To say Northampton needed Monday’s victory could easily be an understatement,

The Konkrete Kids posted a 16-0, five-inning win at East Stroudsburg North, their largest run output of the season.

The victory raised their overall record to 4-8, and the Kids still need to win five of their last six games to qualify for a district Class 6A playoff spot.

Their win at East Stroudsburg North was their second straight after a five-game losing streak.

“We hit the ball really well with 11 hits, three of them doubles,” said Kids’ head coach Mick Sugra. “Seven guys had RBIs, so it was top to bottom effort.”

Ryan Kovach, Vincent Santostefano, Mike Melosky, and Jeff Erschen each had two hits. Kovach had three RBIs and Hunter Corrow added two.

Vincent Santostefano and Logan Higgins combined on a one-hitter and each pitcher had four strikeouts.

A few days earlier, the Kids pulled out a wild, 10-8, eight-inning victory over East Stroudsburg South in which they battled back from 4-0 and 5-4 deficits to respond with a four-run eighth inning to seal the victory.

Kovach, Erschen, and Santostefano each had two hits, and Kovach and Erschen had two RBIs apiece.

Will Erie pitched the first five, and Kovach gained the victory over the final three.

“They fought and battled back,” added Sugra about the win. “They had the winning run at the plate, but we found a way to get it done.

The Kids hosted Pocono Mountain East Wednesday after Press deadlines, and then will travel to Stroudsburg Friday.

Their mission over the final weeks is a clear one.

“Hopefully, we can get over the hump,” stated Sugra. “The kids have put in the work. We have had former players Evan Zwolenik and Issac Tucker come back and talk to them.

“It has been a trying year. There isn’t just one area in which we have been struggling. It has been offense, defense and pitching. At one point, we were hitting around .200 as a team, and no one had more than three RBIs.

“We all have to take the blame and even as a coaching staff. We know what we have to do as a team.”