Lady Falcons Fall in Marathon Softball Game

North Reading Lady Hornets came out victorious over the Danvers Lady Falcons in a game that was continually stopped for wind gusts and dust swirls.

North Reading took the early lead, 1-0, but Danvers bounced right back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth, on a base hit by the pitcher, Kendall Meehan, to take the lead 2-1. 

The defense of both teams held their own until the top of the seventh. North Reading threw everything they had at Danvers. Lynne Giddings got herself into scoring position with one out and the Head Coach Rusty Russell had to make things happen.

Giddings stole third on a wild pitch. A failed suicide squeeze attempt almost cost the Hornets the game as Giddings was caught halfway down the third base line as the Danvers catcher and captain, Samantha Dibella received the pitch and threw a rocket to third that got away from the from infielder Logan Carabello and Giddings scored the tying run.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Danvers rallied with two outs. Carabello ripped a line drive to center field to put runners at the corners for the Lady Falcons. Mia Koutlulas was held up at third by Head Coach Tara Petrocelli. Chrissy Gikas then popped up to the first base to end any threat of a "walk-off" win for Danvers.

In the final inning, it was all North Reading. Meredith Moise, sophomore, stepped to the plate and knocked in the eventual game winner. Danvers went three up, three down to end their season, and North Reading moved to the second round.