BETHLEHEM - Halfway through the regular season, Northern Valley Connie Mack head coach Eric Klein wasn't sure what direction his team was headed.

The Chargers were 5-5 and the young team appeared to be in limbo."We spoke to them at the time," recalled Klein about his team's former state. "We're a young team and we needed some time to get it together. We let them know that even though 12 teams make the playoffs, there are no guarantees that we will be there.""But they started hitting the ball and running the bases. We started to come together as a team."The result was a sizzling streak in which the Chargers won 10 of their next 12 games, beating Northeast Bethlehem and Nazareth in the league playoffs. It lifted the Chargers into the league semifinals against Bethlehem Catholi Saturday afternoon in a game that was scheduled Friday, but postponed by rain.However, the Chargers' run was temporarily diffused as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Golden Hawks.Becahi's Robert Church and Anthony Idelicato limited the Chargers to five hits in a 2-1 eighth-inning victory.Northern Valley's Luke Eitner started the game and recorded four strikeouts over six innings. Ryan King tossed the final two innings and notched a pair of strikeouts. Jack Turner accounted for the Chargers' RBI."Becahi is a really good team," said Klein. "We had runners in scoring position, but we just couldn't get our bats going. I think the rain hurt us and we had two players missing from our lineup due to vacations. But that's not an excuse and every other team is likely in the same boat."We still won two games in the tournament and had a very good run. It just took us some time to get our chemistry. We jelled at the right time. That's what I like about summer ball. You get some new faces together and then watch them grow along the way."Klein is optimistic his team can generate another streak over the next week. His players apparently feel the same way."I had four or five players ask me if we could practice twice before the next game," said Klein. "Usually, kids don't want to practice. But we have a special group here that has really put it all together."We reached our main goal by getting to the state tournament. We're playing good baseball and doing the right things. It's time to go on another run."ON TO STATES ... Northern Valley's season will continue as it will advance to the State Connie Mack Tournament that begins Thursday in Limeport. The Chargers (15-7) will meet Nazareth in their double-elimination tournament opener Friday at 7:30 p.m. Northern Valley routed Nazareth, 12-3, in the second-round Lehigh Valley Connie Mack playoff game last Wednesday.STATE FORMAT ... The state tournament consists of teams from just two leagues - the Lehigh Valley and the Bux-Mont. Lehigh Valley sends eight teams to states while Bux-Mont sends four. Those teams will compete in a double-elimination tourney.Northern Vy. 100 000 00 - 1 5 2Beth. Cath. 010 000 01 - 2 9 1W-A. Indelicato L- R. King.