North Parkland coasts to victory
The Buffaloes pound Southampton in a Junior Legion Regional.

By Keith Groller
Of The Morning Call

North Parkland Junior Legion manager Kurt Weber says that the first win in any tournament is always the toughest one to get.

But Weber's Buffaloes made their first win in the Eastern Region I tournament at Kutztown Community Park Tuesday look very easy.

North Parkland used an 11-hit attack and four-hit pitching by Ben Frederick over four innings to advance with a 13-3 rout of Southampton in a game shortened to five innings by the 10-run mercy rule.

The Buffaloes (24-3-2) continue in the eight-team, double-elimination tourney at 1 p.m. today against Plains of the Wyoming Valley League. Plains beat Pottsgrove, 4-1. Host Kutztown and Methacton also won Tuesday and meet one another at 4 p.m. today.

In 2002, North Parkland was 0-2 in the regionals, losing a pair of two-run games, including a 2-0 season-ending setback to Southampton.

That's why Weber was worried about the opener.

''The first one is always the toughest because you're not sure if you belong here, you're not sure about the other teams,'' Weber said. ''I think the guys were nervous because the guys were quiet and they're never quiet.''

But the Buffaloes' bats were noisy, especially during a five-run second. The big blow was a three-run double to left-center by Jake Palumbo.

''I was just trying to relax,'' Palumbo said. ''I like those kind of situations and just wanted to help the team out. Once we get started, we can hit the ball and get on a roll.''

Alex Atiyeh and George Horn had RBI singles and Dave Moller collected three RBIs with a 3-for-4 day.

Mike Kapanka walked with the bases loaded to pick up an RBI, then laid down a sacrifice bunt that was turned into two runs thanks to a throwing error as North Parkland pulled away with six runs in the fifth.

The 13-run outburst means the Buffaloes have scored 72 runs in six postseason games.

The biggest beneficiaries from the offensive fireworks are North Parkland's hurlers. Frederick enjoyed taking a 5-0 lead to the hill in the last of the second inning.

''It's great to have a big cushion like that,'' he said after using a popping fastball to strike out seven. ''Our pitching is deep, but it still helps to have a short game like that.''

Tourney rules limit pitchers to 10 innings in four days.

''That's why getting to end early is big,'' Weber said. ''It also meant the difference between playing at 10 in the morning or 1 in the afternoon . You want your kids to get as much rest as they can.''

Moller mopped up for Frederick, working a hitless inning.

''We play in a tough league with great competition every night and we just have to play the same way whether we're going against South Parkland or Southampton,'' Weber said. ''It's the same game.''

In Kutztown's 4-2 win over Bethel, Chris Rothermel and Austin Rohrbach combined on a four-hitter.

In the other East regional at Emmaus, rain was the story. Only one of four scheduled games were completed — Coatesville beat Bensalem 2-1 on John Pugh's four-hitter. Seven games are slated today at either Jasper Park or Emmaus Community Park.

North Parkland 050 26 — 13 11 4

Southampton    000 30 — 5 4 3

Kosich, Schenk and DiBiagio; Frederick, Moller (5) and Kapanka.