North Reading Little League Season Marches On

A release from our friends at the North Reading Little League:

As the North Reading Little League season marches toward the playoffs, several players will be taking a familiar and fun detour next Monday. For the seventh straight year, Little Leaguers will be marching in the town’s Memorial Day Parade.

More than 100 NRLL players of all ages take part in the annual parade, and are always among the most popular marchers as they hand out candy and bubble gum to youngsters along the route. Players should meet with their teammates and coaches outside the Senior Center at 9:30 a.m.

“Being part of such a great North Reading tradition makes this one of our proudest days of the year,” said NRLL president Eddie Madden. “The kids really enjoy representing their team, their town, and Little League baseball on this important day. The turnout of players seems to get better every year, and a big reason for that are our coaches, who do an outstanding job organizing their teams.”

On the field, the NRLL Majors standings are as tight as they’ve been in years with the Diamondbacks (10-4) ahead of the Orioles (9-5) by a game, and the A’s (7-6) and White Sox (7-7) not far behind. In the Minors, the Red Wings, River Bandits, and Thunder lead the way. Playoffs for both divisions start early next month, and Championship Weekend takes place June 22-23 at Benevento Park.

Here’s a look at some recent NRLL action:

MAJORS – The White Sox bats came alive early as they took down the tough Woburn Tigers, 11-1, under the lights at Benevento.

In the first inning, the White Sox set the tone by piling up five runs. Andrew DeStefano started the scoring blitz with a double, followed by singles from Derek Daley and Steve Carreiro. With those two runners on, Evan Panzini then sent a blast into the night over the right-center field fence.

A two-out, second-inning rally produced another five-spot for the Sox – sparked by singles off the bats of Gavin Brady, DeStefano, and Daley. Carreiro then drove in three runs on a triple to the gap in left-center field, and Tanner DuPriest followed with a run-scoring single to center.

The White Sox closed out the shortened game in the fourth on a hard grounder by Dylan Oliveira that sent Brady across the plate.

Panzini also made his mark on the mound, holding the Tigers to one run, one hit, and one walk while striking out 10.

In another inter-town clash, the White Sox bested the Lynnfield Red Sox, 12-9. With the game knotted, 2-2, in the second inning, the White Sox took control by striking for six runs. The rally included James Dillon bringing home the first run with a bases-loaded walk, Brady singling home two runs, DeStefano smashing a two-strike single for an RBI, and Daley closing out the rally by roping a double that plated two more runs.

Carreiro had a big day at the plate with a single, double, and triple while driving in three runs.

FARM – In the Jays’ battle against the Tribe, Linus Pearsall led the attack with a leadoff home run in the first, part of his three-hit effort. Brendan Nelson pounded out four hits, a pair of doubles among them, and Lucas Cabral, Michael Corvino, and Thomas Gullotti contributed to the offense with three hits each.

Sebastian Garvin and Anthony Giordano delivered great defense in the infield to keep the Tribe at bay in the fifth.

On Sunday, the Jays and A’s squared off. For the Jays, Angelo Marifiote, Cabral, and Corvino provided the lumber, each going 5-for-5 while combining to drive in nine runs. Daniel Trentsch and Anthony Giordano added four hits apiece.

The big blow came in the fifth when Marifiote launched a bases-clearing double to deep center, extending a rally that included a triple by Pearsall.

Defensive gems were turned in by first baseman Cabral and Marifiote, who made several big plays in the outfield.

Pacing the A’s were Dylan Fitzgerald, Dante Montana, and Nolan Griffin, who each delivered line-shot hits to the outfield. Fitzgerald and Jackson Kosinski flashed the leather in the field as well, and Harry Wells made a great catch at second base on a hit from Pearsall that ended a Jays' threat in the fourth.

The Mariners had the bats going early on against the Cubs, plating five runs in the first and second innings, an outburst made possible by multiple hits from Bryce Fitts, Vincent Pagliuca, Pierce Burnham, Charlie Sarno, and Ryan DiCarlo, who tagged one for a triple. Burnham also went deep a couple times with a double and a three-bagger as part of his 4-for-4 day.

On defense, Harry “Wheels” Agganis displayed his Gold Glove potential with a diving grab in the third and a fly ball catch in the fifth. DiCarlo also made a great play in the fourth to shut down the Cubs offense in their best inning of the day.

Another player staking his claim for defensive Rookie of the Year honors was Jack Dhimitri, who again came up big with multiple plays in the field, a streak that is now going for at least three games.