Updates after press time:
North Reading defeats Georgetown 8-1 (May 16)
North Reading defeats Pentucket 7-1 (May 15)
North Reading falls to Lynnfield 8-2 (May 14)
Published May 15, 2025
Softball team pushes winning streak to eight
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — The red-hot North Reading High softball team won its eighth-consecutive game on Tuesday afternoon as they steamrolled Northeast Tech, 16-1, at home in a five-inning mercy-rule game.
With the non-league win, the Hornets improved to 10-4 overall.
“We didn’t have a letdown and take them for granted,” said Hornets head coach Nicole Zimmerman.
Joelle Ferrazzani was the winning pitcher improving to 3-0. She went all five innings allowing no earned runs, two hits, one walk and she struck out three.
The Hornet offense had a season-high 28 hits.
Leading the way was Sydney Palmer, Brooklyn Houle and Meghan Rogers who were all 3 for 3. Palmer and Houle knocked in two runs while Rogers had one RBI.
Jillian Corbett and Ella Yeakel were both 3 for 4 with one RBI.
Alyse Mutti went 3 for 5 at the dish with a walk and two RBI while Alivia Heck went 2 for 3 with two RBI.
Emily Cassarino was 2 for 4 with one RBI while Julia Mulik was 1 for 1 with a two-run double.
On May 8, the Hornets hammered Triton, 13-1, at home as they swept the Vikings this year. North Reading won the first match-up, 2-1, back on April 10.
This was a six-inning mercy-rule game. The Hornets improved to 9-2 in the Cape Ann League with the victory.
North Reading plated five runs in the first, five more in the fifth and their other three in the bottom of the sixth.
“We are in our zone with our hitting,” said Zimmerman. “They have very good pitchers and we finished with 18 hits.”
Cassarino led the way going a perfect 4 for 4 with 2 RBI. Mutti and Corbett were both 3 for 4 as Corbett had a team-high 4 RBI inducing a solo home run.
Heck was 2 for 4 with a three-run shot while Samantha Cassarino was 2 for 3.
Emma Levato, was the winning pitcher improving to 5-0 in the circle. The freshman pitched all six innings allowing one run, seven hits, one walk and striking out six.
On May 7, NR edged Amesbury, 7-6, at home as the Hornets plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull out the win.
“That was our second come-from-behind win in the seventh inning,” pointed out Zimmerman.
Samantha Cassarino was the hero with a two-out RBI single to end the game. Yeakel (2 for 4) had an RBI double to cut the lead to one and Mulik had an RBI to knot the game at six.
The offense had 10 hits. Naomi Barber was 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBI while Emily Cassarino was 2 for 4.
Ferrazzani was the winning pitcher going four innings allowing three runs while Levato recorded her first save pitching the final four frames. as she also gave up three runs.
On Thursday, North Reading visits Pentucket at 4:30 p.m. The next day, the Hornets welcome Georgetown also at 4:30 p.m.
North Reading visits Hamilton-Wenham on Monday and hosts Newburyport on May 21. Both of those games will start at 4:30 p.m.
The Hornets entered this week seeded 29th in the MIAA Division 3 power rankings. The top 32 teams at the end of the regular season automatically qualify for the tournament regardless of their record.