AMHERST — The bottom of the second inning buried Northampton in the Western Massachusetts Division 1 championship game.
Pittsfield batted around and plated five runs on six hits and two errors to give the Generals a cushion at Sortino field. Three runs came with two outs, as Pittsfield tacked them on one at a time with steady hitting.
“When you’re under pressure things slow down, you hesitate,” Northampton coach Andy Pelis said. “That one inning, it cost us.”
The Generals ultimately won 11-3 on Saturday to finish unbeaten in Western Mass. play. They’ll face undefeated Central champion Wachusett at Worcester State.
“They’re a great team, have to tip your cap to them,” Pelis said.
Pittsfield’s five-run outburst put the Blue Devils in a 7-0 hole after two innings. But Northampton started digging out in the fourth.
Emma Tanner opened the inning with a single. She was Northampton’s first baserunner after Pittsfield pitcher Giuliana Pierce was perfect through the first three innings.
Anna Kerwood reached on an error that sent Tanner to second. After an Emilia Pelis pop out, Abby Pelis smacked a single to the right side of the infield for an RBI.
“I just wanted to get on base,” Abby Pelis said.
Anna Connly followed with an RBI double down the right field line that pulled Northampton (19-4) to 7-2 with just one out.
“When you hit behind the Pelis sisters, you want to keep it rolling,” she said.
With runners on second and third, Marissa Badorini grounded out to second, bringing Abby Pelis home and the Blue Devils within four runs.
Calista Lebron popped out to end the inning, but the Blue Devils showed some life.
“They fought back, and that’s what I was proud of,” Andy Pelis said. “They could have given up, and they didn’t.”
Jenna Subocz singled to lead off the fifth but ended on second, and Emilia Pelis reached third in the sixth after a double.
“We all realized we needed to come together and play for each other and play for our coaches,” Abby Pelis said.
Pittsfield (22-0) tacked on four runs in the bottom of the sixth powered by a two-run triple from Natasha Shade. The Generals also scored on an RBI groundout and an error for Northampton. Pittsfield finished with 11 hits, four for extra bases.
“In batting practice, they were all on the ball,” Pittsfield coach Greg Marchbanks said. “We had goosebumps, they were ready.”
Northampton was trying to win its first championship. It reached the sectional final for the first time since 1989. It was the final game for the Blue Devils’ five seniors: Kerwood, Abby Pelis, Tanner, Subocz and Connly.
“They deserve a lot of credit, that’s a heck of a season,” Andy Pelis said. “Just came up a little short.”
Northampton won’t be completely bereft of talent next season despite needing to replace its longtime pitcher and catcher. Right fielder Kateyln Ramdath was a freshman, and the Blue Devils will bring back four members of the lineup.
“We’ve got a good group of kids, hopefully we’ll build on this,” Andy Pelis said.
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com.
Pittsfield 11, Northampton 3
Northampton 000 300 0 — 3 5 4
Pittsfield 250 004 x — 11 11 1
WP—Pierce LP—Kerwood
Records: Pittsfield (22-0) Northampton (19-4)