NORTH READING — The Pioneers baseball team took it on the chin Saturday, dropping an 11-3 decision to the defending Division 3 state champion North Reading Hornets (6-0) at Frank Carey Park.
While North Reading came into the game riding a five-game winning streak, the way Lynnfield coach John O’Brien saw it, the Pioneers (4-3) pretty much gave this one away. Nonetheless, he was quick to credit the Hornets for a solid performance.
“They played the game the right way,” O’Brien said. “They made the plays in the field and got the timely hits. We made too many mental mistakes and too many physical mistakes. We had a lack of focus and we gave up too many walks. I mean, we had nine hits but scored only three runs and left too many of our guys – I think it was eight – on base. You don’t win too many games playing the way we did.”
“Our kids played great today,” North Reading coach Eric Archambault said. “OB does a heck of a job over at Lynnfield. Every year he has a great program, but our kids came to play today and it was awesome.”
Truth be told, miscues sealed the Pioneers’ fate from start to finish. They committed six fielding errors, issued seven walks, hit one batter and handed out multiple free bases on passed balls and/or wild pitches. The game marked the second consecutive outing and third overall in just seven games in which the Pioneers have surrendered 10 or more runs.
“This was just like the other day (Thursday’s 10-0 loss to Hamilton-Wenham),” O’Brien said. “We didn’t get any timely hitting and we were making way too many mistakes, both mental and physical. We’re playing some kids who are making too many mistakes. We need to find a way to fix it.”
A bright spot for Lynnfield was the play of freshman Chase McEwen. He was on base in every at-bat, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored. He also was rock-solid defensively in right field.
“McEwen played a heck of a game in right field today,” O’Brien said. “He’s only a freshman, but he’s able to handle it.”
The Pioneers got off to a promising start, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Sophomore second baseman Mike Hubbard (1-for-3, R, SB) led off with a double to left and scored on a double by McEwen.
The Hornets wasted no time responding with four unearned runs in their half of the inning and another unearned run in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good, 5-1.
Lynnfield cut the deficit to 5-2 in the fifth. Junior third baseman Jared Burke (1-for-3, R) led off with a single and scored on another McEwen double to left.
The Hornets answered with another unearned run in the bottom of the frame, then put the game away with five runs in the sixth to bump the lead to 11-2. McEwen scored the Pioneers’ final run in the top of the seventh. He drew a two-out walk, reached second on an infield hit by senior shortstop Luke DiSilvio (1-for-3, 2 BB) and came around to score on a couple of Hornets errors.
Senior catcher Matt Tracy (1-for-3), senior first baseman Dylan Nguyen (1-for-3) and senior Will Mandile (1-for-3) also had base hits.
Senior Harris Hadzihasanovic (4 IP, 5 H, 3 K, 3 BB) got the start for the Pioneers. Freshman Paul Tappan (2 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, K, HBP) came on in relief in the bottom of the fifth.
Lynnfield’s next game is Tuesday at home against Cape Ann League foe Pentucket Regional at 10 a.m., which has gotten off to a solid 4-1 start.
“That’s another good team, so we have to play better,” O’Brien said. “We have to keep practicing hard and hopefully get a couple of wins next week. We play Swampscott on Saturday so that’s another good team. He (head coach Joe Caponigro) always coaches them very well and always puts a good team on the field. So here are two games we have to have if we want to (stay) over .500.”
North Reading’s next game is Tuesday at Essex Tech (10).
“They’re a good team and another well-coached team in the league,” Archambault said. “It will be a good Cape Ann League battle as most of them usually are.”
