Published in the April 13, 2017 edition

By STEVE MARTELUCCI

NORTH READING – Last season was a memorable one for the North Reading High baseball team as they reached the Division 3 state title game before they were edged, 5-4, by Groton-Dunstable to end the year at 22-4. Nine players from that squad graduated but third-year manager Eric Archambault did return nine veterans when training camp opened on March 20th.

Six of those veterans back are seniors this year. Those 12th-graders are Mike McCauley (pitcher- shortstop), Dan Madden (pitcher), Jeff Mejia (outfielder), Bob Donohue (outfielder), John Merullo (catcher), and Pat Davis (first base).

McCauley, Mejia and Merullo were all Cape Ann League All-Stars last season. Mejia led the Hornets in batting average while Merullo led the squad in runs batted in.

Fellow senior Jack O’Brien was slated to be back too but an elbow injury will keep him out for the season.

The three juniors back are Matt DeBenedetto (outfielder), Derek Reilly (infielder) and Jake Doucette (pitcher- infielder).

Due to the poor weather during the pre-season, the Hornets had to practice a lot indoors.

“It went good,” said Archambault, about the pre-season. “We have the batting cage and we were able to make the most out of the situation.”

Last Saturday, the team had its lone scrimmage as they visited Nantucket.

Archambault feels that Masconomet, Pentucket and Triton will be the biggest challengers in the league this spring.

The Hornets will play a 20-game regular season schedule.

On Thursday, North Reading visit Newburyport at 3:45 pm. The Hornets host Pentucket at 10 am on Saturday and they visit Triton at 10 next Tuesday during school vacation week.