A STRONG SEASON for the NRHS softball team came to an end in the Div. 3 Round of 16 in a close, 2-0 loss to Bishop Fenwick on June 8. The Hornets ended their season with an overall record of 14-7. (Eric Evans Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — Early errors proved costly for the North Reading High softball team in its MIAA Division 3 Round of 16 game on June 8 as they fell at home to Bishop Fenwick 2-0 on a damp day as the rain stopped just before first pitch..
With that defeat, the 8th-seeded Hornets ended the year at 14-7. The 9th-seeded Crusaders, meanwhile, defeated St. Mary’s of Lynn, 2-0, in the quarterfinals on Saturday to improve to 15-7.
They took on Norton on Wednesday in the state semifinals (results not available at press time).
Both Crusader runs came in the top of the first inning.
Natasha O’Brien reached on an error to start the game and Mia Mercurio singled. Hornet pitcher Keely Hannon struck out the next hitter but Sofia Longo reached on another infield error allowing O’Brien to score,
Mercurio then scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
“Our defense fell apart in the first inning,” said Hornets head coach Nicole Zimmerman. “We tightened up our defense the rest of the game and did not commit any more errors.”
The Hornets got the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the first inning but Crusader pitcher, Gigi Aupont, got Olivia Reilly to ground out to end the threat.
In the bottom of the third, the Hornets threatened again but, with one out, a ground out to first turned into a double play as Mia Vittozzi, who singled to reach base, was thrown out at home to end the inning.
From there, Aupont was able to shut the Hornets down the rest of the day. She gave up eight hits, no walks, hit one and struck out nine.
“She was good but we were able to get eight hits off of her,” said Zimmerman. “We just were not able to string those hits together and push any runs in.”
Hannon went all seven innings. She gave up no earned runs, two hits, two walks and she fanned 11 to end the year at 7-5 in the circle.
“I felt really bad for her,” stated Zimmerman, about the junior. “She pitched a heck of a game.”
Senior co-captain, Alyssa Cassarino, was the team’s lone multiple hitter going 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles.