LIMEPORT - Northwestern came into the St. Luke’s High School Baseball Tournament as one of the favorites based on the depth of its pitching staff and an above average offensive lineup.

On Monday, the Tigers showed off both weapons as they opened the tournament with a 15-1 win over Salisbury that was highlighted by a 10-run sixth inning.

Carter Welch dominated on the mound, going five innings and allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out 11 of the 16 Falcons batters that he faced. Even with staggering heat, Welch appeared to be throwing as hard in the fifth inning as he did in the first, and finished by striking out eight of the last 10 batters that he faced.

“The heat didn’t really bother me,” said Welch. “I just tried to work quick, keep my pitch count low and throw strikes. A lot of it was just adrenaline; it’s nice to be back out on the field and be pitching again.”

After one inning, it appeared that Welch and Salisbury’s Tim Schware would be locked in a pitcher’s duel. Northwestern put runners on second and third with one out in the second, but Schware rebounded to strike out the next two batters to end the threat. In the third inning, the Salisbury defense unraveled as it committed two of its nine errors leading to two runs, which were driven in by Nate Goodolf’s one-out single followed by Rafe Perich’s RBI double.

Perich finished the day 4-for-5 with a single, two doubles and a triple. He drove in five runs and scored three times. In the 10-run sixth inning, Perich delivered a two-run triple that bounced off the light pole that is in play in right field. Another Salisbury error on the throw to third allowed Perich to come home. In his second at-bat of the inning, Perich doubled to left-center field to drive in two runs, and then scored on Nate Henry’s double for the last run of the inning.

“Rafe is one of those guys who is ready to go anytime, anywhere,” said coach Doran Porrino. “He’s going to help us with his bat, and when he takes his turn on the mound, too. I’m glad that he’s only going to be a junior, and we’ll have him for another season.”

Northwestern had built up a 5-0 lead through the first five innings until its sixth-inning outburst when it sent 14 batters to the place, collecting eight hits and having one hit by a pitch. The inning was helped along by three Falcon errors.

Porrino appeared to hit all of the right buttons as he mixed players into the game. Aidan Remaley pinch-hit in the fifth inning and worked a bases-loaded walk and later, reached on an error and drew a second walk. Matt Dunstan pinch-hit in the sixth and delivered an RBI triple to right field before Porrino sent up another pinch-hitter in Derek Hebelka, who drove in Dunstan with an RBI single. Tyler Stasko pinch-hit an inning later and walked.

Vinny Castrine came on for Welch in the sixth and allowed one run on three hits.

With the Tigers up 15-1 and having the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, the game was ended by a mutual decision of the two coaches.

“For the seniors, this is a last chance to play with their teammates,” noted Porrino. “At the same time though, we want to use this to see what we have for the spring of 2021, so obviously, we’re excited at what we saw today.”

THE COMING SCHEDULE … Northwestern finishes off its pool play portion of the tournament on Wednesday with games against Saucon Valley (4 p.m.) and Emmaus (7 p.m.). The top two teams from each of the eight pools will advance to the playoffs, which begin Friday. Sunday’s semifinals and Monday’s championship game will all be played at Coca-Cola Park.

THAT’S THE RULE … Perich’s ball that hit off the light pole in right field would have easily carried over the fence for a home run, but, since the pole is in front of the fence, it is considered in play and unless the ball goes directly over the fence after hitting the light pole, the ball is in play. Perich appeared to think the ball was a home run, which prevented him from picking up an inside-the-park home run.

Northwestern 002 12 (10) 0 - 15 12 2

Salisbury 000 001 X - 1 5 9

Welch, Castrine (6) and Kensinger; Schware, Haas (5), Kuhns (5), Madera (6), Negron (7) and Warmkessel. W-Welch, L-Schware.