Post publication updates:
#9 North Reading defeats #8 Weston 6-4 to advance to Elite 8. (June 4)
North Reading defeats #24 Medfield 8-0 to advance to Sweet 16. (June 1)
For the latest state tournament updates and to view the bracket, click here.
Published May 29, 2025
Local nine gears up for postseason after terrific, 16-4 campaign
By DAN ZIMMERMAN
NORTH READING — Coming off a tough loss to Hamilton-Wenham last Tuesday, North Reading baseball refocused, getting back on track by claiming two of three from top-notch non-league opponents to close out the regular season.
North Reading wrapped up with an enviable 16-4 overall record, finished second in the Cape Ann Kinney. At press time, the MIAA released the Div. 3 bracket with North Reading earning a No. 9 seed. They will host the winner of a preliminary round game between No. 24 Medfield (11-8) and No. 41 Greater Lowell Tech (11-9), date and time to be announced.
“In my second year coaching here, we finished 17-3,” said North Reading Coach Eric Archambault, when asked if this was one of the better seasons he has enjoyed at the helm of the Hornets. “This one comes pretty close.”
Archambault, who took over the program in 2017 after the historic 47-year tenure of Frank Carey, has led the Hornets to 8 straight winning campaigns and currently holds a 100-56 career mark as he gears up for the post-season. Last year, North Reading was ousted in the second round by Shawsheen Tech, 9-0.
The 2025 regular season has featured some of the worst spring weather in recent memory. Due to adverse conditions, very few games were contested on the originally scheduled date. That would include a rainout for the annual team-bonding trip, this year slated for Cooperstown, New York and a matchup with Stoneham. Last year, the Hornets traveled to Uncasville, Connecticut, home of Mohegan Sun, for a game against Bedford HS that was also postponed due to inclement conditions.
Ironically, the rescheduled Stoneham meeting, played at Carey Field last Friday, was also shortened by rain but not until the game was official and North Reading had comfortably outpaced the Spartans, 8-0.
“We approach every team with the same mindset,” said Hornet pitcher Dylan Matthews, whose blistering fastball kept the usually potent Stoneham hitters off balance. “Let them put the ball in play. Today, we came in and set up outside and let our defense do the work.”
Matthews allowed just a pair of hits in six innings and improved to 6-1. Meanwhile, Ryan Labb, in his return to the lineup, was 3-of-4 and scored two runs. Jason Curran also drilled a double and notched a pair of runs scored, including the eventual game-winner but Curran has mostly contributed to the Hornets success with his near-flawless defense.
“The defense has been a major part of this team” said the senior shortstop. “We’ve always emphasized ourselves on solid play up the middle and on the corners. Today, we looked fluid and ready to go. I’m really proud of our guys. We started this season with a chip on our shoulders because of Shawsheen last year and we really came out on fire, starting at 10-1.
I’m really happy to be part of this team.”
Antonio Ricca, who drilled a key double to right in the fourth inning, agreed that the Hornet’s offense, which has generated 171 runs, is the product of consistent hitting and base-stealing.
“Our hitting goes really deep, one through nine,” said the Hornet leadoff batter. “We can go really deep, everyone on this team is reliable at the plate, and confident enough to come through in every situation. We do a lot of things that other teams don’t really focus on, like base-stealing, and it works to our advantage.”
North Reading split the difference in the Annual Hillie Tournament, played last weekend in Haverhill. The Hornets handily defeated their opening round opponent, Lawrence, by a score of 7-1. Lawrence came in as the 14th-ranked club in Division 1 but the Hornets had little trouble behind the complete game of Ethan Quan who struck out 10 and scattered just 5 hits to improve to 6-2.
Unfortunately, the Hornets were unable to hold on to a six run lead in the next day championship round against North Andover, falling 11-8.
“We definitely feel that the depth of our hitting and our defense are the keys to this team’s success,” said Archambault, as he readies for the MIAA State Tournament. “But, of course, we expect good things from pitchers Dylan Matthews and Ethan Quan as the playoffs get underway.”