Up 2-1 in the seventh inning with the bases loaded behind him, Newton South pitcher Brendan Corkery had one thing on his mind: just throw strikes.

“I had walked a couple guys earlier, and the fastball wasn’t really in the zone,” he said. “So it was slider after slider, just trying to get the ball over the plate and get some weak contact and end the game.”

His plan worked. On Corkery’s final pitch of the day—a slider—he induced Newton North’s Leo DiMattia to hit a bouncer in front of the plate, then fielded the ball himself and threw to first for the final out.

It was the eighth straight win for South, which has now recorded 11 wins against only three losses this season.

Lions’ head coach Alex Klapes called the game a “nailbiter,” and said that the win was emblematic of how his squad has been performing of late.

“We have a quiet confidence going on right now,” said Klapes. “So I want everybody to think, hey, I want to make that last out. And they did just that.”

One point of pride for the head coach has been his team’s defense, which sparkled again in the victory over North.

“Whenever we have pressure on the infield, they just stay nonchalant and get it done. They perform under pressure which is really good to see.”

The Lions had jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in this soggy crosstown matchup, with both runs aided by stolen bases and heads-up base running.

In the top of the fourth inning, North’s DiMattia gave the Tigers life with an RBI single, halving the deficit. North eventually loaded the bases in the inning but could not push more runs across the plate.

From that point on, it was a pitchers’ duel between North’s starting pitcher Sam Congdon and South’s Corkery, who came on in relief. In the seventh, Corkery loaded the bases on a walk to North’s Leandro Perez, before making the game-winning defensive play.

“They’re a good team, but it’s always good to sweep the city series and get the W against our crosstown rivals,” said Corkery.

MORE PHOTOS

South’s Dustin Whittaker (9) makes a play at second base. The team’s infield defense has been a point of pride for coach Alex Klapes all season. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

Newton South’s Dustin Whittaker (9) gets the eyeblack treatment ahead of a game against Newton North on May 9, 2026. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

South’s Max Schwager (3) steps up to the plate. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

North’s Daniel Lamphere (10) watches South warm up ahead of the game. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

South jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but had to hang on for the win. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

Sam Congdon (16) delivers a pitch. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

Jonny Hunt (8) kicks and deals. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

“We have a quiet confidence going on right now,” said Lions head coach Alex Klapes. The win over North was the Lions’ eighth victory in a row. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

The North dugout watches Leo DiMattia (19) at bat. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

First baseman CJ O’Toole (5) makes the grab for the final out of the game. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

Newton South players celebrate after defeating Newton North 2-1 in a baseball game on May 9, 2026. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon