For the most part, Northampton has had the typical storybook season.

Since the start of the year, the Konkrete Kids quietly have gone about their business in the way of a cleverly disguised sniper, as they effectively and efficiently picked off opponents in their much-embattled Skyline Division of the East Penn Conference (EPC) as well as knocking off perennial powers, who have dominated them in the past.

As a result, the Kids continue to firmly establish their presence in the EPC and the District 11 Class 6A race, further solidifying an upper echelon berth.

One major test down the stretch was a matchup with EPC leader Liberty, one that proved to show the Kids’ mettle and also further enhance their newfound stance as a bona fide contender in the Lehigh Valley.

The Kids committed two first-inning errors that led to the only runs in the game that helped Liberty to a 2-0 victory Monday. Starter Mike Ettl suffered his first loss of the season as he worked five innings.

The defeat snapped a five-game winning streak for the Kids (12-3, 9-3), who also had won seven of the previous eight games.

“Liberty is one the good teams we have faced this season,” said Kids’ head coach Mick Sugra. “You can’t afford to give a team like that runs to work with.

“We need to have more productive at-bats and do the little things that can help us. We haven’t really had a problem with runners in scoring position this year, but that game hurt us.”

Despite the loss, the Kids are on pace to have their best finish since the teams of the late 1990s when Sugra was an integral part of the program. He noted how the 1997 team – his graduation year – began the year with a 5-0 mark and went on to capture the league and district title.

This year’s unit clinched a district spot early, an act that has been a challenge at the end of the previous few seasons. They also recently endured a grueling three-game stretch in late April that tested their resolve. The Kids have a 6-1 mark in the Skyline Division.

“To see what we did before the Liberty game, I’ll take it,” added Sugra. “Our kids just go out there and play. We had a real challenge when we beat Becahi and then we had to face Whitehall and Pleasant Valley back-to-back.

“We had a tight game with Whitehall (a 3-2 win) and then won a slugfest with Pleasant Valley (11-9). It was the first time that we beat (Pleasant Valley) in a while. I think that really took a lot out of them.

“But it really hasn’t been that stressful for them this season. We have been able to beat some teams already twice in our division and that has been huge for us.”

Sugra knows one nick in his team’s armor can’t ruin their polish.

“We still have to play Emmaus, Parkland, and Nazareth in our division,” Sugra said. “We want to win our division and get into the league playoffs. These kids have believed in themselves all year long, and we have to see what happens.”