Northampton’s baseball team got off to a fast start but recently hit a bump and sit at 4-5 overall at the time of this article. However, Erick Castro is hoping to change the tide.

The senior righthander picked up his first win of the season in a 13-3 victory over North Pocono March 22. He went four innings, allowing seven hits, struck out four and walked none. Castro also pitched two scoreless and hitless innings in the team’s opening-game, a 15-1 rout of Dieruff.

The Konkrete Kids started 3-0. Castro was anxious for the start of the season, and he has appreciated the quick jump out of the gate.

“To be honest, I love how fast the season started,” beamed Castro. “I don’t know about the rest of the team, but I been looking to get on the field for a while.”

Castro knows he needs to set the table at the top.

Through the first three games, he led the team in hitting with a .545 average with three RBIs, two doubles, and a team-high seven runs scored. Castro had a 1-0 mark with a 1.61 ERA.

“Overall this season I’m just trying the help the team as much as possible being the leadoff hitter,” he added. “I’m just looking to get on, and get in scoring position for my second, third, and fourth hitters to get me in.

“Pitching wise, I been working on my slider which I use a lot in my last game and it was really effective.”

Head coach Mick Sugra has been impressed with Castro’s early performance.

“Erick is [among our leaders in] hitting so far and he is one of our arms we need this year to be successful,” said Sugra. “He threw well against North Pocono.”

The Kids began a challenging schedule after their hot start. They fell to Fleetwood 3-0 on Saturday and Bethlehem Catholic 8-2 last Thursday. There was also a close, 2-1 loss to Parkland back on April 1.