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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 made its way to Winchester for yesterday's Division 2 first round game agains the Sachems, but the contest never took place.The game was moved to Monday (5 p.m. at Winchester) due to a Winchester town event.

Sara McCarthy and Candace Waldie each had two hits including long triples but North Andover lost to Newton North in its tourney opener, 8-4.

ANDOVER — After a frustrating first half, Andover High knew something had to change.

“We didn’t have a groove in the first half,” said Jen Caro. “But after the half, we finally got into the flow of things, and once the goals start coming it’s tough to break that chain.”

North Andover was fast out of the blocks, and had enough to hang on.

The No. 9 Scarlet Knights flew out to a seven-goal lead in the first half, and finished off a 9-4 victory over No. 24 Sandwich in the preliminary round of the Division 2 East tourney.

NORTH ANDOVER ‑ Goalie Bridget Kitchen could feel thepressure mounting as Central Catholic cut North Andover’s second-half lead fromfour goals to just one goal.The Scarlet Knights netminder felt even more stress when aCentral game-tying shot attempt deflected off her and then hit the goalpostwith 1 minute, 7 seconds left.

AANORTH ANDOVER — With the state tournament on the horizon, North Andover needed to find some offense. If yesterday was indication, the search might be over.

After being held to two runs or fewer in five of their past seven games, the Scarlet Knights erupted with a first-inning five spot before running past Billerica 7-3 in the consolation game of the North Andover Invitational tournament.