Published August 13, 2020

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — On Aug. 2, the North Reading Northeast League baseball team lost at home to Newton, 6-2, at Carey Park in their season finale. With that defeat, the Hornets finished at 7-4 overall as they came in third place in the South division.

“They played good defense and we didn’t,” said North Reading manager Marco Vittozzi.

North Reading committed three errors with two of them coming in the 4th inning as Newton capitalized scored five times.

Ryan Baker was the losing pitcher as he lasted 3.2 innings. He gave up six runs (three earned), six hits, and two walks. He struck out three.

Savino Morelli did not allow a hit in his 3.1 innings of relief.

“Savino did an excellent job,” stated Vittozzi.

The Hornets scored once in the first inning to tie the game at one as Newton scored in the top of the 1st. They then scored their other run in the 3rd.

North Reading had nine hits overall. Morelli, also with his outstanding pitching, led the way at the dish going 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI in the 3rd. Baker was 2-for-4 with an RBI in the 1st.

Aldo Vittozzi was the team’s third multiple hitter going 2-for-3.

The teams split the season series as the Hornets won the first meeting 6-2 on July 26.

On July 31, the Hornets edged host Billerica 4-3 as the game was postponed from the night before because of the rain.

“That was a great game,” recalled Vittozzi.

North Reading scored twice in the 1st and single runs in the 3rd and 4th to go up, 4-0. However, the Indians stormed back plating three runs in the 6th.

The Hornets were then able to stop the leakage and held on.

Pitcher Nick Doucette improved to 4-1 with another complete-game effort. He gave up two earned runs, five hits and one walk. He fanned six.

“It was his fourth quality start this summer,” said Vittozzi.

North Reading had seven hits this time led by Mike Vittozzi who went 2-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly. He also had a RBI double in the first and scored twice.

Savino was the other multiple hitter going 2-for-4.

North Reading’s other first-inning run scored on an error while Jack Fischer had an RBI single in the top of the 3rd.

Due to the shortened season because of the Covid-10 pandemic, there were no playoffs.

“The kids worked very hard this summer,” stated Vittozzi. “They would have done well if there had been a playoff.”