Hornets Baseball Keeps Rolling Along With Tuesday Win

En route to a state championship win last season, the North Reading High School baseball team posted modest numbers at the plate. This year, the Hornets have found their offensive groove, and the results in the standings have been more of the same so far.

The defending champions have yet to lose this year, though they were tested during a 5-2 victory over visiting Georgetown on Tuesday afternoon.

According to head coach Frank Carey, last year the Hornets had just eight extra base hits as they compiled a team batting average of .280. To date, North Reading has over 30 extra base hits and a team average of over .380 as they have put together a 12-0 record.

"They're understanding how to hit a little better," said Carey, who admitted that the pitching in the Cape Ann League may not be at as high of a level as it has been in previous years. "We've been able to execute the little things when we've had to."

According to Carey's tally, the team has played 87 innings and trailed in just one of those frames. That came against Masconomet when the team scored four runs in the seventh on six walks and a misplayed fly ball that helped the team force extra innings. The Hornets eventually won in 10 innings.

On Tuesday, it was Colby Maiola who led the charge for the Hornets. The centerfielder knocked home three runs and scored a pair of his own while starting pitcher Ryan McAuliffe had two hits and two RBIs in addition to a complete game victory on the mound.

Carey said his team's experience in last year's championship run continues to pay dividends.

"The experience last year as certainly given us confidence," said Carey. "Even though we haven't been in a lot of close games, they're confident and I'm confident that if we're in a tough game we'll score a run to win. This year the hitting has been superb so we haven't really had to rely on that yet."