The only team in the region who Northampton Post 28 hasn’t beaten this season is the only one standing between it and a Western Massachusetts Championship.

Northampton will face East Springfield in a best of three series beginning Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

Game 2 is Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Forest Park. Should a Game 3 be necessary, it would be back at Arcanum at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The winner will head to Milford for the Massachusetts State Legion Tournament at Milford. The eight-team event begins July 22 at Fino Field in Milford.

Hamp coach Chuck Holt likes his team’s frame of mind headed into Tuesday’s Game 1.

“The thing that’s made this season fun beyond the obvious statistical success is the spirit and attitude of our players and the fun they’ve been having,” he said. “There have been kids who have come back from vacation early and kids who have skipped things all together to make it to games. Our commitment level is really high. I think it’s because they really like playing with one another.”

East Side beat Hamp, 6-4, on June 14 in the teams’ only previous meeting. Post 28 scored three times on a bases-loaded double by Tim Horton in the seventh and had the trying run at the plate that day but couldn’t complete the comeback.

The momentum from that rally seemed to carry over. Northampton tore off 16 straight wins after that. It didn’t lose again until Saturday’s 9-7 loss to Westfield.

But Post 28 avenged the loss with a 5-3, bracket clinching win.

East Side is 20-4 after capturing it’s seven-team bracket to earn a spot in the final series. Post 28 had to withstand a three-run rally in the seventh to hold off Pittsfield, 5-4, Monday.

Holt expected both teams to feature tired pitching staffs.

“I think everyone is a little on fumes,” said Holt, who said he wasn’t sure who he’d start Tuesday. “I’m sure they’ll have a couple guys ready to go, and hopefully we’ll have a couple guys ready to go.”

Holt said the previous game against East Side was too long ago to present much scouting value now. He was glad to get a shot at the rematch.

“I wasn’t sure who we’d play because Pittsfield is also so good,” Holt said. “I’m glad we get a chance to play the only team we didn’t beat.”

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com.

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