RallyNorth.net

As far as second dates go, this was a bad one.

For the second straight year, Tyngsboro eliminated Cape Ann League champion North Reading in the Division 3 North title game.

Last year was a 2-0 squeaker. This one was a bludgeoning, a 16-2 decision that was over early in the 90-degree heat here at LeLacheur Park.

At long last, North Reading got a breather.

The top-seeded Hornets shut out No. 12 Austin Prep, 4-0, in the semifinals of the Division 3 North sectionals at Fraser Field.

This came after a comeback first-round victory over Swampscott and a 10-9 thriller over Georgetown in the quarterfinals in which the Hornets scored three times with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Frank Carey has coached 41 years and has won a staggering 640 games, but few were as improbable as this one.

The top-seeded Hornets rallied for a dramatic 10-9 victory over disheartened Georgetown yesterday in the Division 3 North quarterfinals.

NORTH READING | This one was not easy. Then again, it never seems to be when these two teams square off in the postseason.

After falling behind early and facing some rainy conditions, No. 1-seed North Reading fought back to defeat Swampscott, 8-5, in the first round of the Division 3 North sectional. This comes one year after the Hornets needed extra innings to edge out the Big Blue, 2-1, in the quarterfinals.

North Andover senior Gary Lunetta lent a scouting report on the Scarlet Knight lineup:

"Pitchers might get us the first time around, but usually the second time around we're going to hit him."

When a talented North Reading squad came to town yesterday, the Newburyport baseball team had its eyes set on a few goals: Boosting its record, extending its two-game winning streak, and handing a Hornets club its second loss of the season.

Any time North Reading High sends either Kevin O'Leary or Brian O'Neil to the hill, it won't need much help pulling out victories.

Yesterday, the Hornets got plenty, capitalizing on seven Pentucket Regional errors to drill the Sachems, 9-3.

The Tigers (2-2) were stymied by North Reading ace Brian O'Neil, who tossed six shutout innings to beat Ipswich 6-0. Greg Doucette nearly equaled him on Ipswich's hill but North Reading scratched across single runs in the thrid, fourth and fifth frames before plating three in the sixth to pull away. Jimmy Cadogan had two of Ipswich's four hits.

2007 record: 18-6, lost in Division 3 North final

Returning starters (5): Kevin Singer, Jr., 1B; Darren Hartwell, Jr., CF; Zach Hastings, Sr., RF; Brian O'Neil, Sr., P/LF; Kevin O'Leary, Sr., P