By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — In District 13 play, the North Reading 12-year old Williamsport Little League baseball team went 1-3.
The run for the team ended on July 6 as they lost at Wilmington, 4-1, at Rotary Field. North Reading won the coin toss and was the home team as they batted last.
Wilmington scored once in the second, twice in the fourth and once more in the top of the fifth.
North Reading’s run came in the bottom of the sixth.
“Their pitcher had a good off-speed pitch that confused some of our hitters,” said North Reading assistant coach Matt Libby. “We left a lot of runners on base but their defense played well.”
North Reading’s offense had 11 total hits with four multiple hitters. Jackson Hodge was 2 for 3 and had the team’s lone RBI. Ben Barkowski was 2 for 2 with a walk while Lucas Giordano and Ike Carroll were also both 2 for 2 at the dish.
Tyler Vautin pitched the first 3.2 innings. He gave up three runs, two hits three walks and he struck out two.
Wilmington hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning.
On July 3, North Reading was edged by guest Wakefield, 3-2, at Benevento Field.
Things started off well as Cameron Ward had a 2-run homer to center in the bottom of the first inning. Nik Traino also scored as he was hit by a pitch.
However, Wakefield plated three runs in the top of the fifth with the game-winner coming on an error.
“Their pitcher settled down after that first inning,” pointed out Libby.
Not only did Ward have the homer but he was also outstanding on the mound. He pitched four innings of no-hit ball. He also fanned 10 but had to be pulled because he reached his pitch count.
“He was un-hittable,” stated Libby. “The only problem is that he got too deep into the counts and ran out of pitches It was heartbreaking to see.”
Wakefield went on to win the district championship.
On June 29, North Reading fell to Andover, 9-6, also at Benevento. Andover won the coin toss and was the home team in this one.
“We allowed two runs in the first inning and five more in the second,” said Libby. “I was proud of the way we fought back and didn’t give up.”
Hodge had two solo homers. His first won was to center in the first inning and his second one was to left in the fifth inning.
The other three runs came in the top of the fourth.
North Reading finished with 10 hits. Hodge was 2 for 2 with a walk while Dam Hulett, Charlie Libby and Luke Robinson were all 2 for 3. Libby also knocked in one run.
Vautin pitched the final three innings and gave up just a pair of runs.
“Tyler was able to keep us in the game,” said Libby.
In the opening game of the tournament on June 28, North Reading beat host Billeirca, 9-4, at Pollard Field.
“Our hitting was awesome that game,” recalled Libby, as the team had 12 hits.
North Reading scored single runs in the first and second innings. They then broke the game open with six runs in the third. Their final run came in the fifth.
Hodge led the attack going a perfect 3 for 3 with a team-high three RBI.
Traino, Mead and Vautin were all 2 for 3.
Libby, Robinson, Giordano and Burkowski all knocked in one run.
Mead was the winning pitcher as he went the first four innings. He gave up two runs, three hits, three walks and he struck out 10.
Vautin pitched the fifth inning and Lucas closed the game out in the sixth.
“All of the games were pretty competitive,” said Libby, who assisted under head coach James Boviard. “We had three scrimmages, that we won, before the tournament began.”
The team is still together playing this weekend in a separate tournament in Tewksbury.