By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — It was a solid run for the North Reading 14-year-old Little League baseball team as they reached the state finals. In that junior league state title game, North Reading was nipped by Scituate, 2-1, at Horgan Field out in Oxford on July 14th.
“Both teams played great on defense,” said North Reading third-year manager Nick Rosano. “All three pitchers did very well.”
Zach Vautin and Gavin Griffith combined to allow only one run each. However, the offense was able to only score once.
“Their pitcher had decent velocity,” said Rosano.
In the semifinal game the day before, also at Horgan Field, North Reading rolled over Canton, 10-5.
In this game, North Reading had 15 hits led by Dylan Fitzgerald who was a perfect 3 for 3 with a walk and one run batted in.
Griffith also had a big day going 3 for 4 with one RBI while Hendrick Schomp was 2 for 3 with to RBI.
“The offense had a strong showing,” said Rosano.
The winning pitcher was Ryan DiCarlo who went all seven innings.
In the final game of the state sectionals on July 7, North Reading was blanked by host Milbury 6-0.
“Their pitcher mixed his pitches well and kept us off-balance,” recalled Rosano.
North Reading had seven hits with Harry Agganis leading the way going 3 for 3.
Of the six teams in the state sectionals four advanced as North Reading came in second to Milbury going 3-2.
On July 6, at North Reading High School, they fell to Swansea in a high scoring game 11-8.
“We didn’t come ready to play,” admitted Rosano. “Our pitchers struggled and we didn’t score until the fifth inning.”
In their first meeting with Scituate on July 2, North Reading won at Scituate High 11-6.
Griffith led the way going 2 for 2 with one RBI. He reached base in all four at bats as he was hit by a pitch twice and he also scored four times.
Agganis also reached base all four times as he was 1 for 1 with three walks. He also scored four times.
“We took advantage of their shaky pitching,” said Rosano.
Schomp also had a big game going 3 for 4 with one RBI.
Charlie Scott was the winning pitcher in that game.
On July 1, at North Reading High, North Reading beat Canton 11-3 (Canton won the coin toss and was the designated home team).
“This game was a lot closer than the final would indicate,” pointed out Rosano, as his squad plated seven runs in the top of the seventh to pull away.
“Our offense was solid,” he added, as the team had 12 hits.
Agganis was 2 for 3 with a team-high three runs batted in. Griffith was 2 for 3 as well with a walk and two RBI.
DiCarlo pitched a complete game giving up three earned runs.
“He did a great job of throwing strikes,” said Rosano.
In the opening game of the state sectionals, North Reading shut out guest Holden, 14-0, in a five-inning mercy-rule game on June 29.
DiCarlo pitched the first three innings while Vautin preserved the shutout the final two frames.
With only North Reading and Stoneham in District 13, the teams played a best-of-three series to decide who advance to the state sectionals.
In game two on June 21, North Reading won at home 9-2.
The offense had 10 hits led by Vautin who was 2 for 3 with one run batted in.
He was also the winning pitcher going the first four innings slowing one run. Griffith pitched the final three innings and he also allowed one run.
“Both pitchers were solid that game,” said Rosano.
In game one on June 20, North Reading won 11-5 as that game was played in Wilmington.
The offense pounded out 11 hits as Schomp was 2 for 2 with a walk and two runs batted in. DiCarlo was 2 for 3 with two RBI.
DiCarlo pitched all seven innings to get the win on the hill.
Overall, North Reading went 6-3.
“These kids started working hard indoors back in February and I really enjoyed coaching them,” said Rosano.
Had North Reading won against Scituate, they would have traveled to Dubois, Pennsylvania for the East Regionals which is taking place this week.
