The Belchertown Post 239 bats got after it early against Northampton Post 28 during the first round of the Senior Legion District 3 playoffs on Friday, and each run proved to be necessary.
Northampton scored two runs in the top of the first but Belchertown countered with six runs. Northampton eventually cut the lead down to two, 7-5, going into the top of the seventh and loaded the bases, but Ty Gladu got a fly out to pick of the save and earn Belchertown a 7-5 victory.
Belchertown moves on to play the winner of Greenfield-Monson on Saturday while Northampton takes on the loser of Grenfield-Monson in the double-elimination tournament.
Ryan Gaughan picked up the win on the hill for Post 239, going four innings and striking out five. Logan Dapprich pitched two innings in relief before Gladu came on to earn the save in the seventh.
Following the outburst from Belchertown in the first — which was helped by a pair of Post 28 errors in the field — Northampton pitcher Seth Finnessey settled in, going six innings, giving up 10 hits and finishing by giving up three earned runs.
Evan Hu had a pair of hits and an RBI while Gladu had two hits and two RBIs including a solo home run. Nate Mills and Owen Raines each had a pair of hits while Austin Endelos had a two-RBI double in the first inning for Belchertown.
Colin Ferrara had three hits, scored two runs and knocked in a run for Northampton, with Bennett Kelly adding two hits including a two-run double. Dom Badorini had a two-RBI single and Wilson Heath went 2-2 with one a two-RBI triple in the loss.