Post-publication updates:
North Reading falls to Hamilton-Wenham 6-2 (May 20)
North Reading defeats Amesbury 6-2 (May 19)
North Reading defeats Newburyport 15-0 (May 16)
North Reading defeats Georgetown 4-3 (May 13)
North Reading falls to Lynnfield 6-2 (May 12)
North Reading defeats Pentucket 5-3 (May 8)
Published May 8, 2025
Hornet baseball pushes winning streak to five games
By DAN ZIMMERMAN
ROWLEY — The North Reading Hornets savored yet another stretch of exceptional baseball last week, winning three straight to improve to 10-1 overall. The most dramatic of the trio, however, was the game at Essex Tech on May 1, which featured four lead changes and a brilliant catch by rightfielder Max Forristall to snap a late Hawks’ rally.
With the Hornets clinging to a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Essex Tech put a man aboard and sent the potential game-tying run to the plate. A long ball to deep right ensued, promising to bring in at least one run, perhaps two. But Forristall, who had yet to see anything come his way, made a remarkable over-the-shoulder catch to save the day.
“I can’t speak more highly of Max Forristall,” said North Reading Coach Eric Archambault, who currently sits atop the CAL Kinney, a pair of wins ahead of archrival Lynnfield. “He puts in the work everyday and takes pride in the fundamentals. Honestly, when that ball came off the bat, I thought it was a sure double. But Max tracked it down. It’s a testament to his hard work.”
Two days earlier, North Reading warmed up for the season rematch with Essex Tech by thrashing Rockport, 18-2. Christian Lava and Forristall garnered three hits apiece. Along with Forristall, Antonio Ricca and Matt Mancinelli each drove in three runs to lead the Hornets over the struggling Vikings. Glenn Mello picked up the win in what marked the third straight mercy-shortened event for North Reading.
In their first meeting, North Reading handed Essex Tech a decisive 11-7 defeat. In the rematch, the Hawks proved far better than their 3-6 record indicated. The Hornets claimed a 1-0 lead in the first frame as a Lava grounder scored Ricca. Nick Torra got the start and struck out a pair in the bottom of the inning but later yielded an unearned run to tie it, hitting a batter with the bases loaded.
Pinch-speedster Cam Parrett, running for Mancinelli, made it 2-1 for the visitors in the second, scoring on a Mello bunt-single. The Hornets added a pair in the third, as both Jason Curran and Gavin Brady scored on a dropped pop-up that should have been a third out. Once again, the Hornets were zipping around the diamond, stealing at will. But there were also shortcomings in this respect as a pair of baserunners were cut down at the plate.
“We’re obviously an aggressive team and sometimes, we like to take the extra base,” said Archambault. “If one person makes a mistake, we all learn from it. All in all, our base-running probably results in a net-positive.”
Essex Tech pulled even in the third, taking advantage of two walks. Ethan Quan relieved Torra and worked out of a bases-load jam with a pair of Ks. The curve-baller would go on to log his team-leading fourth win.
The Hornets reclaimed the lead, 5-4, in the fifth as Forrsitall reached on a wild pitch. Each club added a run in the next inning and in the seventh, the Hornets picked up insurance on Torra’s drive to deep center ultimately leading to Forristall’s dramatic catch in the bottom seventh.
“You always have to be ready, for every hitter and every pitch,” said Forristall, when asked how he keeps focus in relatively quiet right field. “I rely on my teammates to bring me energy and help me to stay locked into the game and stay engaged.”
Archambault admitted that this contest was technically complicated.
“There was a ton of situational baseball today,” said the Coach, who is currently 4th of 71 Division 3 clubs in the MIAA Power Rankings. “We work on situational baseball everyday and the kids understand that we have to be ready to execute in a tough environment like this.”
The Hornets wrapped up their fulfilling week with a visit to Triton on Saturday afternoon, claiming their 10th win of the season, 15-6. Leading the offense was Torra who drove in 5 runs on 4 hits, pitcher Dylan Matthews picked up his third win, and in the third inning, Curran drilled a grand slam over the left field fence, marking the first North Reading homer of the season.
“We have a mindset on our team to keep it simple and I was thinking liner or sac-fly to get a runner in,” said Curran, who is third on the squad with 10 RBI. “When I saw him throw that pitch, my eyes lit up like a kid in a candy shop. Next thing you know, I’m rounding the bases with a grand slam.”
As the game reached five innings, and North Reading once again threatened to apply the mercy-rule to an opponent, Mother Nature stepped in with thunder, lightning, and a pelting rainfall. At first, the officials signaled for a rain delay but moments later, the Triton coach relented. Safe in the shelter of the team bus,
Coach Archambault gave the 10-win Hornets much-deserved good news.
North Reading will host Pentucket this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. followed by a trip to Amesbury on Friday at 4 p.m. before a rematch with rival Lynnfield on Saturday, 4 p.m. at Carey Park.