Northampton Legion won its first semifinal game against The Wanderers, but The Wanderers took the next two games to win the series and advance to the championship final against Nazareth Summer Eagles-Post 415.

“Every year, it comes down to us and them, competing either to get into the championship or to get into regionals,” said Northampton Legion manager Bill Hughes. “It comes down to smart baseball, making the plays. We’ve got to limit the errors and be aggressive at the plate. Both teams are fierce competitors, and it’s always a battle.”

Game 1 was a 6-5 victory for Northampton on July 10 at Northampton.

Winning pitcher Charlie Burrell’s RBI to center field gave Northampton a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but The Wanderers tied the game in the second inning with an RBI by Colin Peacock.

The Wanderers loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third inning on base hits by Dylan Metzgar, Jacob Strong, and Jaxon Horvath.

“When I struck the first kid out, I was like, well I can get them now,” Burrell said. “I got to two strikes on the other kid, and then he somehow hit it. It was at his eyes, deep to centerfield, so I gave up a run, but at least I can stop them right here, so that’s what I did.”

Strong was picked off at second base to end the inning.

“Charlie Burrell is a workhorse, a fierce competitor, and he’ll do what has to do to get out of that. He knows that these guys in the field will back him up and make the plays,” said Coach Hughes. “With Charlie, we had him going as far as he could go because we knew we would not be able to use him again, but with the relievers we brought in with Austin Sommers and Aidan Sugra with 30 pitches, they’ll be able to pitch again.”

The Wanderers took a 5-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning, but Northampton added three runs in the bottom of the sixth to go ahead 6-5.

Burrell walked, Quinn Hughes had an RBI on an error, Logan Merkle singled, Aidan Sugra was hit by a pitch that walked in a run, Billy Stuhldreher was also hit by a pitch that walked in a run, and Brayden Giandemenico walked, plating Northampton’s sixth run.

The Wanderers won Game 2, 10-0, on July 11 at Liberty and Game 3, 11-1, on July 12 at Northampton.

“It’s been like the Red Sox and the Yankees for as long as I’ve coached here. It’s usually in the championship; not in the semifinals, but we’re on two opposite sides of the bracket this time,” said The Wanderers manager Paul Walsh.

As of Press deadlines, The Wanderers and Nazareth Summer Eagles-Post 415 are tied, 1-1, in a best-of- three NorCo Division championship final.