Salem National is making a pitch for a deep tournament run, hoping to ride its duo of strong arms past the semifinals of the Little League 11- and 12-year-old District 1 tournament.

The locals outlasted Auburn, 4-2, in the first round of the bracket on June 29 to earn a match up with Hooksett. Salem won the baseball game, 5-4, on Wednesday, July 1.

After its second-round victory, National cruised into the semifinals on Friday, July 3, by pounding Bow, 11-1, to set up a home contest with Bedford that was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 8.

A win sends the team to the winners’ bracket finals on Saturday, July 11.

John Cerretani allowed just one run in the two games he pitched so far this summer for National, while Jeremy Bagley held Hooksett down long enough to help set his team up for a dramatic win.

With the score tied at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning, leadoff hitter Ricky Covino blasted a ball off the base of the foul pole in right field for an RBI double that provided the difference against Hooksett.

“Their ability to pick up on the execution things we’ve been doing has been a huge surprise to me,” said manager Paul Soucy. “So far it’s been pitching and timely hitting that have been huge for us.”

Covino also added a home run in the first round against Auburn, and John Cerretani jolted a home run in the tilt with Hooksett before contributing two doubles in the win over Bow.

Salem’s defense has also been a critical factor, with right fielder Kenny Calabrese backing up an overthrow and gunning down a Hooksett base runner attempting to scamper back to first late in the game.