In a game that stretched over three days because of rain, Northampton advanced to the District XI 6A baseball semifinals with a 6-2 road quarterfinal win over Parkland

When rain stopped the game May 20 in the top of the fourth inning, the K-Kids and Trojans were tied at one. The game resumed on Friday (May 22) and Northampton scored twice in the top of the fourth and never looked back on their way to victory.

“We continually work on and preach small ball,” said Mick Sugra, Northampton manager. “It does not look like a lot sometimes, but you string together one, two, then three runs and you have a 6-2 game.”

With one out and Gavin Caravello on first as play resumed, Northampton’s Jake Raysely reached on an error when he laid down a bunt.

“We already had discussions with Jake that he is coming out there and bunting,” said Sugra of the first at-bat picking up after the rain. “If we would have continued on the other night, we would have bunted with an 0-2 count because that is how much confidence we have in our guys to do the job.”

After Zach Hartzell grounded into a fielder’s choice to move Caravello to third, Tyler Biechy successfully squeezed home Caravello to give the K-Kids a 2-1 lead.

Casey Williams and Aidan Sugra both got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Then, Brady Simock’s bases-loaded walk scored Hartzell, giving the K-Kids a 3-1 lead. Jaxon Rutzmoser to end the inning.

Parkland got one back in the bottom of the fourth off of Simock, whose official pitch count of 49 enabled him to remain in the game after one day of rest. Chase Brunner led off the inning getting hit by a pitch. Then, after a walk to Grant Damweber, Aiden Henning singled to score Brunner, making it a 3-2 game. Carter DeLong walked to load the bases, but Simock struck out Ben Weninger to end the inning.

Simock struck out 14 Trojans in his complete game effort over the two days.

“I came in and just tried to throw strikes,” Simock said. “The arm is a little sore, but we will be all right.”

Simock felt great and was ready to go, Sugra said, applauding the senior’s effort.

Northampton got that run right back on the first pitch in the fifth thanks to a solo home run by Charles Burrell to left-center field.

“Being the DH, I’m there on the bench while we are in the field getting ready to hit,” said Burrell. “I told my teammate that if he throws me a first pitch fastball, I am going to hit it over the fence. I go out there and hit the first pitch over the fence. It was amazing.”

Burrell fought back from injury to put himself in that position, Sugra said.

“It is awesome for him,” Sugra said of Burrell. “He is another great kid that will have that memory for the rest of his life.”

Parkland stranded two more runners in the bottom of the fifth. Then, Northampton added two more runs in the top of the sixth.

Williams got hit by a pitch to lead off. Sugra followed with a bunt, but the throw to first went into right field, allowing Williams to score all the way from first. Simock hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Sugra for the final run of the game.

Before the rain, each team had scored in the third inning. Rutzmoser singled to score Sugra, who had singled two hitters before. Meanwhile, Parkland got its first run when Weninger singled to score Tsubasa Magota, who had reached on a bunt single.

The win marked Northampton’s 14th of the season.

“We have a great group of kids,” Sugra said. “I’ve coached these kids since they were little. To see them come up through the ranks the way they did and to get here now and to beat a team like Parkland that we have so much respect for is awesome.”

The K-Kids were looking forward to the opportunity to continue in the postseason, Sugra said.

Tom Wenborg contributed to this story.