RECAP >> Any win at this time of the year is a big win considering the parity in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference baseball scene this season.
But not all victories are pretty, and that was the case for Emmaus yesterday according to its head coach as the Hornets barely held on for a 4-3 win over Northampton at Church Lane Park.
“It was good for us to get the win, just not the cleanest game” said Jeremy Haas, the team’s sixth-year manager. “I thought Northampton had a lot of opportunities and they probably played the better game. It just wasn’t our best effort today.”
It wasn’t, but Emmaus did just enough and the Hornets will take the victory, learn from it and move on as they swept the regular-season series from Northampton while also clinching a berth in the upcoming District XI Class 6A playoffs.
Emmaus won for the third time in the last four games as they improved to 8-2 in the EPC and 8-6 overall.
“This puts us at eight league wins so it’s .a 500 record no matter what, we qualified for districts today and it gets us another division and league win,” said Haas. “It was big win. I just don’t love the way we played.”
In a game that they led from start to finish, Emmaus did all their scoring in just two innings with the bottom of the third being the biggest as they scored three runs and then held off a late Northampton rally to survive the comeback.
The bottom of the Hornets lineup came through as the team’s No. 7 and No.8 hitters – junior catcher Bryan Kain and junior first baseman Drew McGeehan – both had key hits in the three-run third inning. Kain lined a two-run triple to right field and McGeehan executed a beautifully well-placed bunt that scored another run.
“McGeehan has been taking good at-bats and he’s been a little unlucky, but soon it’s going to come around for him and goes his way,” said Haas. “Kain has been taking really good, selfless at-bats as well. I’m really happy for both of them and they did a good job today.”
Sophomore starter Cole Moreau improved to 4-2 on the season after going 4 1/3 innings. The southpaw gave up three runs on six hits while striking out five, but did struggle with control hitting three batters and issuing three walks. Senior Shane Ohl came in relief in the fifth inning and classmate Wiley Fleck closed the door to earn the save with a scoreless seventh.
Northampton had its two-game win streak snapped as the Konkrete Kids fell to 5-5 in the EPC and 8-5 overall. Junior leftfielder Gavin Pychinka led the offense going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored. Starter Sam Erschen suffered the loss after giving up three runs on four hits in just two innings of work.
The Konkrete Kids outhit Emmaus 8-5 in the game, but were hurt with leaving 13 men on base.
The Hornets will return to action on Wednesday at 4 p.m. as they make the short trip over to Allen to take on the Canaries. Emmaus will be looking for a little payback after falling to Allen in the first meeting, 2-0 on March 25 at Church Lane Park.
“Honestly, I’m not even on Allen yet,” admitted Haas. “I just told these guys that we need a really good practice tomorrow (Tuesday). I’m not even going to think about Allen until we get through tomorrow’s practice.
Added Haas: “We’re not ready to compete for a playoff position right now. We need to get better and Allen is our next opponent and obviously we owe them but we can’t make it anything more than one game.”
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Emmaus 4, Northampton 3
No – 001 020 0 – 3-8-0
Em – 031 000 x – 4-5-1
Sam Erschen, Brady Simock (3) and Isiah Alicea; Cole Moreau, Shane Ohl (5), Wiley Fleck (7) and Bryan Kain. WP – Moreau (4-2), LP – Erschen, S – Wiley Fleck