While Winning Streak Grows, Hornets Focus On What's Ahead

READING - The months of April and May have been kind to Michelle Morales. The North Reading softball coach is 68-11 in her four seasons since taking over from Rusty Russell in 2015, including 17-0 this spring after Wednesday's 6-4 win over host Reading.

But it's to the point now that regular season success doesn't impress her, not with a June MIAA tournament record of 1-3, which includes last year's first round loss to Swampscott. She wants more these days. She wants to make a long run in June.

"I'm more focused on the tournament," said Morales. "Sometimes being undefeated isn't always a good thing because then you have to hold up to that. Every year I've been here we've won the league, which is great, don't get me wrong, I want to win the league. But I really want to go further in the tournament. We've only been one or two games as far as we've made it. We have the team to do it. We just have to do the little things."

With the score tied at 4-4 after five innings, some of the little things came into play. Bridget McDonough reached first on an infield error to start the sixth and Emma Lord ran for her. A bunt and a single put Lord on third with one out. That's when Christina Simblaris flied deep to right and her sacrifice fly put North Reading up, 5-4. In the top of the seventh North Reading added another run on a double by starting pitcher Cassandra Pascucci, followed by a wild pitch and a fielder's choice.

The job of holding onto the 6-4 lead belonged to Simblaris, who took over pitching duties in the fifth inning. After starting at second base, Simblaris traded positions with Pascucci and pitched one-hit ball the last three innings, striking out two Rockets in the bottom of the seventh.

"That's the beauty of having two good pitchers," said Morales. "You can make the move and not have to worry about it."

After five innings it looked like Reading (7-10) had a shot at handing the Hornets their first loss of the season. Reading went up 3-2 in the third when starting pitcher Emily Eagleston walked, stole second, took third on a fly ball, and scored on a single by Danielle Percy. But an infield error opened the door for two North Reading runs in the top of the fourth, only to have Reading tie it at 4-4 on a single by Eagleston.

The Reading loss leaves the Rockets with the difficult task of winning their last three games to continue their long tournament run, including another game against North Reading. It won't be easy. As for Morales and North Reading, it's all about June now.

"We made a few more mistakes than I would like," said Morales.

Not a big deal in May. But June's another story.

Photo by Bob Holmes