THE NRHS softball team started their season with a victory over Northeast Metro Tech on Monday. Up next, the Hornets will host Essex Tech this Monday at 4:15 p.m. (Eric Evans Photo)

 

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — This year’s North Reading High softball roster looks very familiar to last year’s as 11 veterans return from the 14-6 team that lost to Bishop Fenwick, 2-0, in the MIAA Division 3 Round of 16 playoff game.

In the Cape Ann League, they finished in second place in the Kinney Division behind Triton with a record of 11-3.

The two seniors the Hornets lost were talented as Mia Vittozzi and Alyssa Cassarino were both CAL First-Team All-Stars last year.

Five of the veterans back are this year’s captains. Those five seniors are Jocelyn Ostrowsky (second base- right field), Keely Hannon (pitcher), Kristen Galvin (third base- catcher) and the Reilly sisters, Olivia (catcher) and Caitlin (center field).

Hannon was a CAL First-Team All-Star last year while Olivia Reilly was a CAL Second-Team All-Star.

Maggie Schulz (first base) is the other senior back.

Mia Lava (first base), Julia Mulik (right field) and Alyse Mutti  (shortstop) are the three juniors back.

The two sophomores back are Naomi Barber (second base- pitcher) and Jillian Carbett (third base-catcher).

“I have a lot of confidence in our team this year,” stated Hornets head coach Nicole Zimmerman, who is entering her third season at the helm.

North Reading will have a 19-game regular season which is one more than last year. They will play the CAL Kinney teams twice, including newcomer Essex Tech, and the Baker Division schools once.

The four non-league games will be against Gloucester (twice), Northeast Tech and Reading.

On Monday, the Hornets opened the 2024 campaign with a, 25-2, drubbing of guest Northeast Tech in a five inning-mercy-rule game.

Emily Cassarino led the way, going a perfect  4-for-4 at the plate with a walk and scoring all five times. Olivia Reilly also had a huge game going 4-for-5 with a career-high eight runs batted in. Caitlin Reilly went 2 for 3 with a pair of walks, two RBI and four runs scored.

Overall, the Hornets had 16 hits.

Hannon was the winning pitcher going all five innings. She gave up two runs, two hits, two walks and she struck out seven.

The Hornets’ next game is April 8 as they host Essex Tech at 4:15 p.m. North Reading then welcomes Triton on April 10, also, at 4:15 p.m.