RECAP >> In a classic pitcher’s matchup, it was Northampton’s Kaira Zamadics outdueling Emmaus’ Danika Barthol as the Konkrete Kids defeated the Hornets 3-1 in the District XI Class 6A semifinals on Tuesday afternoon at Pates Park in Allentown.
Zamadics, a senior who pitched and led Northampton to a 2-0 shutout win over Emmaus on April 8, was outstanding in the circle as she tossed a complete game, scattering five hits and striking out 12.
Her teammates backed her with just enough offense as the Konkrete Kids led from start to finish, scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth and adding two insurance runs in the fifth.
The victory sends Northampton back to the finals for the second consecutive year on Thursday night at Pates Park at 7 p.m. where they’ll face fourth-seeded Whitehall, which upset top-seeded Parkland 9-7 in the other semifinal. The game will be a rematch of last year’s final. The K-Kids will be looking for back-to-back titles.
For Emmaus and first-year head coach Rich Giering, their season comes to an end at 18-6, one win shy of reaching the finals and qualifying for the PIAA State Tournament. The Hornets last won a district title back in 2007.
Junior center fielder Shayla Morgan reached base all three times with a pair of singles and a walk, while senior third baseman Sami Lilly also got on base twice with two walks.
Barthol suffered the loss as she gave up just five hits and struck out eight.
For Northampton, senior second baseman Taylor Kranzley went 2-for-3 with an RBI and classmate, third baseman Alexa Chromey was 1-for-2 with a run scored.
The game marked the final one in the high school careers of Emmaus’ five seniors — Sami Lilly, Peyton Sisonick, Lindsay Moreau, Sarah Sherman and Brooke Huczko.
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Northampton 3, Emmaus 1
Em – 000 000 1 – 1-5-2
No – 000 120 x – 3-5-0
Danika Barthol and Mason Roselli; Kara Zamadics and Angela Fisher. WP – Zamedics, LP Barthol
2B – Krout (Em), Kranzley 2 (No)