Published in the April 14, 2016 edition
ROAD WARRIORS. The schedule makers put the NRHS varsity softball game on the road for the first three games of the season, (the game at Reading was canceled because of rain). But Captains Taylor Connor and Carly Swartz are looking forward to leading the Hornets in their first home game on Friday. (Courtesy Photo)
By BOB TUROSZ
NORTH READING — After having their first game against Reading rained out, the NRHS varsity softball team picked up where they left off in 2015, clobbering CAL rival Masconomet, 10–1 in Boxford on Monday.
Junior pitcher Julia Perrone baffled the Chieftain hitters for seven innings, throwing 101 pitches, 60 percent for strikes. She scattered three hits throughout the game and struck out eight. Masco managed to score its lone run in the fifth inning, but otherwise their batters were frustrated all day.
North Reading jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the first inning, tacked on three more in the third and did the rest of their damage in fourth and fifth innings, adding on two and three runs respectively.
The Hornets pounded Masco pitching for 17 hits, with Perrone helping her own cause, leading the hit parade with four. Sophomore Abby Paine also had four hits and senior co–captain Carly Swartz contributed three. Sophomore Tara Driver went 2–for–4, including a home run a double.
Swartz, Perrone, Paine, Driver, senior Lily Malloy and junior Cassidy Gaeta also pounded doubles.
North Reading had one error, but 15 (37.5 percent) quality at bats by Swartz, (2), Driver, (4), Paine, (3), Perrone, (4) Gaeta and Paine.
Driver drove in 3 Hornet runs, (no pun intended), and Paine and Perrone each knocked in 2. Swartz, Gaeta and sophomore Guilana Peppe all batted in one run. The Hornets left nine runners on base.
The Hornets traveled to Newburyport on Wednesday to take on the Clippers in a 3:45 p.m. start, too late for this week’s deadline. The girls will play their home opener on Friday, April 15, taking on Pentucket at the Little School Field. The girls are aiming to improve on last year’s 16–6 season that included the co–championship of the CAL’s Kinney Division. The first pitch is at 3:45 p.m.
