Knights to make first state championship game appearance since 2004.
By PAUL GOTHAM
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Dom Kurmis was in seventh grade when current head coach Dave Valle took over the Northstar Christian Academy baseball program.
At that time, the Knights had 10 players on a varsity team. No junior varsity squad existed.
Kurmis, the lone holdover from that team, delivered the go-ahead hit as Northstar Christian defeated Parishville-Hopkinton (X), 7-5 Friday afternoon at Edwin C. Daub Field on the campus of SUNY Broome Community College.
With the win, the Knights (19-3) clinched a spot in the New York State Class D championship game.
“It’s great,” the senior pitcher/catcher said. “God has blessed us with a team and a program that has grown over the years. I’m just grateful for everything we’ve had this year.”
Trailing 5-4 in the fourth inning, Kurmis’s “Baltimore chop” brought home David Eschner and Da’Vonn Stevens.
Dom Kurmis gets aboard in the fourth. David Eschner and Da’Vonn Stevens score on the play. No outs: @NCA1972 6-5 pic.twitter.com/BnMUqWzriS
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) June 9, 2023
Teammate Micah Schwaderer made the lead stand. The right-hander allowed two hits over four-and-a third scoreless innings of work.
Schwaderer came on in relief with two runners on base, one run in and retired the first batter that came to the plate against for the third out of the third inning. The junior faced the minimum over the the next three innings.
“He was a spark plug for us and has been all year,” Valle said. “He pounds the zone. When he gets out of those big situations especially when we first bring him in, he comes off fired up and gets our whole team going. Micah has been unbelievable this year.”
Dom Kurmis gets aboard in the fourth. David Eschner and Da’Vonn Stevens score on the play. No outs: @NCA1972 6-5 pic.twitter.com/BnMUqWzriS
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) June 9, 2023
Northstar took advantage of two errors in a four-run first and seven defensive miscues in the contest.
“It was a sloppy game overall if we’re being honest,” Valle said. “There’s different ways to win. You can win sloppy. You can play a good game and lose. At this point in time of the year, it’s really just about winning ball games. Whether it’s sloppy; whether it’s clean, coming away with a win is the most important thing. The guys didn’t give up throughout the course of the game even though we weren’t playing very good baseball.”
AJ Mitchell and Andrew Mitchell connected on back-to-back hits to highlight the first inning.
Parishville-Hopkinton brought home four in the second inning and another run in the third to take the lead.
“After we fell behind, some of the guys felt like they were starting to press at the plate a little bit,” Valle said. “But we we came back and put up two in the fourth and another fifth.”
Stevens singled twice and scored twice in the win. Parker Seeley reached base three times with a single and a walk. Tim Leary scored a run.
Northstar baseball will makes its first appearance in a state championship game since winning the 2004 Class D title.
The other Class D semifinal between Chapel Field (IX) and Deposit-Hancock (IV) was postponed due to rain and will be played Saturday morning at 10 AM.
Northstar will face the winner later in the day at Maine-Endwell High School. A 2 PM first pitch is slated.
Roy Curtis was the Northstar head coach in 2004 when the Knights beat SS Seward (IX) in the championship game. Section V won two state titles that year with Victor also taking the Class A crown.
Parishville-Hopkinton last won a state title in 2001 when the Panthers beat Ellicottville (VI) in the Class D championship.
Kurmis was one of two seventh graders on the 2018 Northstar team along with five seniors.
“He’s been a building block for our program,” Valle said. “He’s seen the ups and the downs.
“The following year, we were fortunate to even have a team. Obviously, we lost a lot of kids.”
Northstar fielded a JV squad this season with 18 players along with 11 on varsity.
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