After press time: North Reading defeats Boston English 14-1 (April 23)
Published April 24, 2025
By DAN ZIMMERMAN
LYNNFIELD — North Reading baseball suffered its first loss of the season last Saturday, falling 6-3 to archrival Lynnfield. The Hornets, leading early, were unable to counteract a Pioneer 6-hit, 6-run deluge in the fourth inning.
Prior to making the trip to Lynnfield, North Reading added back-to-back wins to improve to 5-0 overall. Last Wednesday, Ipswich paid a visit to Carey Park but it proved to be an abbreviated stay as the Hornets pounded their guests in a 21-4 mercy-shortened contest. On a cold, windswept afternoon, catcher Matt Mancinelli batted 4-for-4 and drove in 4 runs to lead his team in the rout. Christian Lava added 3 of the Hornets’ 17 hits, while Nick Torra and Jason Curran each had a pair.
North Reading set the tone early with 8-runs in the first frame. Hurler Dylan Matthews, meanwhile, coasted to his second win, allowing just a pair of hits in three innings pitched.
A day later, the Hornets traveled to face struggling Manchester-Essex. Curran took center stage, batting 3-for-4 with key hits late in the game after the clubs had remained deadlocked at 1-1 through four frames. Curran’s 2-RBIs made the difference. Antonio Ricca, Gavin Brady, and Lava each had two hits apiece while starter Glenn Mello picked up the win.
North Reading sent Matthews to the mound in Lynnfield and quickly, the offense gave the junior the run support he needed against the potent Pioneers.
In the second inning, Brady was safe on a high throw and soon advanced to second on a sac-bunt. Another sacrifice put the Hornets in front, 1-0.
Mancinelli, who currently leads the team with 9-hits and 9-RBI, ripped a double to left. Speed merchant Ethan Quan was aboard, beating a slow grounder. Liam Blanchette drilled a 2-run basehit to bolster the North Reading lead, 3-0.
The Lynnfield baseball facility has an artificial surface which makes for fast ground balls. The reliable Hornet defense made quick work of the Pioneers through the second and third innings, recording six straight ground ball outs with surgical precision. But in the fourth, Matthews faltered, giving up 6 runs on 6 hits, including a 2-run homer from Luke DiSilvio.
“Dylan left a couple of pitches up and they were able to take advantage,” said North Reading Coach Eric Archambault. “We’ve talked a lot about preventing those big innings and trying to limit the damage. But when you allow a six-spot in one inning, it’s tough to win games that way.”
Quan relieved Matthews and effectively shut down the Pioneers, allowing just a pair of basehits.
In the Cape Ann League Kinney Division, North Reading is currently 2nd (2-1), trailing Lynnfield (2-0).
“We are definitely a good team this year but in games like this, in a competitive environment, we have to find a way to win,” said Archambault. “We couldn’t do it today so we have to get back to the drawing board.”
The Hornets bounced back with a 14-1 win over Newburyport on Tuesday, improving to 6-1. They traveled to English High in Boston on Wednesday after press time and will next host Rockport, 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29.