Category Archives: North Reading

May 4, 2013 · 9:07 pm

Undefeated North Reading coasts by Amesbury 18-0 in Cape Ann League baseball

Ryan McAuliffe scores on a wild pitch

Riley Warnock struck out six in four innings

(Amesbury) Undefeated North Reading is good…….very good.

The Hornets (11-0) won their 19th straight game, extending back into the 2012 season, as they coasted past Amesbury, 18-0, on a windy Saturday afternoon.

The visitors whacked twenty hits against three different Amesbury pitchers (Zack Fitzgerald, Kyle Arseneau, and Matt Napoli).

The Indians (6-5) made a game of it for two innings before the defending D3 champs put up fourteen runs over the next two innings.

There is no mercy rule in Cape Ann League baseball so this game went seven innings. There is a mercy rule in the state tournament.

URI-bound Riley Warnock went four innings for NR giving up two hits and striking out six Indians. The fourteen-run cushion prompted Hornets coach Frank Carey to use Scott Allan over the final three innings. Scott only allowed one hit.

Amesbury’s best chance to score was in the third inning. Adam Ivancic and Tommy Connors both singled with one out but Riley Warnock got consecutive grounders to third baseman Tom Day to end the threat.

Zack Fitzgerald catches a popup

Zack Fitzgerald, making his third start, held NR hitless through two innings.

The third inning didn’t go nearly as well for Amesbury. The Hornets collected seven runs on five hits. The Indians didn’t do themselves any favors when they couldn’t make two plays on foul balls.

The Hornets sent twelve men to the plate. Ryan Sanborn had two RBI while teammates Colby Maiola, Ryan McAuliffe, Alex Schaefer, and Dennis Rollfs had one each.

North Reading came back with seven more runs (on six hits) in the fourth inning. Four of those runs were unearned as rightfielder John Pesci dropped a two-out fly ball. Ryan McAuliffe, Shane Driscoll, Ryan Warnock, and Keith Linnare collected RBI.

The final three innings had a bit of the pro wrestling flavor to them as North Reading stopped being aggressive on the base paths. Doubles became singles. Wild pitches led to no base advancement. Run scoring happened when there was no other option. With that approach, the Hornets stranded nine baserunners over the last three innings while picking up four runs.

NR coach Frank Carey has 708 wins over a 46-year career

NR coach Frank Carey now has 708 wins in a 46-year career. His teams have won four state championships.

He told me that he had a team win 33 straight games over several seasons.

He also told me that last year’s championship was a surprise because they didn’t have much power. This year has been different. It certainly doesn’t hurt the Hornets to have Riley Warnock and Ryan McAuliffe back pitching. Those two accounted for twenty-one of the Hornets twenty-two wins in 2012.

You would want to believe that North Reading has the team to make a serious run at a second consecutive Division 3 state championship.

Shortstop Ben Cullen leaps for a high bouncer

I saw Newburyport win the D3 title against Pioneer Valley in June of 2011. Ironically, the game was on the same day as the Boston Bruin’s championship parade after winning the Stanley Cup.

I learned that Tommy Connors will be attending Endicott College next year to play football. Tommy had two hits today against Riley Warnock.

Amesbury next plays at Newburyport on Tuesday afternoon. The Hornets will host D4 champs Georgetown on the same day.

The sun may have been shining but the wind negated the warming effects considerably.

North Reading boxscore

Amesbury boxscore

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Colby Maiola (#10) scores the fifth NR run

A try for a forceout in the third inning

Riley Warnock

NR catcher Kevin Linnare

Mike Brandano tracks down a foul pop

Scott Allan

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Filed under Amesbury, North Reading

Tagged as Coach Frank Carey, Colby Maiola, Kevin Linnares, Riley Warnock, Ryan McAuliffe, Scott Allan, Tommy Connors

January 25, 2013 · 11:54 pm

Undefeated North Reading beats Lynnfield 62-36 to win thirteenth in boys basketball

One of the four dunks John Mastascusa (20 points) had against Lynnfield

Pat Kearney dribbled into some strong North Reading second-half defense

(Lynnfield) I swear it was the same group of North Reading Hornets playing the second half that played the first half.

You had to wonder, however, after the North Reading boys started the second half trailing by a point (23-22) and then just thrashed Lynnfield with a twenty-five point third quarter.

In that same big point-producing quarter the Hornets were able to limit the Pioneers (8-5) to only six points and won going away, 62-36, on Friday night in Cape Ann League action.

The win keeps the Hornets undefeated (13-0) and you have to wonder if anyone ahead in the CAL can keep them from a perfect regular season. Not likely, from what I saw in this game.

The attraction of this game was that on January 2nd these two teams had played a very tight, 44-41, match at North Reading. The Pioneers had the ball at the end of that game with a chance to tie it. So there was history to suggest that in a rematch played at Lynnfield, the NR streak might be stopped.

That thought was still in my head after a half. Undersized Lynnfield came out flying, and the taller, slower Hornets just couldn’t keep up for much of the first half.

Conor Sullivan (15 points) goes for a block against Chris Capozzoli

North Reading had a run of five straight turnovers to start the second quarter while Lynnfield ran six straight points (two layups by Connor Sullivan and another by Adam Buchanan) near the end of that quarter. The Pioneer point-streak put them up 23-18 with 1:23 left and led to a noisy Hornet timeout.

The visitors responded with all four points after that (John Mastascusa layup and a Tommy Hogan layup off a turnover) to trail, 23-22, at halftime.

I’m guessing that the noisy NR timeout extended into the locker room at halftime. The Hornets came out just before halftime ended and took no warm-ups.

The second half started with 6-4 John Mastascusa (20 points) jamming home a rebound and Pat Kearney answering with two free throws. So after a minute Lynnfield still had a one-point lead and another tight finish looked likely.

After that? You almost had to be there to even fathom the way North Reading went off and Lynnfield went under from there on. The simple math is that NR outscored Lynnfield, 38-11, the rest of the way.

It was a long second half for Lynnfield coach Scott MacKenzie

2 ½ minutes after Lynnfield had the one-point lead, North Reading ran off eleven straight points and Coach Scott MacKenzie had burned two timeouts trying to find some way to stop what was happening. The Pioneers were down, 35-25.

The difference? The Hornets took much better care of the ball. The Pioneers gambled defensively all over the court and when that tactic didn’t work the visitors had layups. Mike O’Brien had five in the run, while John Mastascusa had four, and Tommy Hogan two.

Conor Sullivan (15 points) finally hit a shot for Lynnfield to end their drought but only temporarily. The next 2 ½ minutes saw NR put another run together (ten points) to vault ahead, 45-27, with 1:25 to go in the third quarter. Mike O’Brien, Tommy Hogan, John Mastascusa, and Evan Wade registered points during this second big collection of unanswered points.

The rest of the game was played but not to determine the winner or loser. There are rules that say you have to! The Division Three Hornets, with a twenty-five point third quarter, had wrapped this one up early. There was plenty of reserve action in the final quarter.

One of the things that killed Lynnfield in the second half was getting caught in close on their offensive end. Over and over again, an NR player would get a rebound and send teammates off on fastbreaks. In the first half, the Pioneers made enough shots so that they had time to get into some sort of defensive position. Not in the second half.

John Mastascusa (10) elevates

This was my first look at John Mastascusa. I was impressed. John lives in North Reading but until this year had been at Malden Catholic. He was good enough in the Catholic Conference to earn All-Star honors after last season. Suddenly in his senior year he decided to play in his hometown with teammates he was on travel teams with starting in fourth grade.

The usual pattern is that when a public school player becomes good enough they transfer to a private school but not in this case.

John can play above the rim, he had four dunks, but he was generally the point guard for North Reading. His willingness to give up the ball to teammates was noticeable. However, when he wanted to get to the rim he could. His highlight dunk was a flying put-down of someone else’s missed shot. That was early in the third quarter.

I liked the hustle of Division Four Lynnfield. In their excellent first half they forced turnovers and ran every chance they could. No question it was a frustrating evening for Pat Kearney who was defended into a four-point game.

Both teams play next Tuesday. North Reading hosts Ipswich while Lynnfield will be at Newburyport.

I chatted with Hornet coach Joe Casey before the game about Division Three. He told me, “there’s Danvers and then there’s everyone else!”

North Reading was 7-13 last season. Now they’re heading into territory that Coach Casey said, “they’d never come close to during his years of coaching at North Reading.”

Freshman Adam Buchanan added ten points for Lynnfield. I would guess that he had at least that many rebounds.

Mike OBrien (13 points) looks for an opening against Paul Pasciuto

Mike O’Brien (13 points) and Tommy Hogan (10 points) ended up in double figures for the Hornets.

Lynnfield is in first place in the CAL Small Division but have now lost three straight games.

North Reading has been averaging close to sixty points per game and giving up forty points. Their shot blockers do not allow many in-close shots when opponents have to run half-court offenses.

I thought that there was a pretty good-sized Cape Ann League crowd on hand.

North Reading boxscore

Lynnfield boxscore

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably and get into sharper focus if you click on them.)

Evan Wade and Pat Kearney

loose ball

Carl Lipani

Adam Buchanan (10 points) shoots over John Fortes

Tommy Hogan (10 points)

shot blocker

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Filed under Lynnfield, North Reading

Tagged as Adam Buchanan, Conor Sullivan, John Mastascusa, Mike O'Brien, Tommy Hogan

December 18, 2012 · 11:57 pm

Pentucket girls defeat North Reading 57-35 after championship banner unveiled

2011-12 Division 3 state champs – March 17, 2012

championship banner unveiled

Alex Moore (11 points) fires from long range

(West Newbury) The Pentucket girls struggled mightily in the first half but returned to last year’s form in the second half as they defeated North Reading, 57-35, in Cape Ann League action on Tuesday night.

The “first half Sachems” could well have been thrown off by the festivities before the game.

The 2011-12 Division 3 state championship banner was unveiled and the thirteen team members from that 23-4 squad were reunited one last time before an adoring home crowd.

This was my first look at the team since the March 17th win over Sabis (55-32) at the DCU Center in Worcester as they captured the D3 title. Leading the way for Pentucket on that memorable afternoon were Sarah Higgins with 22 points and Kelsi McNamara with three long ones.

Elise Makowski soars in the lane over Coley Viselli during a strong Hornet first half

You know that the bar has been set pretty high for a team when they lead by three (20-17) at halftime and you describe them as, “struggling.”

But the 2012-13 Sachems (2-0) were struggling. There wasn’t a shot near or far that they could make consistently. And there were plenty of turnovers.

In the second half, a crucial ingredient in years of success returned……….shooting, and when that happened in the third quarter, the 2012-13 team started giving a great impression of the championship team of the previous season.

North Reading (0-2) actually got within two points (21-19) a minute into the second half but then the Pentucket scorers started hitting shots from everywhere, especially long range.

With shots falling, the Sachem defense could setup and pressure North Reading into a pace that created turnovers and rushed shots.

The visiting Hornets would make just one basket (Tarah Reilly) over the next six minutes while the Sachems put up twenty-one points and blew this one wide open, 42-21, with a minute left in the third quarter.

Kelsi McNamara (13 points) about to pass to a breaking McKenna Kilian (14 points)

Two treys by Alex Moore and one each from Coley Viselli and Kelsi McNamara highlighted the surge. The Sachems also added 7-of-8 free throws and a floater in the lane from McKenna Kilian.

That burst of positive production separated the two teams and North Reading was unable to get within double-figures of the Sachems the rest of the way.

Not only was the championship banner unveiled but the home fans also got a look at seven new players including five freshmen.

Sophomores McKenna Kilian (14) and Kelsi McNamara (13) paced Pentucket. Senior Alex Moore added eleven points. The Sachems next game is Friday night at Triton.

Carly Swartz (11 points) launches a last-second shot

Freshman Carly Swartz (11) led the Hornets. Carly scored all eleven in a first half in which North Reading made things very interesting for Pentucket. 6-5 freshman Jessica Lezon was a defensive presence for NR.

The Hornets will look for their first win at Masconomet on Friday night.

Quietly in the background during the pre-game celebrations was Pentucket coach John McNamara. His 136-18 record at Pentucket, and counting, is truly remarkable.

A look ahead at the Pentucket schedule has them starting off with Division 1 Billerica in January in a non-league game. Last season I saw Billerica nearly defeat Nicole Boudreau and the Andover Golden Eagles at Andover. Their key players were underclassmen. The Pentucket/Billerica contest is at Pentucket and should be special.

(The pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

junior Sydney Snow

Coley Viselli chases a loose ball

Elise Makowski double-teamed by Alex Moore and McKenna Kilian

McKenna Kilian (14 points) and Morgan Maiola

Kelsi McNamara defends

Morgan Maiola (7 points)

Emily Dresser in close

freshman Rebecca Torrisi

Coley Viselli shoots a technical foul shot

Tess Nogueira (6 points) drives

6-5 Jessica Lezon

Coach John McNamara

Alex Moore pressures Carly Swartz

Leigh McNamara returns

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Filed under North Reading, Pentucket

Tagged as Alex Moore, Carly Swartz, Coach John McNamara, Coley Viselli, Elise Makowski, Jessica Lezon, Kelsi McNamara, McKenna Kilian, Tess Nogueira

May 18, 2012 · 9:03 pm

North Reading wins 9th straight routing Amesbury 14-1 in Cape Ann League softball

Sophie Warren tries for third

Tarah Reilly – four hits and five RBI

(Amesbury) I have seen ten of the twelve softball teams in the Cape Ann League (missed Pentucket and Georgetown) this season and in my opinion there is none better than the senior-less North Reading Hornets.

The Hornets mugged a good Amesbury team, 14-1, on a beautiful Friday afternoon.

Amesbury (13-4) played the Hornets (15-2) a month ago and lost a close one (2-0) at North Reading. There was no similarity between that game and the one I saw this afternoon at Amesbury.

NR was ahead 8-1 after 2 ½ innings and never in trouble thereafter.

Amesbury starter Carolina Merrill limited North Reading to three hits a month ago but this time around everyone in the Hornet lineup had at least one hit. NR totaled sixteen hits.

Tarah Reilly whacked a bases-loaded triple in the third and Terri Ferrazzani did the same thing in the seventh.

Tarah had four hits for the Hornets batting second and drove in five runs. The NR sophomore did a good job in the first inning of dirtying up her uniform as she tripped rounding third and ended up diving back into third.

Amesbury’s only run was in the second. Alexis Boswell singled in the infield and reached third on a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice. Rachel Cyr singled Alexis home from there.

Terri Ferrazzani – scattered seven hits and had a 3-run triple

But that was it for the Indians even though they ended up with seven hits off NR pitcher Terri Ferrazzani and left runners in every inning. Amesbury, however, never had more than one hit in an inning except the second when they scored their run.

The Indians hurt themselves in the field in a couple of innings. A bobble by second baseman Alexis Boswell in the second opened that inning. Later with runners on first (Shelby Carney) and third (Leslie Zewiey), NR sent Shelby into a rundown. Leslie was able to score while the rundown was underway and then Amesbury threw the ball away during the rundown and Shelby ended up on third. Shelby would later cross home with NR’s third run of the inning on Tarah Reilly’s single.

There were two drops by first baseman Sarah McCullough in the sixth that gave the Hornets an unearned run.

NR had three triples in the game.

North Reading has won nine straight. They have Manchester-Essex away on Monday and finish with Lynnfield and Tewksbury.

The Hornets are undefeated (13-0) in the Cape Ann League. AHS coach Chris Perry’s recollection was that the last undefeated CAL softball team was his in 2006.

Tewksbury defeated NR early in the season. Masco was the other team to have a win over North Reading. Two weeks later Masco and NR met again and the Hornets won, 17-2!

Not only did everyone in the North Reading lineup have hits but all of them scored at least one run. Remarkable display of top-to-bottom hitting.

North Reading arrived a half hour late minus Coach Rusty Russell. Rusty was singing at a funeral so assistant coach Nicole Zimmerman ran the team.

Autumn Kligerman – 2 hits for Amesbury

Alexis Boswell and Autumn Kligerman had two hits apiece for the Indians. Autumn was sick and unable to play until the third inning.

Catcher Cassie Schultz made a diving catch of a popup down the first base line in the fifth.

Amesbury faces Georgetown at home on Monday.

The regular season is over for both teams next week. Both teams will play in the post-season. NR went on in the Division 2 North semi-finals last year. I would not be surprised to see them do better than that this time around.

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Merri Moise heads for home

Tarah Reilly down rounding third

Shortstop Amanda Schell makes a running catch of a foul pop.

Meghan Riley rounds third as throw comes in from Erin Leary

Catcher Cassie Schultz makes a diving catch

Alexis Boswell lunges for a line drive

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Filed under Amesbury, North Reading

Tagged as Cassie Schultz, Nicole Zimmerman, Tarah Reilly, Terri Ferrazzani

April 11, 2012 · 8:02 pm

Newburyport gets “mercy ruled” (16-4) by North Reading in softball

Close play at third involving Maddie Stanton and Jess Eisenhaure.

NR pitcher Terri Ferrazzani – eight strikeouts

(Newburyport) You know that things haven’t gone well in a softball game for one team when the topic of conversation after the game is the Mercy Rule.

And it was Newburyport (1-1) on the wrong side of the Mercy Rule as they were wiped out, 16-4, by North Reading (3-0) in a rule-shortened, 5 ½ inning game at Cashman Park on Wednesday afternoon.

As it was the game should have ended during the top of the 6th instead of after it because the Hornets had reached the 12-run margin necessary during the inning to be awarded the win.

And believe me, this was a game worthy of being ended early. The Clippers are a good team but on this day……not so good. The Hornets were a very good team on this day.

The only (?) positive takeaway for Newburyport from this one was their hitting in the bottom of the fifth. The Clippers needed four runs to extend the game and they got them. The key hit was a long triple by sophomore Victoria Allman that drove in two of the four runs.

Victoria Allman reaches third on a two-run triple in the 5th inning.

Winning pitcher Terri Ferrazzani (CAL All-Leaguer) yielded just five hits and had eight strikeouts during her five innings of work. The junior threw heat and didn’t walk anyone.

And while Terri shut out the Clippers during the first four innings, the Hornets hit the servings of Molly Rowe and Victoria Allman hard. North Reading rolled up twelve runs on thirteen hits during the first four. The Clipper defense struggled with the difficult plays as well as several routine chances and gave NR way too many bonus at-bats.

There were plenty of heroes for North Reading. Here is what their first six batters did:
Shelby Carney – single/double/stolen base/four runs scored.
Tarah Reilly – double/stolen base/two runs scored.
Merri Moise – two singles/triple/two runs scored.
Alicia McCauley – two singles/run scored.
Terri Ferrazzani – four singles/stolen base/run scored.
Courtney Brosnan – three singles/run scored.

Lower in their order Jess Eisenhaure had a triple, double, and scored a run.

Merri Moise – two singles and a triple

You get the point……the NR girls, on this day, hit ropes, lasers, and rockets and jammed the bases! Another day, who knows?

This was a nonleague game so there will be a regular season game (April 30th at North Reading) between the two teams.

Freshman Carley Siemasko had Newburyport’s first hit with two out in the third inning.

North Reading was 14-9 last year and reached the D2 North semi-finals.

Junior Terri Ferrazzani tossed a one-hitter against Triton on Monday with 12 K’s.

The Hornets play at Ipswich on Friday afternoon.

Newburyport hopes to recover against Masco at home on Friday.

The wind was not a factor on this sunny afternoon with temperatures in the 50s.

North Reading boxscore

Newburyport boxscore

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge if you click on them.)

NR coach Rusty Russell

Kendra Dow

Jess Eisenhaure

Shelby Carney

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Filed under Newburyport, North Reading

Tagged as Merri Moise, Shelby Carney, Terri Ferrazzani, Victoria Allman

January 5, 2012 · 10:48 am

Newburyport Narrowly Defeats North Reading 5-4 in Cape Ann League hockey

North Reading presses for tying goal late in the third period.

Cooper Hines (17) congratulated by Travis Wile (5) and Cam Roy (4) after scoring 4th Clipper goal.

(Newburyport) Newburyport (2-3-1) scored a couple of goals early in the third period (Cooper Hines & Matt Kelleher) and then hung on for dear life before defeating North Reading, 5-4, at Graf Rink on Wednesday night.

The Clippers, 2-2 in Cape Ann League games, had plenty of shots (38) but they neutralized that advantage by surrendering power play goals to the Hornets.

One of the more remarkable things I’ve ever seen at a sporting event happened even before this game started. NHS coach Paul Yameen’s young daughter was delivering a wonderful rendition of the National Anthem when the Graf Rink microphone kicked off. What next? The crowd picked up right where she left off and delivered a rousing conclusion to the song. Spontaneity at it’s best!

North Reading (2-5 overall/0-4 in CAL) rode a hot goaltender (Keith Linnane – 38 saves) and power play advantages and were tied, 3-3, after two periods.

National Anthem soloist

But in the final period, the relentless Clippers were rewarded twice (Cooper Hines & Matt Kelleher) early to get what, at the time, looked like sufficient separation from the Hornets. It didn’t work that way. Defenseman Connor Wile ended up in the penalty box and Mike Moscaritolo beat Clipper goalie Dan Murphy to make things a very interesting, 5-4, late in the game.

NR pulled their goalie and the action thereafter was in the Newburyport end. A number of “ooh’s” and “ah’s” indicated how close the Hornets came to tying this one with the extra forward in the mix. But Newburyport prevailed.

They face North Andover (5-1) on Saturday at 7PM at the Graf Rink. The Knights lost to Triton, 3-1, last night.

Newburyport goal scorers were: Travis Wile, Jared Bradbury (2), Copper Hines, and Matt Kelleher. Cam Roy had three assists.

North Reading goal scorers were: Mike Brandano, Timmy Potter (2), and Mike Moscaritolo.

NR is at Pentucket on Saturday (7PM).

(All pictures enlarge to normal size if you click on them.)

loose puck in NR end

Timmy Tannian (5) & Tim Brennan (15)

Clipper crowd

Clippers collide

Mike Moscaritolo

Erik Morrison

Travis Wile

Matt Kelleher – winning goal

Cam Roy (4) & Tommy Potter (21)

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Filed under Newburyport, North Reading

Tagged as Cam Roy, Cooper Hines, Dan Murphy, Matt Kelleher, Mike Moscaritolo, Newburyport High School hockey, North Reading High School hockey

December 17, 2011 · 12:25 am

Late Rally Gets Newburyport Past North Reading 53-48 in Boys Basketball

Colby Morris launches big three late in the game as Clipper reserves watch.

Carl Lipani (44) takes the last shot for North Reading.

(Newburyport) The Clippers put together a nice package of scoring and defense in the final 4 ½ minutes and defeated North Reading, 53-48, in nonleague play on Friday night at Newburyport High School.

This game was entertainingly close throughout. The Hornets had seven points leads in the 2nd and 3rd quarters while the best the Clippers could do up until the final minute was a 3-point advantage in the third period.

The Clipper defense limited North Reading to only one point over the final 4+ minutes. Alex Losh had a huge block when this was a one-point game down the stretch.

Big block by Alex Losh (12) on Mike OBrien (32) late in the game.

The late-game Newburyport offense fell into the able hands of Brett Fontaine trailing 47-42 with 4 ½ minutes left. On three straight possessions he took the ball right at the Hornet defense and came away with two baskets and two made free throws. Brett’s work gave the Clippers a slim 48-47 lead with 1 ½ to go.

After an NR miss, the Clippers Ian Michaels broke into the middle of the Hornet defense and drew defenders with him thinking he would drive to the hoop. Instead he tossed the ball to Colby Morris alone in the corner in front the Newburyport bench. Bang! The Clippers had a 4-point lead (51-47) with a minute left.

Mike O’Brien followed with a free throw. He missed the second attempt but teammate Kyle Boucher got the rebound and was fouled. He missed both – it probably didn’t help him shooting into the Clipper crowd directly under the basket he was shooting at.

The Hornets were eventually able to commit enough fouls to send Brett Fontaine to the foul line with a one-and-one. He missed and that left NR with plenty of time, after a timeout with eleven seconds, to set up the game-tying shot.

Carl Lipani ended up taking that final shot which missed. A couple of successful last-second Brett free throws closed the scoring.

North Reading (0-2) had seven-point leads in the middle quarters but just couldn’t put up points down the stretch.

Newburyport (2-0) has rallied late to win both games so far.

Dillon Guthro (44) goes for the block in the first half.

The home-crowd pleaser was sophomore Dillon Guthro. He had at least four blocks by my count.

Next for Newburyport is a visit to Hamilton-Wenham on Tuesday. HW coach Doug Hoak was on hand tonight.

North Reading next visits Ipswich on Tuesday.

Newburyport box score

North Reading box score

The pictures enlarge to normal size if you click on them.

Alex Losh layup

Chris Capozzoli gets early third foul

Mike OBrien (32) gets inside Alex Losh (12) for two.

scramble for loose ball

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Filed under Newburyport, North Reading

Tagged as Brett Fontaine, Carl Lipani, Colby Morris, Dillon Guthro, Mike O'Brien

September 29, 2011 · 8:45 pm

Newburyport Easily Defeats North Reading 5-0 in Girls Soccer

Sarah Casey (18) lines up a shot as Kristen Landry (17) and Emily Schille (15) defend. Sarah scored the third Newburyport goal in the first half.

(Newburyport) The Clipper soccer girls easily defeated North Reading, 5-0, on Thursday afternoon at Cherry Hill Field in a Cape Ann League game.

Hannah Martin (15) scored the first Clipper goal.

Watching what I saw of the game (first half), it was hard to imagine that the Hornets (3-3) had only lost 1-0 to Newburyport (6-1) on September 13th at North Reading.

There was very little time spent in the Newburyport end. Clipper goalie Lily Donovan was not tested, in fact she never touched the ball. Hornet advances into the other end were long range or down the sidelines. Good scoring chances never happened.

I saw only half of the game because it started raining near the end of the half. I got under the trees hoping the rain would end. I heard the rumbling of thunder at halftime and headed home. NHS led, 3-0, at the time and I was quite confident that I would read in the Newburyport Daily News that they had won…..and they did.

The Clipper threats started early in this one and never stopped while I was there.

A Hornet hand ball set Hannah Martin up for a direct kick in the first minute. The CAL All-Leaguer’s shot hit the top crossbar.

Carly Brand (11) dribbles toward the net with teammate Maryam Moshrefi (21) nearby. Both girls scored goals in the 5-0 victory.

Hannah finally scored at the 16-minute mark as she took a pass from Jaycie Triandafilou on the left side and fired a left foot shot over the head of NR goalie Miss Patalano.

Fourteen minutes later Hannah used another direct kick to set up teammate Carly Brand for goal #2.

With less than two minutes left, the ball got into the box from the side and Sarah Casey came down the middle and kneed the ball into the net for Newburyport‘s third goal.

North Reading’s returning CAL All-Leaguer, Jessie Valenti, was at the game but I don’t think she played…..at least in the first half.

There was only one ball girl available. That had NHS coach Robb Gonnam retrieving shots off the bench side that went into the woods. I am sure this wasn’t part of his game strategy!

This was my first look at the Clippers and they looked awfully good at least in this half. Hannah Martin controls the center of the field and was very dangerous on direct kicks. Alyssa Leahy controlled the deep third of the field. Nicole Galer was elusive with the ball – several times defenders ran at her and she just pulled the ball away and moved on. These girls were all Cape Ann League award winners in 2010.

(I take my own pictures and collect my own stat……..with the help of the Newburyport Daily News. I strive to be fair and accurate.)

Clicking on the pictures enlarges them to normal size.

Jessie Valenti

Jaycie Trianafilou (19) looks for a rebound from NR goalie Missy Patalano.

Amy Sullivan dribbles toward the North Reading net.

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Filed under Newburyport, North Reading

Tagged as Alyssa Leahy, Amy Sullivan, Carly Brand, Coach Robb Gonnam, Hannah Martin, Jaycie Triandafilou, Jessie Valenti, Lilly Donovan, Liza Twomey, Maryam Moshrefi, Missy Patalano, Nicole Galer, North Reading High School, Sarah Casey

April 14, 2011 · 9:15 pm

Ryan O’Connor K’s Thirteen and Drives in the Winning Run for Clippers 4-3 over North Reading

David Cusack heads for home with the winning run as Keith Linnane awaits the throw.

Ryan O’Connor – 13 strikeouts plus game-winning hit

(Newburyport) He didn’t do everything….but he came awfully close. Who? Ryan O’Connor.

Newburyport (3-1) defeated North Reading, 4-3, as Ryan struck out thirteen Hornets and drove in the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh.

A walk by Dave Cusack and a sacrifice bunt by Jim Conway put Ryan into position to end it for the Clippers. His grounder against reliever Ryley Warnock, in the hole between first and second, did the trick. With first base open you had to wonder why the Hornets opted to pitch to the other team’s cleanup hitter who already had two hits. But they did……and paid the price.

North Reading (1-1) took a 3-1 lead in the top of the 5th on a 2-run blast over the fence in left center by Nick Moscaritolo.

The Clippers tallied single runs in the 5th and 6th on misplays by the Hornets to draw even.

In the 5th, a two-base throwing error by NR shortstop Chris Cincotta put David Cusack in scoring position and from there he was driven across by Brett Fontaine’s single to left.

In the 6th, Colby Morris doubled down the third base line with one out and got to third on a fielder’s choice. NR sophomore starter Ryan McAuliffe then tossed a 2-strike wild pitch that allowed Colby to tie the score at 3-3.

The defensive play of the game was a diving catch by Hornet right fielder Chris Kavanaugh to rob Brett Fontaine in the 7th inning.

Eric Popp was 3-for-3 for North Reading, including a double off the right centerfield fence. He also scored a run.

The Hornet’s top returning hitter (Ben Harrow) had a rough afternoon striking out three times to end innings and stranding five runners.

The Clippers squandered a glorious chance with two outs in the 4th after they loaded the bases with a collection of hits and walks. Connor Wile then hit a laser toward short that might have driven in two runs but instead caught base runner Drew Carter in the leg to end the threat.

Ryan O’Connor struck out the side in the first inning and had at least one strikeout in every other inning. The lefty also struck out four of the last six batters he faced.

Frank Carey and Bill Pettingell

Experience was in abundance with NR coach Frank Carey (44th season) and Newburyport coach Bill Pettingell (40th season) directing the two teams.

( I collect my own statistics, take my own pictures, and draw my own conclusions. Mistakes happen….but are unintentional.)

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Filed under Newburyport, North Reading

Tagged as Bill Pettingell, Brett Fontaine, David Cusack, Eric Popp, Frank Carey, Mick Moscaritolo, Newburyport High School, Ryan McAuliffe, Ryan O'Connor, Ryley Warnock

January 7, 2011 · 11:58 pm

Tim McCarthy (21 points) leads Wilmington past Newburyport 66-58

Tim McCarthy (#20) is defended by Chris Jayne (#5). Tim finished as the game’s top scorer with 21 points.

(Newburyport) Consistent Wilmington (6-1) outlasted scrappy Newburyport (4-4), 66-58, in Cape Ann League action at Newburyport on Friday night.

The Wildcats took the lead (18-16) for good late in the first quarter on a Nick Godzyk (13 points) layup.

This was a game of layups and 3’s with very little in between.

The Clippers ran into dry spells in the middle quarters and couldn’t muster the firepower to recover in the final quarter.

Newburyport did put together a 9-1 run late to get to within four (60-56) with forty-six seconds left. Layups by Eric Meyer, Chris Jayne, and Brett Fontaine plus a Chris Jayne trey provided the points. However, Vinny Scifo (7 points) and Tim McCarthy (21 points) answered with six straight free throws to clinch the win for the Wildcats.

Tim McCarthy was impressive. The Wilmington junior guard did not force his offense and set up several teammates for layups. He nailed four 3’s and was 5-for-5 from the foul line. He was an important part of the consistent offense Newburyport faced.

I mentioned two runs doing Newburyport in. The first one was 10-3 in the second period. Nick Godzyk and James Wilkinson put up the points for the Wildcats. Nick had a three off the backboard in the mix. I guess that’s when you know, as an opponent, that you may be in trouble.

Newburyport trailed 30-21 after that run.

The killer run started late in the 3rd quarter and went almost six minutes into the final period. Newburyport was held to four points (Eric Meyer free throw & Matt Leavitt three) while the Wildcats collected thirteen points.

I mentioned Wilmington’s consistency. During the 13-4 run, five different players contributed points. The Clippers had only twelve turnovers during the game but five of them were during this 13-4 run including three in a row early in the 4th period.

Matt Leavitt (#3) shown here with Tim McCarthy hit four 3’s and led Clipper scorers with sixteen points.

The Clippers ended up with four players reaching double figures (Matt Leavitt-16, Eric Meyer-12, Chris Jayne-10, and Brett Fontaine-10).

Newburyport faced a solid man-to-man defense the whole game yet with their outside weave and slashes to the basket opened up some good shots. Wilmington turned up enough open shots to generate the runs that won the game for them.

Eric Meyer (#44) tallied twelve points and drew plenty of defensive interest in the post.

With 6-5 Eric Meyer inside, the Clippers have the potential of a very effective inside-out game. The Wildcats were very keen on keeping the ball out of the post and once it got there they sent help.

(I keep track of my own stats. I offer my own opinions. I take my own pictures. I apologize in advance for any statistical errors and misguided conclusions.)

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Filed under Cape Ann League, Newburyport, North Reading

Tagged as Brett Fontaine, Chris Jayne, Eric Meyer, Matt Leavitt, Newburyport High School, Tim McCarthy, Wilmington