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Warnock, Hornets walk off with semifinal win

LYNN — The profile in courage that was R.J. Warnock simply refused to accept credit — like every pitcher should be able to walk out on two days' rest, throw 120-plus pitches and still want the baseball.

"Whatever it takes to win. I've done it before and I'll do it again," said the North Reading High ace.

Warnock's grit, and gulp, some timely hitting, powered the Hornets to a dramatic, 5-4, walk-off win here at Fraser Field in the Division 3 North semifinals. North Reading now awaits the Lynnfield-Bishop Fenwick winner Saturday at LeLacheur Park for the sectional title.

As sharp as Warnock was, allowing no earned runs on seven hits, two at-bats extended the Hornets' season, two terrific, two-strike  swings.

The first came from pinch-hitter Mike Brandano in the sixth with two out, slapping an 0-2 offering into left for a two-run single to give North Reading its first lead at 4-2.

The second came in the home half of the seventh, after Saugus has knotted things at 4-4.

Warnock worked a walk to lead the frame and bumped up a base on Colby Maiola's sac bunt. Keith Linnane grabbed himself a free pass, and Kyle Boucher was greeted by Saugus reliever Dan Groark.

Down 0-2 in the count, Boucher — riding a 1 for 9 skid — pounced on a high breaking ball and yanked it down the right field line, plating Warnock easily with one-out game winner.

"I just happened to get the opportunity at the right time and I cashed in on it," said Boucher. "We're a young team, and we are still finding new ways to win. This was one of them."

The clutch offense came at just the right time for the Hornets, who committed an uncharacteristic five errors defensively.

"We let (Warnock) down," said Carey. "We had more errors tonight than we've had in any week this year. Five errors? That just doesn't happen."

But it did, and to their credit, the Hornets never stopped fighting because of it."

Down 2-0, they got two back on a huge Saugus error in the fourth.

Brandano's heroics looked to be enough, but 10-14 Saugus wouldn't go away, pouncing when North Reading committed error No. 5 to start the seventh.

The Hornets advanced with only five hits.

Saturday, Carey could actually toy with the idea of bringing the rubber-armed Warnock back again on two days. Most likely, it will be No. 1A, Ryan McAuliffe on three days after his defeat of Swampscott Tuesday.

"Warnock pitched with a lot of heart, he always does," said Carey. "He could come back on one day if he had to. He's got the stuff, and he's got the guts to back it up."