Published in the June 28, 2018 edition
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
TAUNTON — Nothing about the Massachusetts Div. 2 state semifinals was easy.
From the traffic (three hours thanks to 95), to a home field advantage for South champion Greater New Bedford Vocational Tech., the Hornets had a tough task.
Despite a quick start for Greater New Bedford, the eventual state champion, who took a 4-0 lead after two innings, the Hornets fought back like they always do, and just came up short, 6-4.
While certainly not the ending North Reading envisioned, the support from fans who made the trip to Taunton should be enough for the team to understand what they meant to the community this season. If not, they can always check out the North Reading Community Connection page on Facebook.
The 2018 D2N champion Hornets, who finished with a perfect regular season for the first time in the softball program’s history, will always be remembered.
“They’ve had an outstanding season,” said head coach Michelle Morales. “Even in this game, they were slow to start but they fought in the middle. I’m disappointed for the seniors but they had a good run.”
The Bears scratched across a run in the 1st inning and three more in the 2nd with a loud fan base pushing them on to a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the 2nd, even though it was early in the game, it felt like the Hornets needed something to stem the tide. They got it from junior Cassandra Pascucci, who had just entered the circle as a relief pitcher in the top of the 2nd. Pascucci led off the bottom half of the frame with a double to left-center.
Freshman shortstop Julia Howse, who went 3-for-3 and made plenty of great defensive plays, followed up with a single. Then, with Guiliana Peppe up, the Bears catcher threw down to third base to try and catch Pascucci but the throw got past the third baseman and Pascucci scored to make it 4-1. Greater New Bedford did a nice job of limiting the damage, picking up three consecutive outs to end the inning.
Pascucci rolled in the 3rd. She ended up pitching 5.1 innings, scattering five hits and allowing two runs. The Bears got one run in the 4th and one more in the 5th to make it 6-1.
Facing elimination, down five in the bottom of the 6th, the Hornets could have easily called it a night, but they fought back, putting up three runs to put the pressure on Greater New Bedford.
Captain Tara Driver, NR softball’s all-time leader in home runs, led off with a wicked smash to center that fell just short of a homer but resulted in a double. After a walk to Pascucci and another single for Howse, a rip to left from Peppe scored two and made it 6-3.
Captain Christina Simblaris hit an opposite field base hit for an RBI to make it 6-4, but the Hornets couldn’t get any more and the Bears shut them down in order to end the 7th.
Ultimately, this game won’t be remembered as well as the undefeated season or the sectional championship.
“They just rolled with the punches and did the best they could. It’s tough we lost here I thought were going to go all the way,” said Morales.
The seniors, captains Driver, Simblaris and Abby Paine, as well as Peppe, Caitlyn Galvin, Courtney Luker and Bridget McDonough will especially be missed next year.
“They’re just a great group and the seniors showed a ton of leadership and really led the way for the rest of the kids and they’ve taught the younger kids a lot.”
It wasn’t easy. But on behalf of the NR community: Thank you Hornets, for a magical run.