Local nine gets revenge on Masco, Lynnfield

Push winning streak to four games

Published May 16, 2019

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

NORTH READING — It’s easy for doubt to creep in when you start a season 1-5.

Luckily for the NRHS baseball team, getting discouraged is never on their to-do list. The Hornets and head coach Eric Archambault constantly talk about controlling what you can control.

The season didn’t start the way they wanted. Rival Lynnfield beat them on opening day and Masco put them in an early hole the next game. The Hornets were outscored 14-4 to start 2019 0-2.

So what.

The Hornets stayed positive, knowing that if they stuck together they would get out of it.

North Reading’s win over Rockport on May 7 put them at 4-6.

Then came the real tests to see how they have improved: Masco on Thursday and Lynnfield on Saturday.

The Hornets beat the Chieftains 8-0 and cruised past the Pioneers 7-1, returning the favor of 14-4 to 15-1 while pushing their winning streak to four games in which the Hornets have outscored their opponents by a combined 32-4.

“It’s very encouraging to see how our guys have responded the second time playing both of these teams,” said Archambault. “We got off to a slow start this season but have turned it around and are playing pretty good baseball right now.”

Demetri Boulas was locked in against Masco with an impressive one-hitter.

The junior struck out four and walked none during his complete game shutout.

“Demitri pitched a great game against a very good team,” said Archambault. “He worked quickly, pounded the strike zone, and trusted his defense behind him. I am really proud of the way he competed today.”

Perhaps most impressive was Boulas’ ability to rack up quick innings.

After an error got the leadoff batter on in the fourth, Boulas battled back and got the next three outs in just eight pitches.

He went on to swiftly sit down a strong lineup with eight pitches in the 5th, nine pitches in the 6th and five pitches in the 7th.

“He was able to get through seven innings with only 71 pitches,” said Archambault. “That shows the type of command he had.”

The Hornets went to work on some run support in the bottom of the third, collecting four runs. After an error and a fielder’s choice, Alex D’Ambrosio was intentionally walked and Ryan Connor singled to load the bases with one out.

Matt Solecki (2-for-4, 3 RBI’s) then came through with an RBI base hit through the right side. That set up Matthew Capozzoli (2-for-4, 3 RBI’s) whose single to right scored two runs for a 3-0 lead.

Solecki crossed the plate on a wild pitch for the last run of the third.

Connor had an RBI single in the fourth to push the lead to 5-0.

The final runs came in the sixth when Solecki hit a two-RBI double and Capozzoli brought him home on a single.

The win proved to be a turning point in the season as the Hornets rolled into their rematch at Fraser Field against Lynnfield with a ton of confidence.

Starting with an inspirational pregame speech from John Frates the father of Pete Frates (John often talks about how Pete’s former baseball teammates have supported him), the Hornets had a day to remember at the third annual Pitching in for Pete tournament to help fight ALS.

Playing on the same field in which the Pioneers beat them 6-2 to start the season, North Reading put the pressure on Lynnfield early and left town with a big win.

“Whenever we play Lynnfield we know it’s going to be a good game,” said Archambault. “We hit really well today and had scoring opportunities throughout the game.”

The Hornets broke a 1-1 stalemate in the fifth inning when they exploded for four runs to take a commanding lead in a game that previously looked destined to be a nail biter.

Three straight singles by Joey Frammartino, Cole Doke and D’Ambrosio loaded the bases with no outs.

That set up Connor, whose single to right scored one.

Up stepped Solecki who stayed hot with an opposite field double down the line, scoring two more runs.

After two outs, Jack Keller walked to keep the inning alive and Jimmy Currier drove home Solecki on a line drive to give NR a 5-1 lead.

Meanwhile, starting pitcher Cole Doke (6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 1 BB) and the Hornet defense continued to roll.

Doke sat down the Pioneers in order in the fourth and the fifth before a double play from second baseman Michael Vittozzi to shortstop Currier to Capozzoli at first put an end to a mini jam in the 6th.

Frammartino picked up Doke’s stellar day by shutting down Lynnfield in the seventh.

In the end, the Hornets out-hit the Pioneers 11-3 in a dominant performance.

Seemingly out of nowhere, North Reading (6-6 league record) is back in the mix in the Cape Ann League with two more massive games coming up this week against first place Pentucket (9-4) on Wednesday and third place Newburyport (8-4) at home on Friday, 4:30 p.m.

Now is clearly the time when the Hornets want to play these big games.

“We are getting contributions from everyone on our roster and it’s been great to see these guys come together as a team,” said Archambault.