Post publication update:
#26 North Reading falls to #39 Lawrence Tech in MIAA Div. 3 State Tournament Preliminary Round. (May 30)
See game results and view the bracket here.
Published May 29, 2025
Softball team gets ready to host preliminary round game
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
GLOUCESTER — On Sunday afternoon, the North Reading High softball team wrapped up the regular season as they visited Gloucester. The Hornets ended up getting edged, 10-9, as the non-league Fishermen swept the season series.
Gloucester beat the Hornets, 10-2, in the season opener back on April 2.
With the defeat, North Reading ended up at 13-7 overall while Gloucester finished at 16-4.
Trialing 9-4, the Hornets rallied for five runs in the top of the seventh to tie it but the Fishermen scored the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh.
North Reading had nine hits led by Alyse Mutti who went 3 for 4. Ella Yeakel was the other multiple hitter going 2 for 4.
Jillian Corbett was 1 for 2 with two walks and she scored twice.
Alivia Heck reached base twice going 1 for 3 with a walk.
In the final Cape Ann League game of the year on May 21, the Hornets rolled over Newburyport, 18-4, at home on Senior Night.
North Reading swept the season series as they hammered the Clippers, 24-6, back on April 28 in their first meeting.
The Hornets finished at 12-4 in the league.
Corbett was the offensive star of this one going a perfect 4 for 4 at the dish. She doubled in the first, second and fourth innings, and singled in the third inning.
In the first inning, Emily Cassarino singled down the left field line, Corbett doubled to center field and Heck singled to right field, Yeakel also singled to right field, Newburyport then dropped a third strike and Julia Mulik singled for and RBI.
The Hornets broke it open in the third plating seven runs.
Cassarino tripled, scoring two runs, Corbett singled, scoring one, Emilia Yeakel had an RBI single, Samantha Cassarino had a two-run single while Naomi Barber added an RBI single.
Joelle Ferrazzani was the winning pitcher going four innings. She allowed one run, six hits, four walks and struck out two.
Ferrazzani improved to 5-0 in the circle.
The Hornets had 17 hits overall and they also recorded 12 steals.
Heck was 2 for 3.
Before the game, the three Hornet seniors, Mutti, Mulik and Samantha Cassarino were honored.
North Reading earned the No. 26 seed in the Div. 3 state tournament. They will host No. 39 Greater Lawrence Tech (10-10) in a preliminary round game, date and time unknown as of press time. The winner will travel to No. 7 Pentucket (18-2) for a first round game. The Panthers and Hornets split the season series this year with Pentucket winning 12-8 on April 11 and North Reading winning the rematch, 7-1 on May 15.