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LOWELL - Just like 2009, the North Andover High baseball team had the fight.

But the same state tourney magic was missing.

The shorthanded Knights saw a 7-3 lead after four disappear, dropping a Division 2 North semifinal heartbreaker to Reading, 8-7.

LOWELL - Just like 2009, the North Andover High ingbaseball team had the fight.

But last year's state tourney magic was missing.

The shorthanded Scarlet Knights saw a 7-3 lead after four innings disappear, dropping a Division 2 North semifinal heartbreaker to Reading, 8-7.

NORTH ANDOVER — Once the baseball postseason rolls around, it’s always nice to have an ace who reacts to the pressure like an ace is expected to. North Andover has an ace.

Mike Weisman put the clamps on seventh-seeded Belmont with a no-hitter yesterday as the second-seeded Scarlet Knights beat up on the visiting Marauders 10-0 in the Division 2 North quarterfinals. The victory advances North Andover into Thursday’s semifinals against third-seeded Reading at a time and site to be determined.

North Andover's offense came to life today with a 19-hit attack during its 13-6 win over Andover.  Junior Mike Weisman led the offensive show with a 4-for-4 performance, which included a bases-clearing double in the second, which gave North Andover 6-1 lead.  Brandon Walsh, Paul Pallano, Cam Couillard, Matt Hogan and David Foote each had two hits.

After being roughed up in his last start, Brandon Walsh came back in a big way. Pitching for North Andover, Walsh threw a complete game two-hitter, giving up no runs and striking out nine against Wilmington.

North Andover kept its Cape Ann League championship hopes alive, dropping Triton, 3-2. Southpaw Mike Weisman improved to 5-1 on the year with a four-hitter, striking out 14 with only one walk.

North Andover kept its Cape Ann League championship hopes alive, dropping Triton, 3-2. Southpaw Mike Weisman improved to 5-1 on the year with a four-hitter, striking out 14 with only one walk.

Mike Weisman cracked a two-run double in the first and an RBI single in the third then came on for the save as North Andover tripped Pentucket 5-4. Sophomore Tyler Leavitt went six strong innings to get the win. Adam Newell was the hard-luck loser, giving up no earned runs but falling victim to a slew of errors.

After yielding just seven runs in its last five games including three straight shutouts, three North Andover pitchers were battered for 12 hits as North Reading dealt the Scarlet Knights their second loss, 9-2. Aiding his own complete-game cause, Eric Maltacea rapped out three hits for the Hornets (7-7) and got ample help from Bobby Rosano (three hits and three RBIs). Connor Walsh and Alec Jillson plated the Knights' runs.

GEORGETOWN - Fractured vertebra forced North Andover High's Brad Patnaude to alter his game a bit. "We had to discourage him from diving at ground balls ... in the gym," explained Knights coach Todd Dulin of his courageous senior captain. "I have had to yell at him about it. It's just the kind of kid he is." Keeping the scrappy second-baseman off the hardwood back in March continues to reward both he and the Knights quite nicely. Patnaude rapped three more hits yesterday,bumping the average up to a scalding .483, to help lead 10-1 North Andover past Georgetown, 8-3. After the game, Patnaude scooped up his bag, changed out his cleats, bent over for the first-aid kit and all without a wince. It's about a million miles away from a year ago when all those chores might have inflicted some pain. "We didn't know all season, and he gutted through it all," said Dulin. "He had a tough, tough year. One game the back would be fine, the next he'd swing and he'd be practically in tears. But he wanted to play." Despite the agony, or at least the recurring threat of it, Patnaude hit a respectable .271 for the Division 2 North champs. It just wasn't the real Brad Patnaude. "I know I can hit the ball well," said Patnaude, whose 14 hits through 11 games are one more than he had all of 2009. "Last year, I felt like I was a little restricted and slower to the ball. I grounded out a lot." Told it was a strain, Patnaude simply fought through the stiffness and the shooting torment. After the season, a trip to Childrens Hospital uncovered a pair of fractures on the L-5 vertebra. Patnaude went to work immediately, readying himself for this spring and some redemption. He now wears a brace, stretches religiously and cares for the ailment with purpose. The result? "He's been, from Day 1 in the gym, hitting the ball hard," said Dulin. "He has a nice short, quick stroke. Everything is short and quick." Patnaude's two-run double in the second put the Knights on the board, making it 14 RBIs in 11 games. "I'm just getting ahead in counts, sitting on fastballs, finding it in the zone and going with the pitch," said Patnaude. "I'm just a little bit quicker. It's made all the difference. The confidence, with the health, is huge." About the only thing that can seize up the works is the cold, and thus far, it's been a merciful spring in that aspect. Next year, Patnaude will make the move to take the chill out of the equation as he heads to Division 2 national power Tampa. Making such an elite program is a longshot. Patnaude sees it as another challenge. "I'd love to play down there. They have a JV team, that would be my goal," said Patnaude. "If I keep progressing,keep hitting the ball well, I'd like to make the varsity."