NORTHAMPTON — In Game 1 of a best-of-three series to decide a Western Massachusetts Legion championship, Northampton Post 28 faced a situation it hadn’t seen all year.

An immense deficit, which East Springfield built after a nine-run second inning.

Northampton put together some hits in the seventh, but lost 15-7 and will head to Springfield on Wednesday facing elimination.

In the last half of the seventh inning down 15-3, Northampton loaded the bases and scored some runs.

“We had subs in the game with starters standing up cheering, and we got a little rally going,” Northampton coach Chuck Holt said. “I don’t know if that will help, but it shows character.”

In the nine-run second, East Springfield (21-4) peppered the field with an assortment of line drives and hard grounders through the infield. When the onslaught was over, East Springfield had put together 10 straight hits.

“First and foremost they (East Springfield) mash,” Holt said. “They are a really good team. That inning was a perfect storm. A few borderline calls didn’t go our way and it swinged the count in their favor.”

East Springfield has beaten Northampton twice this season. Wednesday on the road with the season on the line, Holt will have his full compliment of pitchers available.

“I am not sure yet,” Holt said. “We’ll see who has the most rest. Everyone is ready. Could be a combination of guys.”

Liam Pitrat took the loss on the mound for Northampton (20-3).

“He made a couple good pitches they hit for base hits, and he left a couple up that they smashed,” Holt said.

Pitrat pitched into the second inning with but gave up six hits and five runs in the frame without recording an out.

“We haven’t lost much,” Holt said. “This could be a big blow to our team’s ego, but I didn’t see anyone get down. There was some frustration because it was a tough game but everyone stayed ready to play.”

Northampton quickly answered the East Springfield outburst when Derek Zewinski launched a two-run homer into the trees in left field.

Pat Grygorcewicz doubled to start the inning.

Any momentum Northampton had was extinguished when East Springfield followed with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to make it 12-2.

Mike Miezczkowski tripled for Northampton in the second inning.

In the seventh, Northampton knocked East Springfield reliever Jake Leahy from the game and scored four runs.

Andrew Serio had an two-run triple, and Hector DeJesus added an RBI single.

Darien Rosado pitched effectively for East Springfield, giving up two runs on four hits with a strikeout to get the win.

Rosado added three hits, same with Dez Aguirre and Kevin Morales.

East Springfield 15, Northampton 7

East Springfield         093 001 2 — 15  17  1

Northampton     020 001 4 — 7  9  2

WP—Rosado LP—Pitrat

Records: East Springfield (21-4); Northampton (20-3)

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