Northampton’s softball team drove the message home in the fourth inning by scoring five runs against Pocono Mountain East and won its first round District XI 6A playoff game, 11-1, on Tuesday.

“We were hoping to, and we’re always expecting to,” said Northampton coach Kevin Mann. “We handled them pretty easily last time, but they’re a young team.”

The Kids had a 3-0 lead after two innings, but the Cardinals had runners on first and second base on errors to start the third before Northampton pitcher Taylor Keeney had a strike out, forced a fly ball, and forced a pop up.

“We came off those two errors, and I wanted to take it upon myself,” Keeney said. “I think it gave us momentum, going in to bat.”

The Cardinals scored their only run in the top of the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, Brandi Davidson led off with a single, and Madison Fraley had a base hit. Hallie Muffley was hit by a pitch, and Anna Filchner had a base hit, but the Cardinals’ throw to home was not in time.

Heather Alich had with a double to score two more Kids, and Elizabeth Moore followed up with a double of her own to make the score 8-1.

The game ended in the fifth on the mercy rule after Muffley hit a solo homer, and two more runs scored.

“When I came up, you never expect to get a home run, but something like that is the energy booster you hope for,” Muffley said.

The Kids will have taken on Parkland in their next game of districts Wednesday, which is after Press deadlines.

“I’m so excited. Our games have been really close,” said Muffley. “Today meant a lot.”

Wednesday will have meant the difference between a win and a loss, a new color for Coach Mann’s hair or not, and tickets to Hershey Park or not.

“Yes, they’re excited about it. They keep saying, ‘When we beat Parkland, can you dye your hair orange?’ I said yes,” Mann said. “We played them hard the last couple times. They have an amazing program there. They do the little things right, but we just have to play on top. On any given day...”