Published June 13, 2019

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — Last season, the North Reading High softball team blanked visiting Arlington Catholic 12-0 in the Division 2 North quarterfinals. On Monday afternoon, the two teams met again in the quarterfinal round with this game also taking place in North Reading.

The Cougars were able to avenge that loss from last spring as they edged the Hornets 5-4 on a sunny, warm day.

With that defeat, the fourth-seeded Hornets ended the year at 18-4. Meanwhile, the Cougars, a team out of the Catholic Central League, improved to 17-5.

Things looked good for the Hornets early as they scored four times in the bottom of the fourth inning. However, AC plated its five runs in the bottom of the sixth.

JULIA HOWSE awaits a throw on an attempted steal during NR’s 5-4 quarterfinal loss to Arlington Catholic on Monday. (John Friberg Photo)

“They made some adjustments at the plate and hit the ball well in that sixth inning,” said Hornets assistant manager Paul Greene.

In the bottom of the fourth, Cassandra Pascucci and Emma Valade had back-to-back singles to start the inning. An error at third base on a ball hit by Julia Howse then loaded the bases.

Emma Lord then had an RBI single. Two batters later, Jessica Ferrazzani walked and it was 2-0. Maria Pierce then had an RBI single to make it 3-0. Elli DeCleene then singled as well for the Hornets’ fourth run and that hit chased Cougars’ starting pitcher Madison Figueredo out of the game.

Reliever Kara MacDonald then got the next two outs to end the inning.

The Cougars answered in the top of the fifth. Molly Simmons and Bianca Burke both singled. Two hitters later, Maddie Smith delivered an RBI double. Kayla Donato then smashed a two-run double to right field to cut the Hornet lead to one.

After North Reading got Caroline Macri out, a throwing error by Hornet pitcher Shea Hansen on a ball hit by Figueredo allowed the eventual game-winning run to score.

MacDonald was the winning pitcher going 2 2/3 innings to improve to 4-0. The freshman allowed no runs, two hits, no walks and she struck out one.

EMMA VALADE rips a single to left against Arlington Catholic in the Div. 2 North quarterfinals on Monday. (John Friberg Photo)

“She did a good job of keeping us off-balance,” admitted Greene.

In the bottom of the seventh, Valade, who singled was then forced out at second on a grounder by Howse to end the game.

Hansen, who finished at 12-3 in the circle, was the losing pitcher going all seven innings. She gave up four earned runs, nine hits, no walks and she struck out four.

“They have a good team and we could have folded when we got down,” said Cougars’ manager Paul Ricciardi. “We came into this game with a chip on our shoulder after what happened last year.”

Pierce led the Hornets going a perfect 3 for 3 as North Reading had nine hits. DeCleene went 2 for 4.

Shut out Bedford

In the first round of the tournament last Saturday afternoon, on another warm, sunny day, the Hornets steamrolled visiting Bedford 14-0 in a five-inning mercy-rule game.

With the loss, the 13th-seeded Buccaneers ended the year at 10-11.

North Reading scored all 14 runs in the bottom of the third inning as they had 15 overall hits.

A single by Hansen and an error in left field allowed the host to score their first run. Pascucci (2 for 4 with three RBI) had an RBI double and Valade (2 for 4 with two RBI) had an RBI single to make it 3-0.

Lord was hit by a pitch and then Howse (2 for 4 with three RBI) had an RBI single for the fourth run.

Bedford pitcher Katie Patterson then got the next two batters out with a strikeout and a sacrifice fly.

However, the Hornets next ten batters all reached as they had six singles, three doubles and a walk and it was now 14-0.

Hansen was the winning pitcher going all five innings. She gave up four hits, two walks and she struck out six.

Pierce was 2 for 3 with two RBI’s while Kayla Arington was 2-for-2 was a sacrifice fly and two RBI.

“We did a good job of driving the ball,” said Greene. “We were also able to take advantage of some errors that they made in that third inning.”

Bedford High manager Dennis Walsh was impressed with the Hornets.

“They hit the ball very hard and were able to find our holes on defense,” said Walsh. “We were able to keep up with them for a couple of innings.”