The Northampton Connie Mack team started to get hot at the right time this year.

The team won six of their last seven games to earn the eighth seed in the highly competitive Lehigh Valley Connie Mack League. They continued to ride that wave with a key, 7-6 victory over Northern Valley in the oping round of playoffs that helped advance them to the start tournament.

Head coach Stever Kerbacher said the team scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on Monday night to take a 7-5 lead. Andrew Kovalchik, Seth Laky, Zach Liggitt and Zach Angerman provided key hits that helped give Northampton a lead, and a little cushion. Turns out Northern Valley answered with a run in the seventh to cut it to 7-6. But it was Laky who came in to pitch the last inning and earned the save.

With the win, the team advanced to play top-seeded Salisbury on Tuesday.

Salisbury, the Balliet Vikings, Catasauqua and Lower Macungie earned the top-four spots and automatic berths into the state playoffs.

“We have played consistently the last few weeks winning six of the last seven games,” said Kerbacher. “The pitching staff has been steady led by Laky and Cole Rufe, with strong support from Anthony Sawarynski, Kovalchik and Jake Struss. Phil Vooz has been strong behind the plate at catcher.”

What’s been encouraging for Northampton is the bats are starting to wake up after a slow start. Kerbacher said Kyle Wescoe has provided a spark out of the leadoff spot with strong hitting behind him from Sawarynski (. 405 avg), Kovalchik (. 356), Liggitt (. 345) and Laky (. 342). Cole Rufe, Dan Yellen, Zach Schwartz, Matt Tretter and Angerman have also been keys to the offense.

“It has been a solid team effort. The team plays with great chemistry,” Kerbacher said.

Kerbacher also wanted to acknowledge the three all-stars who represented Northampton in the game this past weekend at Limeport: Seth Laky, Andrew Kovalchik and Kyle Wescoe.

The state tournament will also be played at Limeport beginning July 21. Teams from the Bux-Mont League will also take part in the tournament.

“The players are excited to continue the postseason run and we believe that we have the balance on offense along with a deep pitching staff and steady defense to make a strong showing in the league and state playoffs,” Kerbacher said.

Northampton fell to top-seeded Salisbury on Tuesday night. Salisbury moves on to play Emmaus in the semifinals while the Balliet Vikings and Hellertown square off in the other semifinal Wednesday night after Press deadlines.

The Lehigh Valley league finals are scheduled for Thursday evening.