NORTHAMPTON — Northampton’s Sandy Koufax baseball team took down Granby, 6-2, on Thursday to even the season series at 1-1.

In the first game earlier this season, the game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when Granby scored nine runs to take the win, 9-0.

“It was a funky game,” Northampton coach Tim Molaghan said. “It wasn’t indicative of how evenly matched the two teams are. This game today was a better indication of that.”

On Thursday, Northampton scored twice in the first inning and once in the second at Florence Field. Ryan Cote relieved Dallas Elliot at the start of the third inning and held Northampton scoreless until the sixth. Holding a 3-2 lead, Northampton scored three runs to pull away.

“Cote throws much, much slower. Dallas throws the ball harder, he’s longer,” Granby coach Gary Toth said. “Cote threw curveballs that dropped in front and kept them off balance. Dallas threw a lot of fastballs. I thought it was a good change from fast to slow. The strategy is the guy who has a better curveball is a better fit.”

According to Toth, Granby’s team consists entirely of seventh-graders who are playing on the larger field for the first time and that the age and experience of Northampton played into its favor.

“They’re strong, they’re much bigger and more mature than we are,” Toth said. “That’s the difference.”

Cote allowed six hits, three runs and one walk with no strikeouts. Cote batted seventh in Granby’s lineup and went 1-for-2 with a single and a run scored.

Molaghan said that much of his team was playing out of position because two players are on vacation and two are injured, including the pitcher he intended on starting, Colin Ferrara. Northampton started Seth Finnessy, who struck out two, walked two and allowed five hits and two runs over five innings.

“Seth Finnessy did a terrific job,” Molaghan said. “He’s not overpowering but he threw strikes and the defense made plays behind him. Seth kept us in the game by pitching to contact.”

Matt Sullivan doubled, singled and scored twice in the win. Northampton catcher Jack Power was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

“It definitely helps to have a full team and a full bench but all we need is nine on the field to win,” Power said.

Northampton improved to 8-2. Granby fell to 6-2-1.

“Granby is a really good defensive team,” Power said. “They field the ball really well, they make quick throws to first base, they rarely make any errors and that’s something that’s very important.”

Mike Toth was 2-for-3 with a run scored for Granby.

“I love that team,” Molaghan said. “They’re very good defensively, well coached and good fundamentals so it was a good win for us.”

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