The Northampton Post 28 American Legion baseball team stampeded its way through a 18-1 season and is primed for a long playoff run when the postseason begins Wednesday at Arcanum Field.
The playoffs feature a 14-team field of Western Massachusetts teams broken into two seven-team brackets. The top seed in each bracket gets a first-round bye. The winners of each seven-team pod will meet in a best-of-three series next week.
The winner goes to the state tournament in Milford on July 22.
“The kids that come to play for us have strong commitment level,” Holt said. “We always have a full team and a full bench. Everyone is excited to play.”
Post 28, which is riding a 15-game winning streak, earned the No. 1 overall seed and a bye. Its potential opponents won’t be determined until a regular season makeup game finalizes the bracket Monday.
Hamp’s only loss was to East Springfield , a 6-4 defeat at Forest Park in June. East Springfield (15-2) is the No. 2 seed in the tournament.
It’s one of the best regular seasons the team has ever seen. Northampton has a run differential of over 100 for the season.
“One through eight we are hitting over .400,” Holt said. “Our offense has jumped out.”
Will O’Connor, Hector DeJesus and Ian Ostberg have sprayed the ball all over the field this summer for Northampton.
Zac Brittain is Northampton’s top starter with Liam Pitrat right behind him as the No. 2.
The bullpen features Ostberg and Kevin Banas, who have both been highly effect in relief all season.
“Our defense and our pitching is what separates us from the league,” Holt said. “We have exceptional defense, especially up the middle.”
After two victories over the weekend — a 4-1 win in five innings over Longmeadow on Saturday and a 11-1 win over Westfield Sunday — Northampton clinched the top seed.
In Saturday’s rain-shortened game, DeJesus had two hits with a run scored.
Against Westfield, Will O’Connor had three hits while Pat Grygorcewicz added two with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Brandon Zaikowski picked up the win on the mound in relief.
Easthampton 15, Monson 5 — Brandon Bennett picked up the win for Post 224, pitching five innings with four strikeouts while allowing five runs.
Cody Cavanaugh had four hits, while Ryan York added three singles. Tim Fay doubled and had three RBIs for Easthampton.
Easthampton (10-8) will host Wilbraham Red (9-9) when the playoffs start Tuesday.
Saturday
Northampton 4, Longmeadow 1 (4½ innings)
Longmeadow 001 0 — 1 5 1
Northampton 202 0 — 4 6 1
WP—Bouley LP—Philbin
Records: Longmeadow (9-8-1) ; Northampton (16-1)
Sunday
Northampton 11 Westfield 1
Northampton 032 003 3 — 11 9 0
Westfield 000 001 0 — 1 4 1
WP— Ziakowski LP—Schwartz
Records: Northampton (18-1); Westfield (11-7)
Easthampton 15, Monson 5
Monson 300 020 0 — 5 8 6
Easthampton 022 254 x — 15 13 1
WP— Bennett LP—Joyce
Records: Monson (4-13-1); Easthampton (10-8)
