Northampton will enter the PIAA District 11 Class 6A playoffs facing a familiar opponent, but the Kids know it is a different ballgame.

The Kids will begin district play for the seventh consecutive time under head coach Mick Sugra, hosting Emmaus Wednesday afternoon, after Press deadlines.

During the regular season, the Kids downed Emmaus, 6-1 and 10-4, in two East Penn Conference (EPC) matchups. The Kids last outing was a 4-0 defeat to Parkland in the EPC playoffs, ending their regular season with three consecutive losses in which they scored a total of four runs - after averaging a little over six a game. However, their 15 wins (15-6) were the most since the 1998 season.

The Kids had nine days to regroup before Emmaus, and they appeared to have their bats back in a scrimmage against Wilson.

“We hit the ball hard against them (Wilson) and it looks like we got out hitting back again,” said Sugra. “We hope that is a good sign.

“We had two good games against Emmaus, but it is hard to beat a team three times in a season. They are a good, fundamental team and have good pitching.”

The Kids will enter the postseason hitting .310, paced by Carson Gantz (.370), Issac Tucker (.366), and Brittain Shander (.338). Gantz leads the team in hits with 27 and Jared Angerman has a team-high 17 RBIs.

Kyle Serman leads the pitching staff with a 5-2 record and a 2.62 ERA and Mike Ettl has a 4-3 record with a 2.04 ERA. The Kids’ staff ERA is 2.61.

NHS began the season winning seven of its first eight games (a five-game winning streak), and they also had a five-game winning streak in the middle of the year. They finished second in the EPC Skyline Division and third overall in the power rankings (third seed overall) in District 11.

Emmaus will enter with an identical 15-6 record, and it had a five-game winning streak snapped by Parkland in the EPC semis.

The Kids will be looking to get back to the next round of districts for the first time in two years after they lost to Liberty, 12-2, in the opening round last season.

“No one expected us to contend this year,” added Sugra. “We’ve had a good year and these kids have played loose and believe in themselves. They are ready to take the next step.”