SENIOR CAPTAIN Alyssa Cassarino had a walk-off base hit to score senior captain Mia Vittozzi as the Hornets beat Pentucket 4-3 on Monday at home. The 3-0 Hornets travel to Gloucester on Friday at 4:30 p.m. (Eric Evans Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — The North Reading High softball team steamrolled guest Georgetown, 18-2, in a five-inning mercy rule game on an unseasonably warm day Tuesday afternoon. With that win, the Hornets improved to 3-0 overall and in the Cape Ann League.
The Royals, meanwhile, fell to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the CAL
Alyssa Cassarino was the winning pitcher going four innings to go to 1-0. She gave up two runs, four hits, three walks and she struck out seven.
Mia Vittozzi pitched a scoreless fifth inning to end the game.
The Hornet offense scored nine runs in the second and nine more runs in the third.
The offense had a field day as they pounded out 17 hits led by Kristen Galvin who went 2 for 2 with a walk and a team-high five runs batted in. Olivia Reilly was 3 for 3 while Cassarino went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Vittozzi was 2 for 2 with a walk and was hit by a pitch to reach base all four times she was up.
Mia Lava was 2 for 2 with a walk while Jocelyn Ostowsky was the team’s other multiple hitter going 2 for 2 with two walks and three runs scored.
Freshman, Amelia Yeakeo, got her first-ever varsity hit.
The day before the Georgetown game, the Hornets hosted Pentucket in their CAL home opener. They ended up edging the Panthers in a good game 4-3.
Cassarino was the hero in this one as her infield single scored Vittozzi from third with one out in the bottom of the seventh to set off a big celebration. Vittozzi had a single, stole second, and got to third on a passed ball.
“It was nice to see them not get rattled in a tight game,” said Hornets head coach Nicole Zimmerman.
Pentucket scored one run in the first inning and two more in the third. North Reading plated one run in the first and two in the bottom of the second.
Keely Hannon was the winning pitcher to go to 2-0 in the circle. The junior gave up one earned run, nine hits, four walks and she fanned six.
Vittozzi led the attack going a perfect 4 for 4 at the dish with three steals. Cassarino was 2 for 3 with two RBI as the Hornets had seven total hits.
On April 14 (Friday), North Reading will play a non-league game at Gloucester. That game will start at 4:30 p.m.
The Hornets will then play back-to-back games next Monday and Tuesday during April Vacation week. On Patriots Day, they visit Manchester-Essex at 4:15 p.m.
They then host Reading in a non-league game on April 18 with that contest starting at 4 p.m.