FLORENCE — With a Western Massachusetts American Legion championship on the line, Northampton Post 28 stuck to its main weapon in its deciding game three against East Springfield on Thursday.
Against a beleaguered East Springfield pitching staff, Northampton mashed its way to a 19-3 win in five innings at Arcanum Field.
Hamp won the best-of-three series 2-1, to become Western Mass. champion. It marked the first time since 1996 that Northampton (22-3) will advance to the state tournament, which will be held at Fino Field in Milford.
“This is really satisfying,” Northampton coach Chuck Holt said. “It means a lot because of this group of kids. All the experience and camaraderie. This is a family.”
Northampton will play at 4:30 p.m. in Milford on Saturday, against an opponent to be determined.
Northampton got rolling in the first inning when Will O’Connor cleared the bases with a triple to centerfield to make it 3-0.
“This team makes it so easy to hit,” O’Connor said. “This lineup is great. It feels great to come out and pound them (East Springfield) a bit. But they are a great team.”
O’Connor went 2-for-2 with the triple, an infield single and a sacrifice fly which gave him five RBIs.
Northampton blended power and patience at the plate, with 11 hits and seven walks.
East Springfield quickly snatched some momentum back in the top of the second.
Mike Acevedo’s two-RBI single made it 4-2 before Mike Cruz drew a bases loaded walk to get East Springfield to within a run against Hamp starter Brandon Zaikowski.
Ian Ostberg took over on the mound for Northampton,and effectively shut down East Springfield’s comeback attempt.
Ostberg inherited a bases-loaded situation with one out. The Quinnipiac commit struck out Dez Aguirre and Shayne Audet to end the threat with Hamp ahead 4-3.
“I knew it was a big situation and it’s a game of momentum,” Ostberg said. “But they haven’t seen me this year and it was big to get those strikeouts.”
It’s Ostberg’s first championship since his Cal Ripken days as a 12-year-old.
“Outside of states as a 12-year-old,” Ostberg said. “This is the best.”
In 3 ⅔ innings Ostberg did not give up a run with four strikeouts to get the win.
A seven-run second inning gave Northampton a 9-3 lead.
Reaching the bottom of its pitching depth, East Springfield gave up three runs in the third on wild pitches.
A two-run home run to left field for Pat Grygorcewicz made the score 15-3 in the third inning.
Hector DeJesus continued his torrid pace as the lead off hitter, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
Kevin Banas added a hit with two RBIs.
Northampton 19, E. Springfield 3
East Springfield 030 00 — 3 5 3
Northampton 457 3x — 19 11 2
WP—Ostberg LP—Morales
Records: East Springfield (20-5); Northampton (22-3)
