MIDLAND PARK − While heading to Midland Park High School the morning of June 5, Connor Detrick had a premonition of sorts.

That evening, the Panthers’ baseball team had its first sectional-championship trophy firmly in grasp.

Behind Detrick’s two-hit shutout, No. 2 seed Midland Park edged No. 4 Wallkill Valley, 1-0, in Thursday’s North 1, Group 1 final.

“We’re walking to school, and he goes, ‘Hey, just get me one today’,” said fellow senior Ryan Fleming, who scored the lone run. “I said, ‘Alright, we’re going to get you more. But if one’s all you need, then let’s do it’.”

Detrick (8-3) confirmed the story: “He didn’t want to believe me, but I said it like six times to him.”

The source of the right-hander’s confidence?

“I think it’s just trust,” he said. “Trust in my stuff and trust in my guys.”

What it means

Midland Park (20-8-1) will host a Group 1 state semifinal on June 9 against North 2, Group 1 sectional champion Brearley (15-9).

The victory was the Panthers’ fifth in a row since a four-game losing streak changed the trajectory of their season. The skid culminated with losses in the May 23 Bergen Invitational Tournament final and their May 24 NJIC Patriot finale at Cresskill.

The latter gave the Cougars (7-3 in division) the title by one-half game over Midland Park (6-3-1).

“They got hot, and they beat us fair and square,” Panthers coach Frank Clark said. “And when we got back to the school that day, we said no one’s going to feel sorry for us. We have to find a way [to regroup] somehow.”

Wallkill Valley (17-7) came up one run short just one day after the 20-year anniversary of its last sectional title – 1-0 over Pequannock in the 2005 North 1, Group 2 final.

Key offensive play

Fleming led off the game with an infield single. The shortstop stole second, went to third on a grounder and scored on Braiden Russell’s bouncer to short one play later.

Midland Park had a chance to add insurance in the sixth with Anthony Carrea on third following a double and a steal, but he was stranded.

Key defensive play

Wallkill Valley got a runner in scoring position in the top of the sixth, thanks to an error and a sac bunt. Detrick then coaxed a fly ball to right fielder Jason Vivino, who fired to Fleming to double off the runner at second base.

“All I saw was him throw the ball,” Detrick said. “I almost blacked out, I just couldn’t believe it.”

By the numbers

85: Number of pitches Detrick needed to complete his second playoff shutout. He walked only one and struck out four.

88: Pitches by Wallkill Valley starter Tyler Haberstroh, who allowed three hits, walked one and fanned six.

0-4: The Panthers’ record in sectional finals prior to this year. They were runner-up in this bracket in 1968, 2001 and 2012 and played their first final as a Group 2 school in 1963.

They said it

“It’s a blessing. To be known as the best team ever to come out of here, it’s something special as a senior and as a captain. I couldn’t be more proud of these guys, and there’s more to go. We’re not done yet.” — Fleming