Post publication update:
North Reading advances to the State Finals defeating Wakefield 6-0 (June 11).
Hornets will face Arlington Catholic for the MIAA Division 3 Championship to be played at Polar Park, Worcester on Friday, June 13. First pitch at 4pm.
Published June 12, 2025
Hornet baseball continues incredible run into Final Four
By DAN ZIMMERMAN
NORTH READING — In the last two weeks, No. 9 North Reading has steadily marched through the MIAA Baseball 2025 Division 3 State Tournament bracket, eliminating three straight opponents to reach an exclusive club in high school athletics, the Final Four.
The North Reading quest to join the ranks of the State Champion elite began on June 1 with an 8-0 shutout over No. 24 Medfield in the Tournament Round of 32. Moving on to the Round of 16, the Hornets made their way to face No. 8 Weston, a formidable opponent in recent years.
The Hornets were out to an early lead, scoring a pair in the top of the second. Nick Torra drove in Max Forristall followed with a run from speedster Cam Parrett on a Glenn Mello sac-fly. Weston halved the deficit in the bottom of the frame as Brode Kohler sped around the basepads on a deep drive for an inside-the-park homer.
In the third, the combatants again traded offense. In a dizzying base-stealing sequence, Jason Curran avoided a tag at home to add Hornet insurance. Once again, however, the Wildcats evened the count via the long ball as starting pitcher Owen Jorajuria lifted a 2-run homer over the left field fence.
North Reading climbed back in front, 4-3, when Parrett reached as part of a double steal. The Hornets held on to this lead for a time, behind Ethan Quan’s pitching and the defense of Liam Blanchette, who snared a hard liner to end a threat in the fifth.
“For me, it’s simple,” said the senior third-baseman, who added several textbook put-outs to his game resume. “Keep the ball in front of me, fire it over to first and make sure we get the out.”
“Liam Blanchette played absolutely amazing tonight,” said North Reading Coach Eric Archambault. “He has grown as a player and played tremendous all year.”
Weston rendered two-out damage in the sixth, including an RBI-double to knot it at 4. Moving to the seventh, North Reading pinned their hopes on Curran who stepped up and delivered a triple to deep center. He was soon surrounded by teammates, as he scored the game-winner on a Weston error. Christian Lava later added a run stealing home.
“The ball was up in the air but I lost sight of it in the lights,” said Curran, when asked to describe the hit that sent the Hornets to the Round of 8. “As I rounded second, I saw the ball land and ran harder to reach third. This was an all-around amazing night.”
“That was exactly what we needed with one out in the seventh inning,” said Archambault. “As his coach for the last four years, Jason Curran is the guy I would turn to when the game was on the line.”
Quan went the distance to improve to 7-2. With few throws to spare before reaching the maximum, the junior hurler pressed, striking out two of the final three batters he faced.
“During that inning, I realized the pitch count was getting high,” said Quan. “As you might have seen, I said a little prayer before each pitch. At the end of the day, it’s all about how a team comes together. This was just another example of how North Reading wins games.”
In the midst of the celebration over Weston, the baseball buzz was that top-seed St. Mary’s had been defeated by No. 16 Apponequet which meant that North Reading would next host this Lakeville-based club.
On Sunday afternoon, a huge crowd of supporters filled the stands and rows of lawn chairs to cheer on their Hornets, led by Dylan Matthews on the hill. He struggled early, yielding three consecutive basehits in the first inning and a go-ahead run. But the offense picked up Matthews with run support, capturing a 2-1 lead.
In the third, North Reading scored two more off hits from Curran, Lava, Forristall, and a Torra sac-fly, knocking out Apponequet starter Gabe Zuber. But the Lakers weren’t quite ready for the long bus ride home, returning fire in the fourth to draw to within a run, down 4-3. It was soon tied on a Hornet error.
Glenn Mello relieved Matthews and delivered four ground ball outs and a pair of Ks in two innings pitched. But Mello’s heroics were only just beginning as he stepped off the mound and took the batter’s box with a man in scoring position. His walk-off RBI-double “raised the roof” on Carey Field and sent the North Reading Hornets to the Final Four.
“Honestly, it’s all about the coaching and Arch’s confidence in me,” said Mello, who earned his fourth win of the campaign. “Our philosophy is pitching to contact and getting outs, don’t allow extra bases, and keep attacking. And that hit, honestly, I just wanted to put the ball in play and find a way to pull through.”
“What a crazy game,” said Archambault, who is now 19-4 overall. “All over the field, these kids stepped up today. Dylan had a tremendous start and Glenn came up with two no-hit innings. We didn’t know an awful lot about this Apponequet team but our kids executed, played awesome and it was great to see.”
In the semifinals, North Reading faced neighbor and No. 13 Wakefield, which upset No. 5 Bishop Stang, 4-0, to advance to the Final Four. The game was held at Fraser Field in Lynn last evening (results in after press time). The winner will advance to the state championship against the winner of No. 7 Sandwich vs. No. 11 Arlington Catholic.