CAITLIN REILLY went 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored in NR’s 8-5 win over Pentucket on May 17. (Eric Evans Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
AMESBURY — On Tuesday afternoon, the North Reading High softball team was edged by Amesbury, 3-2, on the road. With that defeat, the Hornets fell to 13-4 overall and 11-2 in the Cape Ann League.
The Hornets scored twice in the fifth inning while the Red Hawks scored once in the fourth and twice in the bottom of the fifth.
“The overthrows killed us,” admitted Hornets head coach Nicole Zimmerman. “Those two runs they scored in the fifth were unearned.”
Keely Hannon gave up only one earned run, six hits, one walk and she struck out seven in six innings.
The North Reading offense had six hits. Mia Vittozzi led the way going 2 for 2 with a sacrifice fly as she finished with both runs batted in.
Jocelyn Ostrowski was the team’s other multiple hitter going 2 for 3 and she scored once.
On May 17, the Hornets beat host Pentucket, 8-5, up in Groveland. North Reading was able to sweep the season series over the Panthers with the win.
Hannon was the winning pitcher going all seven innings. She gave up three earned runs, seven hits, three walks and she fanned seven.
The Hornets scored single runs in the first and second innings. They plated four in the top of the fifth and two more in the seventh. The Panthers scored twice in the sixth and three more in the seventh to make things interesting.
Caitlin Reilly was 3 for 4 with three runs scored. Her sister, Olivia, had a two-run double. Alyssa Cassarino went 3 for 4 with one run scored. Vittozzi had and RBI single while Hannon had an RBI on a fielders choice.
Mia Lava was 1 for 3 with a sacrifice fly.
“Our bats were alive that game,” said Zimmerman, as the team finished with 10 hits
The Hornets entered this week ranked 6th in the MIAA Division 3 power rankings. The top 32 schools automatically qualify for the tournament at the end of the regular season.
The states will start next week as the seedings will come out on May 31.
