OREFIELD — Sometimes, a pitcher can get into the heads of hitters.

Cole Hubert has done that to many hitters around the area over the past four seasons, and had thrown shutouts against Northwestern the last two times he faced them.

In last year’s district quarterfinals, the Saucon Valley left-hander allowed only two hits and during the regular season this year, he allowed just one hit.

As luck — or misfortune — would have it, the Tigers had to face Hubert again in this year’s district semifinals, but they quickly kicked him out of their heads and went on to beat Saucon Valley 2-0 at Parkland High School on Sunday to advance to the district finals on Wednesday.

A key was getting to Hubert early, and the Tigers did exactly that.

Hubert had not pitched since throwing a no-hitter against Pen Argyl on May 10 in the wildcard round of the Colonial League playoffs. With a little rust having accumulated, Hubert walked leadoff hitter Eli Zimmerman to open the bottom of the first.

Zimmerman then stole second and Cannon Fitch, who had the only hit against Hubert earlier in the season, hit a line drive to right that scored Zimmerman. The throw home was wild, and Fitch alertly went to second on the throw. The rust continued to bother Hubert, who threw two wild pitches that brought Fitch home with the second run of the inning for the Tigers.

“He’s a great pitcher, obviously,” said Fitch of the Texas A&M recruit. “I just try to get my toe down early to attack the fastball and it helped.”

Thanks to the pitching of Aidan Freeman, the two runs would be all Northwestern (19-5) needed. Freeman needed just 86 pitches, and allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out six batters to get the win. At one point, Freeman recorded 11 straight outs.

Northwestern hitters showed discipline at the plate and forced Hubert to throw 110 pitches in six innings. Hubert struck out 12 hitters, including recording his first eight outs on strikeouts.

“I knew I just had to throw strikes, stick to the game plan, and pitch the best that I could and try to outduel him,” said Freeman of his approach to the game. “My two-seamer worked for me today, I was able to get inside on the lefties, and outside on the righties, and got them out in front and chasing a little bit.”

Hubert retired 13 of the last 14 hitters he faced, but Northwestern was still able to threaten in the fifth. Shane Hulmes led off with a walk to snap a streak of seven straight retired by Hubert and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brady Zimmerman. Eli Zimmerman grounded a ball to third and third baseman Chase Luckenbach elected to get the out at first rather than try to get Hulmes, who had wandered off second.

As Luckenbach released the throw, Hulmes moved to third while the second out was recorded at first. Hubert got a pop-up to end the inning and keep the game 2-0.

Freeman allowed just two runners to reach scoring position, and both got there with two outs in the inning. Andrew Gilbert delivered a two-out double in the first inning and Noah Hubert then walked, but Freeman struck out Carter Bidwell to keep the Panthers (15-7) off the board.

In the fifth, Freeman issued a one-out walk to Zak Ziegler and one out later, Frank DiRusso singled to put runners on first and second with two outs, before a fielder’s choice ended the inning.

The Tigers have had some ups and downs throughout the season, but have played well down the stretch and in the postseason to play for a district championship.

“We always stayed focused,” said Fitch. “Early in the season we were hitting really well and then we struggled a little bit, but recently we have had some life in our bats and we hope to keep hitting and improving.”

Freeman was helped by timely fielding behind him. Second baseman Josh Farber turned in the defensive play of the game for the Tigers when he ranged into the outfield grass and made an acrobatic catch on a short fly ball by DiRusso to start the third inning.

“Errors were going to kill us today, so we talked a lot about that,” said coach Brian Polaha.

“Cole Dynda made a nice play at short and that pop-up that Farber caught was a good play, and we needed that today.”

WHO ARE YOU? ... Northwestern will now have to face an unfamiliar foe in Tamaqua for the district championship. The Blue Raiders won the Schuylkill League, which automatically gave them the top seed in 4A and left Northwestern as the second seed. Tamaqua used top pitcher Mason Ligenza against Bethlehem Catholic in the semifinals, and he threw 107 pitches, meaning he will be unavailable for the championship game, as will Freeman.

Saucon Vy. 000 000 0 - 0 4 1

N’western 200 000 x - 2 1 0

C. Hubert and Male; Freeman and Fitch. W - Freeman. L - C. Hubert.

Records: Saucon Valley (15-7); Northwestern (19-5).