AMESBURY – It seems like every time out the North Reading lineup has someone new step forward in a big moment.
Yesterday it was Cassandra Pascucci’s moment to shine.
Pascucci finished 2-for-3 with three RBI, and her sixth inning run-scoring triple proved to be the winning hit as the Hornets handed rival Amesbury its first loss of the spring, 4-3, in a Cape Ann League showdown at Coach Chris Perry Field in Amesbury.
Starter Christina Simblaris went six innings for North Reading before Pascucci came out in the seventh to close the door.
“We’ve done a good job all season of coming back in games, and usually somebody steps up offensively,” said North Reading coach Michelle Morales. “What we have that a lot of teams don’t have is good hitters 1 through 9 – there is potential all the way through the lineup.”
The Hornets (7-0) jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first against Amesbury starter Hayley Catania. With two outs and Cassidy Gaeta (walk) and Jess Ferrazzani (walk) on first and second, Giuliana Peppe plated Ferazzani with a RBI single before Pascucci cleared the bases with a two-run double to left.
Amesbury (3-1) could do nothing against Simblaris (six strikeouts) until the last of the fourth when the Indians put two runners on with two outs, but the junior hurler got Ashley Napoli to groundout to end the threat.
The Indians’ bats awoke in the bottom of the fifth as Kaylie Cloutier led off with a single. Pinch runner Meg Aponas would later come around to score on a two-out RBI bunt from Maddie Napoli to make it 3-1 before a base hit by Caity Baker put two on for Catania, whose two-run RBI triple tied the game at 3-3.
But a two-out single by Peppe in the top of the sixth set the stage for Pascucci’s game-winning RBI triple.
“Amesbury is a great team, so it was good to jump out early,” added Morales. “With this team it is not always the same person on offensive, so it is good to have options.”
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