NORTH READING’S 13-year-old Little League All-Star team for the 2022 season, which went 1-2 in the District 13 tournament, was comprised of front row, from left: Branden Levine, Nalo Benedict, Nolan Pierce, James Wyatt, James Nelson, Charlie Considine; (back row, from left): Glenn Mello, Chris Libby, Cole Bakr, Charlie Cooper, Scotty Costello and Ben Mahoney. (Courtesy Photo)

 

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — In their final year on the Little League diamond before moving to the regulation size field next season, the North Reading 13-year-old All-Stars went 1-2 in the District 13 tournament this summer.

The last game took place on June 28 as they lost to host Stoneham, 10-7, at McCarthy Field.

“Stoneham had a couple of good pitchers,” recalled North Reading manager Mike Levine.

Coach Levine has been coaching, either as an assistant or head coach, with this team since they were 10-year old All-Stars.

The lone North Reading win took place on June 26 as they defeated visiting Wilmington,  12-2, in a five-inning mercy-rule game at Benevento Park.

In that victory, North Reading starter Branden Levine was the winning pitcher going all five frames.

In the first game of the tournament, North Reading lost to the eventual district champ, Lincoln-Sudbury, by a final score of 11-1 at Featherland Park in Sudbury.

“They were a very strong team,” said, Levine about Lincoln-Sudbury. “They had the best pitching we have seen.”

Last year in the 12-year old Williamsport Tournament, which a majority of this year’s team played on, North Reading went 4-1 falling to Reading in the District 13 title game.

Two of the new players on the team this year who were not on that Williamsport squad, were Scott Costello (center field) and Charlie Considine (outfielder).

Along with Levine, who also played second base along with pitching, the other players on the roster were Ben Mahoney (right field), Charlie Cooper (outfielder), Chris Libby (third baseman and pitcher), Cole Bakr (pitcher and outfielder), Glenn Mello (first baseman and pitcher), James Nelson (first baseman and outfielder), James Wyatt (catcher) Nolan Pierce (shortstop) and Nalo Benedict (outfielder).

“Wyatt was a human backstop behind the plate blocking everything,” stated Levine.

In the three game played, Mello, Cooper, Bakr and Libby led the team in on-base percentage.

Mello, Levine, Bakr and Libby also played on the 12-year old North Reading Bay State Tournament team this summer since they were young enough to be eligible.

After the tournament, it was emotional for coach Levine knowing that this was the last time he would coach these kids.

“It was bittersweet,” he admitted. “ I have had a blast with these kids and I am going to miss coaching them.”