Mike Melosky had been waiting for his senior year. But it was a game in his junior year that made him believe this season perhaps was the special one.

The Konkrete Kids struggled for most of their 8-11 campaign last season, but a late, regular- season, 14-10 slugfest victory over Parkland may have held the key to this season. The Kids did drop their next and final three games of the season.

“We battled back in that game, and we did our jobs,” recalled Melosky. “I think the juniors on the team realized then what we had to do for [this] year. We knew we had to step up and come out as leaders.

“We seniors all [came] out and worked as leaders this year. (Senior) Hunter (Corrow) [did] it all year for us. There [was] better chemistry and we [were] a tighter group than last year’s team.”

Melosky played his part this season. He was among the Kids’ leaders in batting average and hits all season. Melosky will continue his career next year at Chestnut Hill College as a second baseman, and pursue a degree in cyber security, a field that interested him after his sister began working in it.

He’s also part of the Northampton Legion team.

He began playing the game at age five, and under the tutelage of his father, Michael, worked as his craft as an infielder. He had some issues when he made varsity.

“My dad has always been there,” he said. “He always has pushed me to work hard, and has guided me along the way.

“I’ve always been a middle infielder, and the speed of the game changed once I got to high school. I struggled last year adapting to varsity, but I quickly got the hang of it. My hitting has been about timing. (Head) Coach (Mick) Sugra reminds us about getting our timing down.”

Over the years, Sugra has watched Melosky develop into a team leader.

“Mike is extremely dedicated to baseball,” said Sugra. “He has a very good work ethic, and he is a competitor. He’s also stepped up into a leadership role this season.

The Kids rallied this season after a slow start to make both the EPC and District 11 playoffs, despite suffering early exits in both tournaments.

“It was an up and down season for a while,” he said. “But we made leagues and districts.

“We had a tough loss against Parkland, but it helped us in the long run.

“The younger guys [stepped] up.”