Back from Greece, Hellertown's Snead helps force Game 3 of NorCo final

A few days ago, Hellertown pitcher Josh Snead was in Greece for a graduation present vacation.

On Tuesday night, Snead was back home, helping lead Hellertown to a 4-3 win over Northampton in Game 2 of the Northampton County Legion baseball finals.

Second-seeded Hellertown forced a deciding Game 3 of the series at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Northampton Area High School's Mike Lisetski Field.

"I got to the game yesterday in the bottom of the fifth. I came on a flight from Greece," Snead said.

"He just got back from Greece on an 11-hour flight yesterday. Just showed up last evening, got an at-bat and was ready to pitch today," Hellertown manager Chris Roth said.

In his first outing in a few weeks, Snead held Northampton to four hits and three runs. The Hellertown pitcher and recent Saucon Valley graduate didn't allow a run and only gave up one hit after the second inning.

"I haven't pitched in a while, but my arm was fresh, so I was able to keep throwing. But once I was able to get my spots down, I was able to push through," Snead said.

The lehighvalleylive Athlete of the Year finalist and future Virginia Tech business student also was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. Snead led off Hellertown's four-run second inning with a hit and later scored in the frame.

"He can play any sport," Roth said. "He's a great point guard in basketball, he's a soccer player and obviously a fantastic baseball player. He's good to have around."

After Northampton jumped out to a three-run lead in the top of the second inning, Hellertown rebounded with a four-run bottom of the frame to take the lead.

First baseman Thomas Coakley and right fielder Jared Thatcher followed Snead's single with singles of their own. Third baseman Kyle Petsch knocked in Hellertown's first run with a fielder's choice.

After Coakley scored on an error, shortstop Alstain Wolfe had a two-run single to give Hellertown the lead it would hold onto the rest of the night.

"He always comes through in the clutch. That's him. That's him on the football field and the baseball field. He's good to have around. That's why he's the lead-off hitter for us," Roth said.

Wolfe had two RBIs and Snead and Thatcher each had a pair of hits for Hellertown.

Kyle Serman reached base twice and Jared Hunsberger struck out five Hellertown hitters for Northampton, which will look to bounce back on Wednesday night after its first loss of the postseason.

"I think it's actually better that we have a short turnaround," Northampton manager Mike Bodnar said. "These guys will fight it all off, forget about it tonight and start over tomorrow."

Hellertown will look to win the championship with Will Smith on the mound after he travels back from Penn State, where he's already started freshman classes after graduating from Saucon Valley.

It might not be from Greece, but Hellertown hopes it's another successful return home.

"He started college, so he's going to travel back just to play the game," Roth said of Smith. "So, the boys just like to play this game. It's fun."

Northampton 030 000 0 -- 3 4 1
Hellertown 040 000 X -- 4 6 1

2B -- Jared Thatcher (H). RBI -- Andrew Kovalchik (N); Alstan Wolfe 2, Kyle Petsch (H).

Jared Hunsberger and Zech Lambert. Josh Snead and Patrick Morrissey. SO-BB -- Hunsberger 5-2; Snead 2-4.

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck.

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