Baseball – Hornets quest to reach third straight District XI Championship game begins today in the quarterfinals as they face Northampton for the third time this season. PREVIEW

Who – No.5 seed Emmaus (14-8 overall) vs No.4 seed Northampton (13-8)

What – District XI 6A Quarterfinals

When/Where – Wednesday 4:30 p.m./Northampton HS

What’s on the line – Winner advances to Sunday’s semifinal at DeSales University vs No.1 seed Liberty (17-4)

Coverage: LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network (4:10 p.m. pregame)

Coaches – Emmaus – Jeremy Haas (5th year); Northampton – Mick Sugra (12th year) 

Probables – Emmaus:  Jr. CF Wiley Fleck (.391), Jr. RF Noah Hogan (371), Sr. 1B Zach McEllroy (.333), Jr. 3B Chad Kauffman (.333), Jr. CF Colin Wilson (378), Jr. 2B Emmit Budick (.377), Jr. SS Cohen Schadler (.410), Jr. C Michael Kernechel or C Dayne Schmidt (.271), P Sr. TJ Geist (3-2, 2.67 ERA) or Sr. P Ryan Latchford (3-2, 2.93)

Northampton key players: Jr. CF Logan Higgins (.423), Soph. C Gavin Pychinka (.435), Sr. DH Dylan Fosko (.375), Sr. 3B Matt Merced (.356), Sr. Nate Wolfe (.339), Jr. 2B Mason Haupt (.355), Sr. P/1B Evan Hughes (4-1, 3.68), Sr. P Owen Laury (4-3, 2.75)

BASE HITS – Emmaus and Northampton meet for the third time this season with a berth in the semifinals on the line. The two teams split during the regular season with Northampton winning the first meeting 13-4 back on April 5 at Northampton and Emmaus winning the second meeting 10-3 on April 25 at Church Lane Park …Emmaus last played in the EPC semis on May 15 falling to rival Parkland 11-5 at DeSales University, while Northampton dropped its opening-round game of the tournament falling to Nazareth 6-1 … The Hornets have reached the district finals the last two years, finishing runner-up a year ago to Liberty and winning it all back in 2021 defeating rival Parkland for their first district title since 2005 …