By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — The North Reading 14-year-old Little League Junior League All-Star baseball team played seven games this summer. They ended up reaching the Massachusetts state semifinals finishing 3-4 overall.
In their final game of the tournament on July 12, they lost to Canton, 12-7, at Scituate High School.
“They reached the New England championship game in the Williamsport Tournament two years ago,” pointed out North Reading manager Nick Rosano of Canton. “They have a pretty good hitting team.”
Canton got off to a great start as they led 10-0 early on.
However, North Reading fought back plating seven runs in the bottom of the third but that was as close as they would come as Canton added two more runs later on to pull away.
“I was proud of the way the kids fought back,” said Rosano.
Jacob Mead led the North Reading offense going 2 for 3 with one run batted in. Jason Connolly added a two-run single in that third frame.
On July 9, in the final pool-play game, North Reading was doubled up by Melrose, 6-3, at North Reading High School.
“They had two really good pitchers,” recalled Rosano, as Melrose ended up winning the state title and went to Pennsylvania for the Eastern Regionals where they went 0-2.
Melrose led wire-to-wire scoring five times in the second inning.
On July 6, North Reading lost to Canton, 11-9, at Ruane Field in Canton.
“It was a back-and-forth game with a lot of offense,” said Rosano.
North Reading scored four times in the top of the first but they were outscored 11-5, the rest of the game.
North Reading was led at bat by Tom Fagner and Braydon Turcott who both went 2 for 3 with one RBI.
Frank Pellegrino had a two-run double.
On July 2, they edged host Swansea 4-3.
Pellegrino was the wining pitcher going six innings. He gave up three runs, seven hits, three walks and he struck out four.
“He pitched to contact and let his defense do the work,” said Rosano.
The North Reading defense was solid committing only one error.
Ethan Sharp pitched a scoreless seventh to record the save.
Fagner, Turcott and Connor Leahy all went 2 for 3 at the dish in this game. Fagner and Turcott each had one RBI.
On June 29 at North Reading High, they beat Scituate 13-7.
“That was our best offensive performance of the tournament,” stated Rosano.
Owen Quinn was the story of this game. At bat, he was a perfect 3 for 3. He was also the team’s winning pitcher in relief.
The opening game of the tournament took place on June 25 as North Reading edged Holden, 5-4, at home.
This game had the most exciting finish of the tournament as a squeeze bunt by Mead allowed Turcott to score the game-winning run with one out in the bottom of the seventh.
Pellegrino was the winning pitcher going all seven innings. He gave up four earned runs.
Looking at his team’s overall performance, Rosano, who just finished his fourth summer as manager, was pleased.
“They accomplished a lot,” he said. “Overall, they played great and they worked hard.”