D3N seedings to be announced June 5
Published in the May 31, 2018 edition
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
LYNN — The NRHS baseball team went to Fraser Field in Lynn with two goals: win a championship and prepare for the state tournament.
North Reading knew that if they could accomplish the former, against great competition like Lynn English and Lynn Classical, then their preparation for the big dance would take take care of itself.
The Hornets responded with a dominant 12-3 win over English on Friday, and a well-earned 3-2 victory in the championship over Classical on Saturday.
THE HORNETS were champions of the Nipper Clancy Tournament held at Fraser Field in Lynn over Memorial Day Weekend. NR beat Lynn Classical, 3-2 in Saturday’s championship game. (Courtesy Photo)
Lynn English stuck right with North Reading through most of the game until the Hornets exploded for eight runs in the top of the 6th.
That half of the 6th featured seven singles and seven RBI’s in 13 at-bats.
Singles from Alex D’Ambrosio and Jack Keller (2-for-4, 2 RBI’s), followed by a walk to Matt DeBenedetto loaded the bases for Marco Vittozzi (2-for-5, 2 RBI’s) who came through with a two-RBI liner to left to make it 6-3.
DeBenedetto scored on a passed ball and Matt Solecki walked, setting up an RBI single from Dan Lignos (3-for-4, 2 RBI’s).
Two more RBI singles from Cole Doke (2-for-3) and Ryan Connor (2-for-4, 2 RBI’s) made it 10-3 and a two-RBI knock from Keller tacked on the final two runs of the game.
Keller settled in, shutting out the Bulldogs in the 3rd and 4th after allowing three total runs in the first two innings. The sophomore allowed four hits and two earned runs in four innings.
NR’s bullpen was great in this one as Joey Frammartino (1.2 IP), Jimmy Currier (0.1 IP) and Cole Doke (1 IP) all combined to allow zero runs to close the game.
Against Classical on Saturday, the Hornets knew they would have a close game on their hands, but they hung tough and held on for a 3-2 win.
Cole Doke was the story in this one as the junior lefty scattered six hits and two runs in six innings while striking out four. Doke, who has been battling back from an early season injury, provides a vital extra arm for the Hornets heading into the playoffs.
Classical made it a one-run game in the 5th, but Doke got the next two batters out to end the inning, and the Hornets turned a 6-4-3 (Connor to Keller to Matt Capozzoli) double play in the 6th to get out of trouble.
Connor closed the game in the 7th to cement the tournament win.
NR scored one in the 1st on a sac fly from Keller to score D’Ambrosio.
The Hornet bats then regained the lead in the 4th when Vittozzi hit an RBI single to score DeBenedetto and Lignos followed up with an RBI single to score Vittozzi to make it 3-1.
The win was the 5th in a row for North Reading who traveled to Amesbury on Wednesday after press time to finish their regular season. The Hornets (13-6) will then await seedings of the D3N tournament which will be announced on Tuesday, June 5.
