Northampton Post 28 beats Belchertown in District 3 playoff game
Lavalle throws a complete game with 10 strikeouts as Post 28 reaches the winners bracket of the District 3 playoffs.
Northampton Post 28 advanced in the District 3 playoffs with a 7-1 victory over Belchertown Post 239 at Arcanum Field on Thursday night, extending the team's winning streak to seven games. Pitcher James Lavalle delivered a dominant performance, throwing a complete game and allowing just two hits while striking out 10 batters.
Northampton fell behind 1-0 early but scored seven unanswered runs to pull away. The team moved to the winners bracket while Belchertown, the two-time defending District 3 champions, dropped to the losers bracket and now faces elimination.
Lavalle, a team captain, threw 99 pitches with only three walks in the victory. "He was locked-in the moment that he got here pre-game," head coach Adam Krol said. "He pitched to his ability and I could not be more proud of him."
Northampton's comeback began in the third inning when Andrew Gagne hit a two-RBI double. Minutes later, Aiden Keeling-Lococo hit a two-run home run off the overhanging branches in left field to make it 4-1. Keeling-Lococo finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs. "I was looking for an up-and-in pitch and he threw it right there," he said.
Matt Walko added a RBI double in the sixth inning to extend Northampton's lead to 7-1. The Post 28 offense produced six hits total, with both Gagne and Matt Vassallo recording multiple hits.
Belchertown starter Brodie Funk allowed four runs and three hits in two innings. The Belchertown lineup recorded just two hits, with Ryan Gould and Josh Misiaszek getting singles for Post 239.
Both teams are scheduled to play Saturday morning, with Post 28 hosting an opponent to be determined. Krol said his team is "playing its best baseball at the perfect time of the year."