By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — Heading into their final game of the regular season on Saturday afternoon, the North Reading A’s had to win against host Powerhouse in order to qualify for the North Shore Baseball League playoffs.
However, Powerhouse was able to win, 4-2, up in Hampton, New Hampshire to end the A’s season.
With that defeat, the A’s finished at 9-15 as they came in 10th place while Powerhouse ended up at 7-15. North Reading missed qualifying for the post-season by only one point as the final team to qualify, Marblehead (9-14-1), had 19 points while the A’s finished with 18.
This is the second-consecutive year the A’s have missed the playoffs by only one point.
North Reading’s offense had five hits led by Mike Vittozzi who went 2 for 3. Joe Dardeno, Tyler Fenton and Ryan Brown had the three other hits.
Dardeno, the player-manager, and Vittozzi are both North Reading residents.
Sean Brennan was the losing pitcher falling to 1-4. He pitched all six innings allowing four runs (only one earned), five hits, two walks and he struck out eight.
Last Friday night, the A’s defeated the North Shore Storm, 7-3, at North Reading High (the Storm was the designated home team).
The A’s offense had 10 hits led by Vittozzi and Lucas Rincon who both had two hits. Vittozzi was 2 for 2 while Rincon was 2 for 4. Each player also scored once.
Brendon Eaton and Michael Soares both had two-run singles while Thomas Ahlers added a two-run triple.
The A’s had a season-high seven steals.
Troy Brennan was the winning pitcher going four innings. He gave up three runs (one earned), six hits, two walks and he struck out four to improve to 2-2,
That win snapped a six-game losing streak.