BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Coming off their best season in program-history since joining the NJCAA, the Northampton Baseball team will open the 2018 campaign on Sunday March 11th vs. Adirondack Community College (NY) at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, SC. 

The Spartans, ranked 3rd in the latest NJCAA national poll, are coming off a 35-9 campaign that saw them make their first-ever NJCAA World Series appearance (where they finished 5th) and capture their 5th EPAC Championship in 6 seasons. 

Head Coach Adrian Yaguez, who earned his 4th EPAC Coach of the Year award last season, returns for his 10th season in the dugout, sporting a career record of 212-129 (62%).  

Tyler Melko (Knoxville, PA/Cowanesque Valley) is the top-returner for the Spartans, the big first baseman hit .348 with 12 doubles, 4 homeruns and 38 RBI last season while earning 1st Team All Conference and 3rd Team All Region honors. 

Joining Melko are sophomores Christian Del Toro (Trujillo Alto, PR/Perkiomen School) and Cody Brown (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock).  Del Toro, a slick-fielding shortstop batted .291 with 8 doubles and 2 triples, with a .929 fielding percentage.  Brown, a scrappy second baseman, hit .255 with 21 RBI with a .964 fielding percentage. 

Yaguez will be looking to a deep crop of freshmen to keep the Spartans among the nation's elite, "There is no question we need the freshmen to step up and contribute," commented the veteran mentor, "they will get have to get acclimated very quickly as we open up with some very solid competition down in South Carolina."

The Spartans will open the season on Sunday at 12:30pm vs. Adirondack Community College (NY) and then will face Genesee Community College (NY) at 3pm. 

Northampton is scheduled to play 10 games on their spring trip, before returning home on March 16th.  

2018 SCHEDULE