Inspired by the beautiful weather and the opportunity to participate in one of North Reading’s proudest traditions, approximately 125 North Reading Little Leaguers took part in the town’s Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27. It’s the seventh straight year NRLL has marched, and the league again had the largest contingent of marchers of any participating group. The action moves down to Benevento Park later in the day with three Majors games on tap at 5:30 p.m.

Glenn Mello drove in five runs to lead the Scrappers to a 13-6 victory over the Red Wings Saturday evening at Benevento Park. He collected RBI on a single in the first and a home run in the second.

The Scrappers added five more runs in the fourth inning the offensive firepower led by Jakob Hulett, Jack Hodgin, Nalo Benedict, Xander Villareal and Jacob Barros, who all knocked in runs that inning. It came as part of a 12-hit outburst, with Hulett and Brendan Gazda each recording three hits.

The Red Wings made things interesting with a five-run fifth, their rally sparked by Charlie Sarno’s single and a double off the bat of Wyatt Ares.

Mello was among the hurlers who pitched the Scrappers to victory. He surrendered one run on one hit over two innings, striking out four. Benedict, Gazda, and Jacob Freedman all put in work in relief out of the bullpen. Freedman recorded the last out to earn the save.

The Red Wings submitted a strong pitching performance by sending six pitchers to the mound in their 13-2 victory over the Lugnuts Tuesday at Benevento Park. Wyatt Ares, Bruce McLaren, Hendrik Schomp, Jack Connolly, Charlie Sarno, and Brady Cullen combined to keep the hard-swinging Lugnuts off balance.

At the plate, nicely timed hits from Schomp and Ares proved pivotal, and Brady Cullen made an impact on the base paths to solidify the win.

A four-run second inning sent the Scrappers on their way to an 11-5 victory over the Iron Birds Tuesday evening at Benevento Park. Both Xander Villareal and Jacob Barros had RBI singles during the rally, while Jackson Spencer and Brendan Gazda drew bases-loaded walks to push across runs.

The Scrappers tacked on four more runs in the fifth, thanks to singles by Jakob Hulett and Nalo Benedict and a double off the bat of James Wyatt.

Kian Grabar pitched the Scrappers to victory, striking out three batters in two innings of work. Glenn Mello and Gazda entered out of the bullpen to close things out, with Mello recording the last six outs to earn the save.

North Reading Little League Player Development Director speaks to members of the Thunder and Red Wings prior to the NRLL Minors Wood Bat Day at Benevento Field on Saturday, May 18. The teams paid close attention to what they heard before taking their cuts, combining for 13 runs in the Thunder’s 7-6 victory on Field 1.