The No. 1 Northmor Golden Knights are District champions and move onto the Region 16 tournament after beating No. 2 Fairfield Christian Academy 9-3 on May 22 in the Division III Central 1 District Finals.
Drew Hammond picked up the win, going five and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs, five hits and two walks, while striking out 10.
Northmor scored early and often by putting three runs on the board in the first, and four more runs in the second. They put a run up in the third and fourth innings.
In the first inning, Fairfield Christian went up 1-0, but that didn’t last long. In the bottom half of the inning, Billy Bowlin hit a two out, RBI single to tie the game. After a Garrett Harvey walk to load the bases, Trevor Brubaker was hit by a pitch to bring home a run. Nick Armrose followed in suit, as he was also hit by a pitch, bringing a run home to make it 3-1.
Fairfield Christian scored in the second inning to cut the lead to one, but in the bottom of the second it was all Northmor. Grant Bentley led off the inning with a single, and then Cole Cuffman walked. Hammond singled and the bases were loaded for Bowlin, who doubled to right to bring two runs home. Jack Bowdre grounded out but a run came home, and in the same at bat Hammond scored on a wild pitch to put the score at 7-2.
In the bottom of the third inning, Bryce Cooper scored on a wild pitch, and in the bottom of the fourth inning, Brubaker hit an RBI single to go up 9-2. Fairfield Christian scored in the seventh, but it was too little too late, and Northmor was able to hold on to take the District title.
Northmor had 11 total hits, led by Bentley’s 3-for-4 day. Bowlin drove in three runs, and went 2-for-4 with a double. He also scored twice. Brubaker knocked in two runs and was 2-for-3. Cuffman was 1-for-2 with a triple and two runs, and also stole a base. Harvey hit a triple and scored a run in a 1-for-3 day, and Hammond went 1-for-4 with a run scored.
The Regional Semifinal takes place on May 30 at 5 p.m. against Russia, who is coming off a 20-1 win in the Southwest 1 District Finals over Felicity-Franklin.
