By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — On Tuesday, the North Reading 12-year old Little League Williamsport baseball team beat guest Andover, 7-3, at Benevento Park on a damp, cloudy night to go to 2-0 in District 13 Pool B play.
North Reading scored once in the bottom of the 2nd inning and then erupted for six runs in the bottom of the 4th. Andover scored twice in the top of the 1st and once more in the 5th.
“This was a really big win for us,” stated North Reading manager Ryan Fitzgerald. “Andover has an excellent program and they knocked us out of the sectionals last year in the 11-year old tournament.”
Ryan DiCarlo was the winning pitcher in relief going the final 2 2/3 innings. He gave up just one run, two hits, one walk and he struck out one.
North Reading’s offense had eight hits overall as Charlie Scott was the team’s lone multiple hitter going 2 for 3 with a key two-run double in the 4th inning.
Gavin Griffith had a two-run single in the 4th while Andrew Beckwith added an RBI single in the 4th. Colin Brady scored the other run in the 4th on a wild pitch.
Hendrick Schomp had the team’s other RBI with a single in the 2nd inning.
In the team’s opener on June 30, also at Benevento Park, they steamrolled Wakefield 14-2 in a four-inning mercy-rule game.
North Reading scored four runs in both the 1st and 2nd innings (Wakefield was the designated home team even though the game was in North Reading). They plated five runs in the 3rd and one more in the 4th. Wakefield had single runs in the 3rd and 4th innings.
“It was pure domination by us pitching and hitting,” said Fitzgerald. “We were the better team that night.”
Griffith led the way for the locals with his pitching and hitting. At bat, he went a perfect 3 for 3 with two solo homers. He was also the winning pitcher going 3 1/3 innings as he gave up two runs (one earned), one hit, two walks and he struck out 10.
“It was an MVP performance,” stated Fitzgerald. “He is the best player I have ever coached.”
DiCarlo got the final two outs to end the game.
North Reading had 12 hits overall. Schomp was 2 for 2 with a team-high six RBI as he had a grand slam in the third inning. Brady was 2 for 2 with three RBI while Scott was also 2 for 2 with a walk and one RBI.
North Reading will continue Pool B play on Thursday at 5:45 p.m. as they visit Billerica. On Monday, July 11, also at 5:45 p.m., they will go to Wilmington to play at Rotary Park.
Eleven of the 13 players were on last year’s 11-year old team that won the district and played in the Section 4 tournament. That team went 7-2 overall last summer.
