First Up for Hornets, Arlington Catholic Sunday At 4

By the time the North Reading softball team finally takes the field for its first tournament game, 10 days will have passed since the Hornets finished the season with a win over Reading.

Rusty or not, North Reading (20-0) takes to the field Sunday for a Division 2 North quarterfinal game against No. 8 seed Arlington Catholic (15-6). The Cougars beat Danvers, 2-1, Thursday to advance to the 4 p.m. matchup in North Reading.

AC's losses came at the hands of St. Mary's, Billerica, Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop Williams, and Austin Prep twice. Except for the Archies, all are tournament teams and AP lost in the Division 3 state final last year.

Like last spring, North Reading is the top seed in the bracket. But the Hornets hope the similarities end there. Last June North Reading was upset, 7-5, by Swampscott in the first round. The Hornets have gone 38-2 in the regular season the past two years. This June they want something to show for it.

Photo by Bob Holmes