UNION, NJ - The Northampton Baseball team knew it faced a tough task on Monday.  In order to advance to the Region XIX championship game, they would need to knock-off the #1 ranked team in the nation, the Roadrunners of RCGC.  Then would need to turn around 30 minutes later and try to knock Brookdale out of the winners bracket and force a winner-take-all-game on Tuesday.  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.  The Spartans, behind a complete game gem from Noah Weber (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin), downed RCGC 6-4 and then defeated Brookdale 20 to 7 to force a deciding game on Tuesday at 9am at Kean University. 

GAME ONE - vs. #1 RCGC (46-6) - WON 6-4
Knowing that one team's season was going to end, the two Region heavy-weights went toe-to-toe for 9 innings, with the Spartans jumping out first with a run in the top of the 3rd followed by two more in the 4th.  RCGC responded with a run in the bottom of the 4th and 5th to make it 3-2, before the Spartans added two runs in the 6th to take a 5-2 lead.  The Roadrunners scored a single run in the 7th, followed by a Northampton run in the 8th to make it 6-3 entering the final stanza.  RCGC was able to score one run, but Noah Weber (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin) shut the door and earned the complete game 6-4 victory. 

Weber allowed 14 hits over his 9 innings of work, 4 runs (3 earned) while striking out 2 and issuing 2 free passes.  

Tyler Melko (Knoxville, PA/Cowanesque Valley) paced the offense, going 3 for 4 with a RBI, while Tommy Dunleavy (Bushkill, PA/East Stroudsburg North) finished 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and Henry Peguero (Wyomissing, PA/Wyomissing) added 2 RBI.  

CJ Gantz (Bath, PA/Northampton) had a hit, a RBI and drew 3 walks and scored 4 runs, while Mike Ferrara (Cresco, PA/Pocono Mt. East) scored Northampton's other two runs. 

BOX SCORE 


GAME TWO vs. #4 Brookdale (35-20) - WON 20-7
Facing a do-or-die situation for the second time, the Spartans jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and never looked back in leading wire to wire in a 20-7 romp over previously undefeated Brookdale.  

Zach Conley (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) took the hill for Northampton and crafted his way through 8 innings of 6 hit baseball, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) while striking out 3 and walking 6.  Nicholas Klee (Reading, PA/Exeter) pitched the 9th inning, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits while walking 2. 

The Spartans finished with 13 hits, including a 3 for 4 performance from Christian Del Toro (Trujillo Alto, PR/Perkiomen School), including 3 RBI, and 4 RBI performances from both Derek Stento (New Milford, PA/Blue Ridge) and Henry Peguero (Wyomissing, PA/Wyomissing).  

Tyler Melko (Knoxville, PA/Cowanesque Valley) was 2 for 3 with 3 walks, 4 runs scored and added 2 RBI and Tommy Dunleavy (Bushkill, PA/East Stroudsburg North) finished 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. 

The Spartans, who led 6-5 entering the bottom of the 8th, plated 14 runs to put the game away and earn the 20 to 7 victory.  Brookdale was able to push across 2 runs in the top of the 7th, but it was too little too late for the Jersey Blues. 

BOX SCORE GAME TWO 

The victory for Northampton (33-13) now sets up a one-and-done scenario between the Spartans and the Jersey Blues, with the winner advancing to the NJCAA College World Series in Greeneville, Tennessee.  

Game time for Tuesday is 9am at Kean University. 

Rain is predicted for Tuesday, however per NJCAA guidelines, all Region/District championships must be decided by midnight Tuesday. 


Noah Weber (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin) with a complete game victory over #1 ranked RCGC