In the past six seasons, Northampton’s baseball team has qualified for the PIAA District 11 playoffs, a pure measuring stick for their success.

Throughout the process, one of the main reasons for their winning way has been a successful junior varsity program.

Once again this season, the Konkrete Kids’ JV team had another stellar season, as they posted an overall 17-3 season.

“Our JV team had a great year,” said varsity head coach Mick Sugra. “Over the years, it (JV team) has been a big reason for our success. We have been able to develop players down there to make a batter transition.

“It has been an integral part of our success, and it is a real credit to the coaches doing a great job.”

Head JV coach Brian Ruff has been at the helm for the past six seasons, and his son, Kyle, has served as an assistant coach. The elder Ruff did see another solid year ahead, but he didn’t envision the final win total.

“I knew we would have a very good team,” said Ruff, whose team finished 12-6 last season. “I never thought we would get 17 wins. I thought we would have around the same win total as last year.

“But things went extremely well for us.”

Ruff stated that the club was comprised of nearly the same amount of freshmen and sophomores, an ideal mark for the Kids’ program.

“We try to have an older and younger kid at each position,” said Ruff. “We like to have multiple kids so we can have some flexibility.”

Shortstop Kyle Morin and center fielder Devon Britton, the team’s likely steadiest performers, both were promoted to the varsity unit.

As a result, Zach Lambert and Britton Shander emerged as the team’s top hitters.

However, the backbone for the steam appeared to be a steady pitching staff.

Seth Lakey, Mike Ettl, Cam Rogers, Jared Hunsberger, and Cole Rufe all formed a formidable unit.

“They all pitched well,” said Ruff. “We were able to keep them together as a group and that helped. Seth Lakey is good hitter and he could have just played third base for us. But he helped us at pitcher as well.

“We played great defense behind them and we told our pitchers to throw strikes and let batters put the ball in play. They did that consistently.

“All of these kids went above what they had to do, and it was a major reason why we did well.”

The younger Kids began the year with an eight-game losing streak, dropped a pair, and they began a seven-game ride. Over the past two years, the JV team has a combined 29-9 record.

“It is a tribute to the kids,” added Ruff. “They have worked hard and developed. That’s what this level is about.”