GREENFIELD — Northampton Post 28 put three runs on the board in the top of the first inning against Greenfield Post 81 and Northampton’s James Lavallee did the rest. 

Post 28’s ace kept the Greenfield bats at bay throughout, as Lavallee pitched into the seventh inning, striking out eight and scattering seven hits. 

Lavallee had to come out of the game due to pitch count with two outs in the seventh and with Post 81’s Braeden Tsipenyuk on first following a single, Matt Vassello came on to record the final out and seal a 3-1 Northampton victory in an American Legion Senior Division contest at Vets Field Friday night. 

“I’ve been here for three years and we haven’t beaten Greenfield in that time,” Northampton coach Adam Krol said. “They have a great culture, coaching staff, field. They have everything you want. Beating a team like that feels good. I’m proud of the guys.” 

While Greenfield (2-4) was able to put the ball in play with hard contact, it often went in the direction of a Post 28 fielder. With the season getting into the midway stretch, Post 81 coach Alex Siano is hoping his squad can begin to find confidence at the plate moving forward. 

“We hit the ball right at them tonight,” Siano said. “They hit a couple right at us, too. Hopefully we can get it going.” 

Aiden Keeling-Lococo opened the game with a single for Northampton (5-2) and after Vassello was hit by a pitch, Trey Kuzmeski blasted a double to deep left field to drive in two runs and give Post 28 a 2-0 lead. 

Andrew Gagne singled and after Kuzmeski was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice on the ensuing at bat, Harry LaFlamme grounded out to bring in Gagne and give Northampton a 3-0 lead before Post 81 had its first turn at the plate. 

Greenfield put runners in scoring position in the first and second but was unable to capitalize. Ethan Mauthe ended up on third after reaching on a dropped strike three and Hugh Cyhowski singled and worked his way to second in the bottom of the first, but Lavallee recorded a strikeout to get out of the jam.

Ben Werner walked and Jackson Campbell singled in the second but Lavallee forced a flyout to again get out of the inning unscathed. 

Post 81 broke through in the third. Ethan Quinn led off with a single, Mauthe walked and Cyhowski knocked a single to bring in Quinn and cut the lead to 3-1. 

Mauthe was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice, putting Logan Moore on first and Cyhowski on third for Post 81 with one out. Moore tried to steal second when Caleb Thomas smashed the ball right up the middle that would have been a base hit had Keeling-Lococo not been on second looking for the steal. He stepped on the bag and threw to first for the double play to end the inning. 

“The big play was that double play,” Siano said. “Runners on, no outs and we get a run in. Caleb hit the ball hard but we were stealing. If that got through, who knows.” 

Thomas singled in the sixth but once again, Lavallee recorded a strikeout to end the inning.

“James is efficient,” Krol said. “He’s calm out there and that’s what you need when the lights are on on a Friday night. That’s why he’s one of our captains and one of our leaders.”

Hayden Girard opened the bottom of the seventh with a single for Greenfield but Northampton turned a double play. 

Pat Millin singled in the fourth and the sixth while Kuzmeski and Gagne singled in the seventh for Post 28, which is beginning to play the kind of baseball Krol wants to see. 

“We’ve made some strides and we’ve had some good wins,” Krol said. “We still have quite a bit of improvement that we need to do. We’re not where we want to be yet. We have a lot of goals for this team but along the way, you need good wins like this.” 

Werner pitched the opening five innings for Greenfield, striking out two. Thomas pitched the final two innings, striking out one. 

Northampton is back in action Monday when it hosts East Springfield at 5:45 p.m. while Post 81 is back on the diamond Sunday when it goes on the road to face Pittsfield at 3 p.m.