by June Portnoy
The Northampton Prep Legion Team 798 left their mark on baseball this year, winning the PA Championship Game! These boy had a lot of work to do this year to reach this milestone after going 8 and 10 last season.
Starting last winter, they practiced hitting every Saturday night at the All-Star Sports Academy in Warminster. According to their head coach Jim DiGuiseppe Sr., these boys showed up every weekend for practice so when it came time to play, they were ready.
From March till May, many of these boys played baseball at Holland Middle School, where most of them attended. Then beginning in May, they began their season with the Northampton Prep Legion Team practicing at Council Rock High South. Coach DiGuiseppe Sr. commended their outfield skills, adding that these boys ultimately called the outfield the “no fly zone” because they could catch virtually any ball that anyone hit.
By the end of this season, they were undefeated having played 18 and 0, advancing them to the playoffs at which they played 3 and 0. As a result, they moved forward to the state playoffs, the highest level at which they could compete. This was a huge achievement being the season began with 40 to 50 teams all competing to make it to this point.
This playoff game consisted of six games in Boyertown from July 22 to July 31. Despite still being undefeated, the Northampton Prep Legion Team lost 10 to 0 against Back Mountain, their first loss all season. This meant they had to beat Back Mountain in the next game against them, an hour later, in order to win the championship game. The pressure was on!
Coach DiGuiseppe, Sr. described that game as a real nail-biter. Northampton was losing 4 – 2 in the 5th inning. However, in this 5th inning, Northampton scored, tying the game, so it was now 4 – 4. Both teams scored in the 6 th inning bringing the score up to 5 -5. When neither team scored in the 7th inning, the game went into an extra inning.
Northampton scored one run in the top of the 8th inning taking a 6 – 5 lead. Things weren’t looking good for Northampton with bases loaded in the bottom of the 8th inning. However, they were able to get out of the inning when a hard ground ball was fielded by Jackson Kley and thrown to Mason Murphy for a force out at second base,thus winning the state championship game.
The Northampton boys ran out to the field, throwing their gloves up in the air with excitement at what they had just accomplished. Coach DiGuiseppe Sr. attributed the team’s dedication, skill, and hard work to their win.
He also called out Wes Adamson and Jack Smyth, both pitchers who hadn’t pitched much during the season. However, when they were asked to pitch during this championship game, they both rose to the occasion, helping their team win. He also praised Logan Smith for having 48 runs batted in RBIs during the season.
Of course, the team’s three experienced coaches must also be acknowledged for teaching these boys the skills and techniques they needed to learn in order to defeat their rivals. Coach DiGuiseppe Sr. has 30 years of coaching experience at Archbishop Wood High School, during which time, his team won the Catholic League Championship(in 2015).
Despite this impressive win, Coach DiGuiseppe said, “this Northampton team win was one of the most enjoyable moments in my coaching career.”
Coach DiGuiseppe Sr. has been coaching legion for 10 years, starting when his oldest grandson began playing in 2019. He continued as his second grandson played for this team in 2022 and has coached up till now as his youngest grandson, Jackson Kley began playing in 2023. He plans to retire from coaching legion after taking this team to win the state championship game.
He coaches alongside his son-in-law, Tom Kley, the team’s assistant coach of first base and the pitchers, as well as assistant coach Keith Melhuish, father of starting catcher Noah Melhuish. Both assistant coaches coached many of these boys when they played Little League in Holland and/or Underground Vipers, a tournament baseball team.
So, what’s next for these winning team members? Most of them are attending Council Rock High School this fall with the exception of Noah Melhuish and Jackson Kley, who will attend Archbishop Wood High School.
Coach DiGuiseppe Sr. hopes to see most of these boys playing on their high school baseball teams. However, he explains that regardless of whether they continue playing baseball, their experience playing on the Northampton Prep Legion Team will prepare them for their next level of school. “The work ethic and hard work needed to play sports translates well into academics and life.”
Most importantly, he knows that when “these Northampton boys look back at some of their childhood highlights, they will remember the pride and exhilaration they felt winning this state championship game. “These are childhood memories they will take with them throughout life.”