“I didn’t even throw a pitch and already we had a 5-0 lead,” he said. “That definitely takes a lot of pressure off.”

Northcott went on to pitch a complete game for the win, allowing five runs on five hits while walking five and striking out three.

This, after he pitched four innings in the win over Franklin on Thursday.

“Cody really toughed it out for us,” said Randy Staudt.

“The last inning (on Saturday) was pretty hard,” said Northcott. “But we really wanted this one. We had to play in the play-in game. And now we’re in the championship game.”

Cochranton chalked up the decisive two runs in the second inning. With one out, catcher Craig Garofola hit a two-base gapper to left-center. Zach Staudt followed and went yard — 0-1 count, left field, two runs scored.

“It was right around thigh high,” said Staudt. I’ve been in a slump lately too, so I was just trying to hit line drives. I guess that’s what you get when you try to hit line drives.”

Lowmaster and the Meadville defense kept Cochranton off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the offense tried to dig its way out of the hole — and came close to doing so.

Dillon Tabar, for example, was 2-for-3 with a two-run double in the third. Kyle Unice singled and scored in the fourth. Boomer Schleifer scored on an error in the sixth. And, down by two, Meadville got the first two batters on board to start the bottom of the seventh. But Northcott and the Cochranton “D” got out of the jam.

The loss sent Meadville to yesterday’s elimination game against French Creek Valley.

Pete Chiodo can be reached at 724-6370 ext. 275 or by e-mail at pchiodo@meadvilletribune.com.