THE NRHS softball team’s strong season came to an end with a first round loss to East Bridgewater on Sunday. The Hornets finished at 13-7 overall and 11-2 in the CAL. (File Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — On Sunday afternoon, the North Reading High softball team hosted East Bridgewater for their first playoff game in the Division 3 state tournament.
It was a tough day for the locals as they lost by a final score of 9-1 on a hot, sunny day.
With the defeat, the 11th-seeded Hornets ended the year at 12-8 while 22nd-seeded Vikings lost, 6-0, to Austin Prep in the Round of 16 game on Tuesday to end the year at 11-10.
“They deserved to win,” said Hornets first-year head coach Nicole Zimmerman. “They have a good team and played well.”
The Vikings scored two runs in the top of the 2nd and one more in the 3rd. They broke the game open with five runs in the top of the 5th with two of those runs coming on Hornet errors.
“We are a young team this year and there were some nerves out there,” admitted Zimmerman.
The lone run for the Hornets came in the bottom of the 5th inning. Jocelyn Ostrowsky walked and stole second. She went to third on a fly out and scored on a bunt single by Alyse Mutti.
Vikings pitcher, Maggie Schlossberg, went all seven innings allowing one run, three hits for the win. She also fanned nine Hornets batters.
“She did a real good job of getting the outside strike,” said Zimmerman. “That is a pitch we have had trouble with all year.”
Keely Hannon went five innings. She gave up five earned runs (eight overall), 10 hits and one walk. She struck out six as she finished at 10-7 in the circle.
Alyssa Cassarino pitched the final two innings allowing one run.
For the Vikings, Haley Murphy had a home run and a team-high four runs batted in. Bella Moore, Brooke Murphy and Sarah Silvia all had RBI in this game as well.