North Reading blanks Classical to give Carey his final Clancy final

LYNN ? North Reading’s Scott Allan was as good as his reputation.The Hornets’ ace limited Classical to one hit and four baserunners in a 2-0 win over the Rams, Friday night, in a first round game in the Clancy Tournament. In legendary North Reading coach Frank Carey’s final season, the Hornets (14-4) will play English in the championship game today (3). Classical (10-9) faces St. Mary’s in the consolation game at noon.Allan struck out seven and induced 10 ground balls with a nasty breaking pitch that he was able to throw in any count.”He’s a good pitcher and he’s won a lot of games for coach Carey,” Classical coach Mike Zukowski said. “I have the utmost respect for (Carey) and his program. It doesn’t matter what kind of team they have, they’re at the top of their league every year. He’s going to be missed.”North Reading scored both its runs in the fourth inning on a couple of singles, a couple of walks, a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice. Classical freshman Herbie Newton and sophomore Brandon Devin were otherwise stingy. Newton allowed both runs on five hits in 5-plus innings, while Devin set down all six batters he faced.”We have some good young arms,” Zukowski said. “Herbie and Brandon have both come along as the season has progressed.”Classical’s only hit was a double in the third by Tyler Way, after Andrew Moccia was hit by a pitch with one out. Moccia tried to score on the play, but a relay from centerfielder Colby Maiola to shortstop Blake Tamlyn-Hayden to catcher Keith Linnane was in time, and Allan retired Damien Earp on a groundout to second to end the inning.Maiola opened the fourth with a solid single to center and stole second, after a walk to Ryan Sanborn, Allan laid down what was probably supposed to be a sacrifice to the left of the mound, but he beat the throw with a head-first slide to load the bases.Scot Leslie’s sacrifice fly to center was just deep enough for Maiola to beat a good throw to the plate by Brad Scuzzarella to put North Reading ahead, 1-0. After Michael Driscoll drew a walk to load the bases again, Sanborn scored on a fielder’s choice groundout from Tamlyn-Hayden for the Hornets’ second run.Classical’s only other baserunners came on walks to Eric Brazell in the fourth and the seventh innings. Allan struck out Matt Stanley and induced a lineout to second from Matt Erelli to end the game.Allan had two of North Reading’s five hits. Thomas Day also ripped a 1-out double to left in the third but did not advance. Sanborn made it to third in the sixth after a leadoff walk that ended Newton’s night on the mound, a sacrifice by Allan and a stolen base, but Devin worked his way out of the inning with a couple of strikeouts.