By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — On June 30, the North Reading A’s were edged, 1-0, by the visiting Peabody Champions at North Reading High School in North Shore Baseball League action. It was the third-consecutive loss for the A’s who fell to 5-8 while Peabody improved to 10-2-1.
Emerson Tucholski was the losing pitcher in relief going 1.2 innings. He gave up a homer to Shane Keough for the game’s lone run in the sixth inning..
Mike Overlan was the staring pitcher going 4 1/3 innings. He gave up two hits, two walks and he struck out two.
“He did a great job getting ahead of hitters,” said A’s player- manager Joe Dardeno.
The A’s offense had only two hits and both hits came from Mike Soares who went 2 for 3.
“Mike did well but their pitcher (Robert Jellison) was very accurate and we struggled against him,” said Dardeno.
Jellison went all seven innings to go to 3-0 as he walked two and struck out four.
On June 27, the A’s fell to the Rowley NorEasters, 5-2, also at North Reading High although Rowley was the designated home team.
Ryan Baker was the losing pitcher falling to 0-2. He went two innings allowing five runs (three earned), four hits, and three walks. The North Reading resident struck out four.
The A’s offense had six hits, led by Derek Hoh who went 2 for 4. Ryan Brown and Lucas Rincon were both 1 for 3 with one run scored.
Rowley scored two runs in the first and three more in the second. Their final run came in the fifth.
John Lyman had a RBI fielder’s choice in the second inning and the A’s other run came on an error in the sixth.
The A’s next two games will be on the road. They go to Memorial Field in Essex to take on the North Shore Freedom on July 7 at 6 p.m.
On July 9, they take on the Beverly Recs at Beverly High School at 5 p.m.
On July 10, the A’s host the North Shore Storm. Two nights later, the North Shore Freedom comes to town.
Both of those games will start at 6 p.m.
Heading into this week, Brendan Eaton leads the team in batting average at .368 while Hoh is second at .346.
Eaton also leads the team in RBI with seven while North Reading resident, Mike Vittozzi, is second with six as he leads the team in hits with 12.
Overlan led the pitching staff with an earned-run average of 1.11 in 12.2 innings. His record is 1-0.with 14 strikeouts and five walks.