THE NRHS softball team picked up a big win against a strong Triton team, 3-0 on Friday. The Hornets hosted Lynnfield after press time on Wednesday and will host Ipswich on Friday at 4:30 p.m. (Eric Evans Photo)
Updates post publication: North Reading improves to 8-1, defeating Lynnfield 13-0 (4/26) and Ipswich 22-4 (4/28)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
BYFIELD — Last Friday afternoon, the North Reading High softball team shut out host Triton, 3-0, up in Byfield. With that win, the Hornets improved to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the Cape Ann League.
The Vikings, meanwhile, suffered their first loss of the year as they fell to 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the league.
“This was our biggest win of the year so far,” stated Hornets head coach Nicole Zimmerman.
Keely Hannon was the winning pitcher posting her first shutout of the year. The junior pitched all seven innings allowing three hits, four walks and she struck out a season-high 13 batters.
“She was painting the corners and had great heat on her pitches,” said Zimmerman, as Hannon improved to 4-1 in the circle. “We also played well in the field.”
The Hornets scored twice in the top of the third and their other run in the sixth.
Mia Vittozzi led the offense going 3 for 4 with one run batted in. Olivia Reilly went a perfect 2 for 2 with two walks and one RBI.
Hannon helped her own cause going 2 for 3 at the dish with the other RBI.
The Hornets had nine total hits
On April 19, the Hornets mercy-ruled Manchester-Essex 17-2, on the road. The game lasted five innings.
Alyssa Cassarino was the winning pitcher going all five innings to go to 2-0. She gave up four hits, no walks and she fanned ten.
North Reading scored twice in the first inning, three times in the second and third, four times in the fourth and five more in the fifth.
Overall, they had 17 hits. Jillian Corbett led the way in this one as she was a perfect 4 for 4 with two RBI including a solo homer to right-center.
Vittozzi and Mia Lava were both 3 for 4. Vittozzi knocked in four runs while Lava had two RBI.
Cassarino was 2 for 3 including a walk and a three-run homer to center field. Julia Mulik was the team’s other multiple hitter going 2 for 4 with one RBI.
Freshman, Emilia Yeakeo, had her first-career hit going 1 for 1 as she singled.
“It was nice to see everybody contribute,” said Zimmerman.
The Hornets also played Phillips Academy on Apr. 22 in Andover. The game does not officially count for the team as they lost 8-5 as Zimmerman played a lot of different players.
On Apr. 28, the Hornets will host Ipswich at 4:30 p.m. They then welcome Newburyport on May 3 with that game also starting at 4:30 p.m.