OREFIELD — Pitching and defense are two facets of the game of baseball that are key to bringing home a “W.”

If a team does those two things well on a consistent basis, then its chances of being a successful ball club are pretty good.

On Friday night in the Lehigh Valley Legion winner’s bracket semifinals, No. 2 seed North Parkland and No. 3 seed Carbon — both successful ballclubs on the season — did just that, playing good defense behind good pitching efforts.

But it was North Parkland that was just a little bit better in those two departments, coming away with a 2-0 victory to advance to the winner’s bracket final.

“Our kids hung in there today against a good team and a good pitcher,” said North Parkland head coach Terry Stoudt. “We came through with important hits in key situations, and we hit the ball hard. I was happy with how we hit the ball. It was a well-played game on both ends. We just got a few more hits.”

As the final score indicated, runs did not come easy in this one, so it was big for the Buffaloes when they got on the board early in the bottom of the first. Phil Shock started off the inning with a single and A.J. Brosious followed with another single. A sacrifice fly by Austin Imler brought in Shock and gave North Parkland a 1-0 lead.

It was North Parkland’s early offense that gained the lead, but it was pitcher Collin Duff that kept it. Duff gave up a leadoff hit to Jake Taras to start the first, but then didn’t surrender another hit until the fourth. He went six scoreless innings, giving up just four hits and striking out seven.

“Collin is a good pitcher, he did the job tonight, kept them off balanced, threw strikes and the defense did its job behind him,” said Stoudt.

Carbon pitcher Bradley Buzzard also had a nice night from the mound, pitching five strongframes, giving up two runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

The Monarchs just couldn’t get the hit they needed when the opportunity presented itself. Carbon’s best chance came in the sixth with runners on first and second with no outs, but Duff was able to get out of the inning unscathed, getting two Monarchs batters to strike out and one to foul one back to the catcher.

“Bradley pitched a good game, there were just a few situational things hitting-wise where we didn’t come through,” said Carbon head coach Donnie Rehrig. “A pick-off play that resulted in an out in the first, and when we had runners on first and second in the sixth we just couldn’t get a bunt down. But hey, that’s baseball.

“We always play those guys tough, we just can’t get over the hump against them. But we have to move on. It’s lose and go home now, so we have to come back tomorrow night focused.”

NEXT UP ... North Parkland advances to the winner’s bracket final against South Parkland, while Carbon heads to the loser’s bracket. The Monarchs play Emmaus today at 5:30 p.m.

STILL ALIVE ... The Monarchs are still alive. If they can win their next two games, they will advance to the Lehigh Valley Legion Championship on Monday.

Carbon 000 000 0 - 0 4 1

N. Parkland 100 001 x - 2 6 0

Buzzard, Frank (6) and Taras; Duff and Imler. W - Duff. L - Buzzard.