News and Announcements
North Reading Baseball On-Line Store To Open Again This Spring
You can gear up for the baseball season – or any season – at the North Reading Baseball On-Line Store. It's the perfect way to show your Hornet Pride and support North Reading Little League!
Our on-line store is located at https://nrll2019.itemorder.com/sale and offers a wide variety of North Reading baseball apparel – for players all the way from Tee-Ball to Majors and high school, and even for parents and grandparents of the young slugger in your life.
We have North Reading Baseball shirts, hats, blankets, jackets, sweatshirts, and a lot more, all at great prices that will have you looking sharp on the fields and all around town.
For those who placed an order for the spring 2019 season, pickup will be at the Benevento Fields snack shack in mid-April. Specific details will follow in an email.
Though the store is currently closed, it will re-open in the spring. Keep an eye on your in-box for store dates.
MARINERS CLIMB THE FARM MOUNTAIN
Farm League Championship Game: Mariners 11, Blue Jays 4
Pierce "the Fierce" Burnham brought the big wood to the Mariners' offense in Friday's championship game, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored on the night, including a two-RBI triple in the fourth to deep right field. Damian "the Destroyer" Pagliuca and Vincent "Lightning" Pagliuca both scored two runs and each had a double in the win. Harry "Wheels" Agganis, Charlie "the Champion" Sarno, Cole "the Flash" Donahue, and Ryan "RBI" DiCarlo all had two hits, with Agganis delivering an RBI double in the first inning to get the Mariners off to a good start. Bryce "Boss Man" Fitts, who has been a sensational leadoff hitter all season, rounded out the scoring with one run as part of the Mariners' fourth inning rally.
The Mariners saved their best defense for the final game of the season. The tone was set early by a high fly ball catch made by Agganis in center field that robbed the Blue Jays of their first inning lead-off hit. Jake "JakePotataCake" Barros and Jack "Smiles" Dhimitri added several key plays. Sarno made several key stops and Burnham added a fourth-inning-ending throw to Agganis at home plate for the third out to hold the Blue Jays to a single run. Donahue helped close out the fifth and final inning with a perfect throw to first.
It seems fitting that the Blue Jays and Mariners would meet
in the championship game after each team took a win off the other in the
regular season. This matchup of two great teams ultimately ended with the
Mariners getting the decision after a defensive duel that saw both teams go multiple
innings with no runs.
RIVER BANDITS ROCK THE MINORS
Minor League Championship Game: River Bandits 7, Thunder 3
The River Bandits stormed out to a 6-0 early lead, then held on thanks to clutch pitching and defense to upend the Thunder, 7-3, in the Minor League title game Saturday at Benevento Park. Pacing the winners' offense were Nolan Barrette, who had two hits and drove in a pair of runs, Charlie Cooper, who had a pair of RBI, and Scotty Costello and Matthew Mancinell, who each brought home runs.
On the mound, Mancinelli, went 3.2 strong innings, fanning nine to earn the victory. Reliever Jakob Hulett closed out the game in dramatic fashion with the tying run at the plate and the Thunder attempting to pull off a huge rally. Two runs had already scored and the bases were loaded with one out when Hulett snared a soft liner for the second out. He then astutely flipped the ball to Barrette at first base before the runner could get back to the bag to complete the double play, end the game, and start the championship celebration. Earlier in the game, Barrette made a diving stop at first base to end the fourth inning.
Christian Lava had a two-run single for the Thunder as part of that sixth-inning rally.