SCHNECKSVILLE, Pa. - The Northampton Baseball team improved to 30-5 overall, downing Lehigh Carbon Community College 11-2 on Monday afternoon at Cougar Field.
The Spartans led 1-0 after the top of the 1st inning thanks to a RBI double from
Angel Lopez (Santurce, PR/Perkiomen School), which scored
Franklin Ramirez (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic). The score stayed that way until the 5th, when Northampton exploded for 6 runs, highlighted by a 3-run homerun from
Colton Hooker (Warrington, PA/Upper Moreland), a RBI fielders choice from
Cody Herestofa (Brookhaven, PA/Sun Valley) and a two-run single from
Cody Keane (Clermont, FL/East Ridge (FL)).
Northampton tacked on a run in the 6th, as Lopez scored on fly out by
Michael Ferrara (Cresco, PA/Pocono Mt. East), when the relay was misplayed by the Cougar infield. After a plating another run in the 7th, Lopez finished off the scoring in the 9th with a two run single to make the score 11-2.
The Spartans used a staff day on the mound, with five pitchers seeing action.
Brendon Caraway (Riegelsville, PA/Palisades) got the win, working two innings, allowing no runs, no hits and striking out 2, improving to 5-2.
Tyler Forbes (Athens, PA/Athens),
Zach Conley (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury),
Tristan James (Towanda, PA/Towanda Area) and
Liam Grande (Trappe, PA/Perkiomen Valley) all got work, combining for 13 strikeouts.
Franklin Ramirez (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) finished 3 for 4,
Angel Lopez (Santurce, PR/Perkiomen School) was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI,
Michael Ferrara (Cresco, PA/Pocono Mt. East) was 2 for 5,
Cody Herestofa (Brookhaven, PA/Sun Valley) was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and
Cody Keane (Clermont, FL/East Ridge (FL)) was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI as the Spartans pounded out 15 hits.
Hooker's homerun was his 7th of the season and 16th of his career, putting him one behind current Northampton assistant coach
Mike Tenaglia for the all-time Northampton homerun record.
The Spartans, ranked 5th in the last NJCAA poll, now await the seeding of the Region XIX tournament, which will take place on Tuesday evening. The Spartans should be slated for a top four seed, thus assuring themselves of a home playoff series on May 13/14.
Lehigh Carbon finishes 19-15 overall and remains winless all-time vs. Northampton since joining the NJCAA (0-12).
