UPDATE: Softball finishes season at 15-5, hosts Cardinal Spellman in first round on Tuesday

 

 

 

Follow the latest state tournament updates here.

 

 

Published May 30, 2024

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

READING — Defensive problems were the downfall for the North Reading High softball team last Saturday as they lost at Reading, 8-6, in the regular-season finale.

The Hornets committed four errors that led to three unearned runs for the non-league Rockets.

“It was one of our worst games of the season,” admitted Hornets head coach Nicole Zimmerman, whose squad finished at 15-5 overall. “I guess it is better to do it now instead of in the tournament.”

Emilia Yeakel went three innings allowing seven runs (four earned), five hits, three walks and she struck out two.

Keely Hannon pitched the three final innings and she gave up one run, three hits, no walks and she fanned five.

North Reading never led in this game as they made the score close with three runs in the sixth inning and two more in the top of the seventh.

The Hornets finished the day with 10 hits led by Olivia Reilly who was 3 for 4 with one run batted in. Alivia Heck had a two-run homer and she was also hit by a pitch, going 1 for 2 at the dish.

Kristen Galvin had a two-run triple and was also hit by a pitch.

Jocelyn Ostrowsky had an RBI on a fielder’s choice.

At home against Gloucester on May 24 (the game was postponed a day due to rain), the Hornets won, 15-5, over the non-league Fishermen.

“We hit the ball very well,” stated Zimmerman, whose team posted 12 hits.

Galvin and Ostrowsky were both 2 for 3 with a walk. Galvin knocked in three runs while Ostrowsky had two RBI.

Caitlin Reilly walked twice and had a sacrifice fly. Her sister, Olivia, was 1 for 3 with an RBI triple and a walk.

Naomi Barber had an RBI single while Maggie Schulz had a two-run double.

Ella Yeakel had a two-run triple.

The scoring was spread out as the Hornets scored three in the first, one in the second, four in the third, one in the fourth and four more in the bottom of the sixth.

Hannon improved to 11-3 in the circle with a complete-game effort. She gave up four earned runs, six hits, one walk and she struck out six.

Gloucester, who was swept by the Hornets this season, fell to 9-10 with the loss.

On May 22, the Hornets fell apart late, losing 7-6 at Newburyport.

North Reading led 6-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning but the Clippers rallied as Emily Meleedy had a walk-off hit to end the game and set off a big celebration.

“That was the hardest loss we have had this year,” admitted Zimmerman, as the Hornets ended up in second place in the Cape Ann League Kinney Division behind Triton.

North Reading finished 11-4 overall in the CAL.

A win would have given the team a share of the Kinney Division title as they were swept by the Clippers this spring.

Emilia Yeakel went six-plus innings. She gave up five earned runs, six hits, three walks and she struck out five.

“We had two costly errors,” said Zimmerman.

The Hornet offense had 12 hits led by Jillian Corbett who was 3 for 4. Olivia Reilly was the team’s other multiple hitter going 2 for 4.

Ella Yeakel had a two-run single while Emilia, had a sacrifice fly.

Caitlin Reilly also had a sacrifice fly.

The Hornets earned the No. 7 seed in the Div. 3 State Tournament. They will host the winner of No. 26 Cardinal Spellman vs. No. 39 Fontbonne in the first round, date and time to be announced as of press time.