MANCHESTER — Dillon Emerson put the past behind him and struck the NHIAA Division I championship-winning walk-off hit with one-out in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving top-seeded Concord a dramatic 5-4 win over a gritty third-seeded Merrimack squad Saturday at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.

The senior first baseman was hitless in his previous four trips to the plate when he singled a full-count pitch down the right field line, plating Pat Cannon to give Concord (18-4), the 2011 runner-up, its first baseball championship since 1980.

Emerson struck out with a runner on second in the first and third innings, popped up with two runners aboard in the fifth and made the final out with a runner on board in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Success in baseball requires present-tense thinking.

“I was in the dugout upset over all the missed opportunities I had when coach (Scott Owen) came up to me and said, 'Stick with it. You'll get your at bat and you'll come through.' He was right,” said Emerson after knocking in his 20th run of the season.

“It's what you do when it matters most that counts,” said Owen.

Facing one of the stingiest defenses in the state, the Crimson Tide eliminated an early three-run deficit, tied the game in the bottom of the sixth and won it in extra innings, Concord's five-run tally was two more runs than Merrimack's past 13 opponents managed, combined.

“We aren't the best hitting team in the state for nothing,” said Graham McIntire, who contributed three hits and three RBIs and picked up the win in relief of starting pitcher Eddie Dionne. Concord entered the game with a .356 team batting average.

Concord had a shot for a walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh. McIntire lofted a double over center fielder Jackson King's head with Eddie Dionne on first. King relayed a strike to Taylor Black who one-bounced a perfect throw to the plate, cutting down Dionne at the plate when catcher Mickey Gasper held onto the ball in a collision.

“I knew the ball was over my head and for a split-second I thought (the hit) might win the game,” said King. “But I got to the ball and we made the out.”

Two Tomahawks (16-6) scored in the top of the first when Tim Michaud caromed a single of pitcher Dionne's legs and past the second baseman. Michaud's RBI single scored leadoff hitter Ian Theriault in the third.

“I didn't have good stuff today,” said Dionne. The righty struck out five and allowed six hits in seven innings of work. “I wasn't thinking about them scoring runs. I was worrying about the future, thinking about my next pitch.''

Concord shortstop McIntire made sure Merrimack wouldn't collect its 13th shutout of the season by stroking a 2-0 fastball to right, plating Ben Bengston and Alex Bashio, cutting the deficit to one after three innings of play.

Merrimack southpaw Tom Hudon helped his cause, stroking the first pitch sent his way to score Theriault in the fifth inning. It was the Merrimack second baseman's third run scored.

“It was a great game. It was an honor to be a part of it. (Concord) hit the ball better than we did. They've been doing that all season and that's why they're here,” said Hudon, who struck out four and conceded seven runs in seven innings.

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Eric Emmerling may be reached at eemmerling@unionleader.com.