s a message they will hear again at the Pitching in for Pete tournament this Saturday as they participate in the event that supports the Pete Frates #3 Fund to strikeout ALS. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

The next day, North Reading put together a great game to beat host Rockport, 9-1.

“It was a good team win,” said Archambault who was especially impressed with the pitching performance from sophomore Jack Keller who went six innings and struck out four while allowing just three hits and one run.

“Keller pitched a heck of a game, he really punished the zone” said Archambault.

Matt DeBenedetto had three hits and three RBIs including a home run, a triple and a single. Marco Vittozzi chipped in with an RBI single as the Hornets had nine hits overall.

The Hornets didn’t bring their A game to Masco as they were defeated in a lopsided game, but Archambault is confident his team has what it takes to bounce back.

“These games happen every once in a while, it was definitely our worst game of the season,” said Archambault. “But anytime this team has slipped up or struggled we have bounced back extremely well so we are looking to of that against Lynnfield.”

The Hornets host the Pioneers on Thursday at 3:45 p.m.

Pitching in for Pete, Saturday at Fraser Field

The Hornets will be making another appearance at the Pitching in for Pete tournament to benefit the Pete Frates #3 Fund to strike out ALS. North Reading will play Pentucket on Saturday, May 12 at 7 p.m.

“It’s an awesome experience for the kids and it brings awareness to this terrible disease,” said Archambault. “The games are fun but it’s much bigger than baseball. Last year when John Frates spoke it really gave our guys a chance to reflect on how fortunate they are and how important teamwork is.”

The message of Pete’s fight and his mission is multi-faceted, but one lesson the Hornets can learn is the effect teammates can have on each other.

“To me, its all about teammates,” said Pete’s father John. “When Pete got sick, all he had to do was reach out to his teammates and they came back in droves to help him out and that was the foundation for the Ice Bucket Challenge.”

The famous Ice Bucket Challenge is well known, as is Pete Frates and perhaps most importantly, this horrible disease. To those who grew up in this region, Pete is a hero of the highest regard. According to Pitching in for Pete founder, Mike Winn, a big reason why this tournament was started is to make sure future generations understand ALS and Pete’s message.

“Pitching in for Pete isn’t a huge money maker, but it is a way to raise a little money and keep ALS research top of mind with the younger generation,” said Winn. “It is my goal to bring this to numerous fields so that someday we could be playing 30-plus games over the course of a weekend to benefit the Pete Frates #3 Fund.”

Winn met the Frates family through Boston College baseball. His son also wore Pete’s number 3.

The event is hosted by the North Shore Navigators as general manager Bill Terlecky helped Winn set it up. Last year’s event had an unmistakable aura of family and togetherness to go along with some great baseball.

“I just thought of how I would feel if I was put in their position,” said Winn of the Frates family. “It is pretty remarkable to see how they have turned something to tragic into such an inspiring message.”

John Frates spoke to the teams before their games last year and encouraged them to keep in mind Pete’s philosophy: Be passionate, be genuine and be hardworking.

Pitching in for Pete will have competition, winners and losers, but unity will reign at Fraser Field this weekend.

“To me it’s so polarizing and divisive the way the world seems to be,” said John Frates. “Yankees, Red Sox; religion; politics; but the beauty of this devastating disease that Pete has is he brought everyone together. So when I think about when the eventual treatment and cure comes, it’s yes, of course, Pete’s efforts, but it’s collectively all of our efforts. Whoever contributed, whoever took the Ice Bucket Challenge, whoever perpetuated his awareness campaign, is responsible for the cure, so we’re very grateful for everybody’s support.”

To support the Pete Frates #3 Fund log on to petefrates.com and be sure to cheer on your Hornets at Fraser Field in Lynn on Saturday at 7 p.m.