Newburgh Free Academy’s football and basketball teams have celebrated plenty of sectional championships over the years. The baseball team, however, was suffering through a 16-year drought heading into Saturday’s Section 9 Class AA title game against top-seeded Monroe-Woodbury at Cantine Field in Saugerties.

All the seasons that had ended in disappointment were finally washed away as the Goldbacks posted an emphatic 11-3 title-clinching victory.

The outcome was never really in doubt after second-seeded NFA (16-4) scored six runs in the top of the first to knock out Crusaders’ starter Owen White, who entered the game with a 5-0 record and two saves.

Monroe-Woodbury (17-4) edged back to within 6-2 in the bottom of the fourth on David Sawoska’s RBI double off NFA starter Jake Lanzer.

All the suspense went out of the game, though, when the Goldbacks exploded for five runs in the top of the sixth to pad their advantage to 11-2.

Lanzer cruised the rest of the way, allowing only a solo homer by Fredrick Osasio in the bottom of the sixth to make it 11-3.

Lanzer closed it out in style with a 1-2-3 seventh inning, setting off a joyous NFA celebration near the mound where he had authored the complete game effort.

“It’s a great feeling to finally bring one home to Newburgh,” Lanzer said. “I had my team behind my back coming into the game. That was the most important thing. I knew we were going to put the bat on the ball and make a good effort in the field. I just went out there and did my job.”

Lanzer felt he had good command of all his pitches. He scattered seven hits and struck out seven. He only walked one batter and the free-swinging Crusaders seemed a little overanxious at the plate after falling into a 6-0 hole.

“The curveball was working pretty nice and I was able to locate the fastball on the outside corner pretty well,” he said.

NFA right fielder Jack Clifford, whose RBI double in the first inning was one of six extra base hits for the Goldbacks, said winning the school’s first Section 9 Class AA baseball title since 2005 was a dream come true.

“It really means a lot,” Clifford said. “This crew has put in the hours. We always stayed together as a team. And this (the championship) is what happens. Jake was great on the mound today. He always goes above and beyond. We can always count on him.”

Scott Seabury, the Goldbacks’ coach, said it was nice to see such a big turnout of Newburgh fans at the title clincher.

“This is what we’ve been working for,” Seabury said. “We have a lot of our alumni here. A lot of supporters. It’s all for them. The seniors who missed the whole season last year due to the pandemic are here today supporting us. It’s just a great feeling.”

Seabury was thrilled that the Goldbacks’ offense got off to a flying start by jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the top of first.

“It definitely relaxes you a little bit,” he said. “It puts the guys’ minds at ease. I’m sure there’s nerves all over the place at the start. But I knew Monroe was a really good team and they’re going to score, too. So I had to keep preaching to these guys to keep battling and keep the pedal on the gas because they’ll come back at some point.”

Newburgh shortstop Jaden Caballero opened the game with a slicing triple to right field and then Dylan Iorlano walked. NFA catcher Roberto Reade drove in both with a triple over the head of Crusaders’ center fielder Kyle McDermott for a quick 2-0 lead. Anthony Manzi kept it going with a walk to put runners on the corners.

Clifford’s double inside the left field line brought in Reade for a 3-0 lead. After Lanzer struck out swinging, Tyler Martin was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Manzi scored on an error to make it 4-0 and White walked Joe Ponesse to force in a run for a 5-0 lead.

Miguel Ramos relieved White and walked Iorlano to force in another run for a 6-0 NFA lead. Newburgh sent 12 batters to the plate before the inning ended.

Lanzer admitted it was comforting to take the mound with a 6-0 lead.

“Going into a game you’re always looking for a big start to the game,” he said. “For my teammates to put six runs on the board in the first inning, that’s all I could ask from them. I knew it was my time to go out there and do my job.”