Published May 9, 2019

NORTH READING — The NRHS baseball team immediately went to work on putting a 2-6 start to the season behind them as they traveled to Georgetown on Saturday and hosted Rockport on Tuesday.

The Hornets picked up two key wins, beating the Royals 7-3 and the Vikings 10-0.

“We’re playing better,” said Hornet head coach Eric Archambault. “We started out a little slow but we’re putting it together now.”

North Reading and Rockport got their game done during a beautiful afternoon just before a heavy downpour descended on Carey Park.

The Hornet offense made it a close call with Mother Nature thanks to a nine-run third inning.

JIMMY CURRIER lines up a two-RBI base hit during a nine-run third inning, helping the Hornets’ beat Rockport on Tuesday. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

Already up 1-0 after an RBI gapper from Alex D’Ambrosio in the first inning, the Hornet bats stayed hot in the third when “D’Amby” led off with another base hit. Ryan Conner was hit by a pitch and Matt Solecki walked to load the bases. Matthew Capozzoli hit a sharp grounder that couldn’t be handled by the second baseman as NR got one run across.

With the bags still full, Michael Vittozzi ripped a two-RBI double down the left field line to make it 4-0. With runners at second and third and still no outs, Capozzoli found himself in a pickle between third and home after a Jack Keller grounder. Capozzoli was tagged by the catcher but the ball flew out of his mitt and the Hornets took a 5-0 lead.

Jimmy Currier made it 7-0 with a two-RBI base hit, chasing the Rockport starter.

After a one-out single from Cole Doke against the new pitcher, D’Ambrosio’s second at-bat resulted in another well-hit double and two more runs for a 9-0 lead. An RBI knock from Solecki accounted for the final run of the Hornets’ best inning of 2019.

“We had a good approach at the plate today,” said Archambault. “When their pitchers were throwing strikes we were ready to hit and when they were struggling we were able to wait it out.”

The Hornets got three shutout innings from junior Demitri Boulas who scattered two hits and struck out three in his first start.

“Demitri pitched really well. He started us off today,” said Archambault.

Senior Ryan Veneziano kept the shutout going in the fourth and fifth allowing just one hit while collecting a strikeout.

Junior Jack Keller finished it off in the sixth and seventh ceding no runs on one hit, two walks and two strikeouts.

The defensive play of the day kept a run off the board and ended the top of the sixth. With runners at the corners, Rockport went to steal second. Some teams throw down with two outs in these ever-exciting scenarios. D’Ambrosio sold a pump fake throw behind the plate and caught the runner at third leaning, forcing a pickle that the Hornets executed into the last out of the inning.

Scoring a combined 17 runs in two games is a great way to get out of a slump. The Hornets will look to keep it going when they host Masco on Thursday. They will then get ready for a rematch at Fraser Field against Lynnfield on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. for the Pitching In For Pete tournament to support Pete Frates and the fight against ALS.