NORTHAMPTON — Kaliya Valentin winded up, and launched her final pitch of the night.

Strike three.

The Northampton fielders rushed the circle around their pitcher, celebrating the 10-5 victory over Belchertown on a blustery Wednesday afternoon.

In addition to the win, there was reason to celebrate around Valentin. The senior followed up her 14-strikeout no-hitter on Monday with another amazing performance Wednesday, as she punched out 16 Oriole batters.

“She's just a leader,” Northampton head coach Marjorie Pierce said of Valentin. “She just quietly executes. She’s positive and never has anything negative to say.” 

Valentin has been dominant in the circle so far this season, but said she tries not to pay too much attention to the individual achievements.

“Honestly when I'm in the game I don't really think about [the strikeouts],” Valentin said. “I was here to win and we won.” 

Although a five-run victories may seem like a comfortable margin, it was close for most of Wednesday’s game.

After Valentin struck out the side in the top of the first, Sasha Rodriguez launched a solo home run into deep left field, giving the Blue Devils the early 1-0 lead.

It stayed that way until the fourth as a Julianne Cozine two-run single gave Belchertown its first lead of the game up 2-1.

That lead wouldn't last. Northampton’s Jordan Sage hit a ground ball to third, and an errant throw led to a run that tied the game at 2.

With Valentin cruising through the fifth, the Blue Devils were once again primed to take the lead with the top of their order due up. Rodriguez delivered again – lacing a single into center field and driving a run in.

Then Valentin came up to help her cause, and she drove in two more runs with a single giving the Blue Devils their largest lead of the day.

After another smooth inning for Valentin, the Northampton bats came knocking again in the bottom of the sixth. After an RBI single by Lily Pelis, a passed ball and a Kayla Martin RBI ground out, Northampton's lead ballooned to 8-3. A Valentin ground out added two more runs for the Blue Devils as they reached double digits with a 10-2 cushion. 

Although Northampton improved to 2-0 on the young season, Pierce said her team isn't looking too far ahead.

“We're just gonna take it one game at a time,” Pierce said. “Each game the goal should be to improve in certain areas [and if we do that] we’ll be where we want to at the end of the season” 

Rodriguez scored three runs to pace the Blue Devils offensively, while Belchertown’s Lex Piwco and Laura Cote each scored two runs.

Northampton will take on Longmeadow on Thursday, while the Orioles will travel to Chicopee to take on Paulo Friere on Monday.

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