Championship teams know how to grind out victories. Not everything will always go a squad’s way, but how that bunch handles adversity can set it apart from the rest.

On Wednesday afternoon, in a Colonial League showdown with rival Palmerton, Northwestern Lehigh showed why it’s the defending District 11 4A champs.

The Tigers (10-2, 8-1 CL) never quit, trailing numerous times, but fought back in the seventh inning to come away with a 4-3 win over the Bombers.

Most of the deciding runs were not scored in conventional fashion.

Fast forward to the top of the third inning with Northwestern (10-2) trailing by a run.

The Tigers loaded the bases with one out for Nick Henry, who hit a sacrifice fly center to score Carter Welch. When the throw home to try and get Welch was wild, Rafe Perich also scored. Palmerton pitcher Ryan King managed to get out of the inning after he retired the next batter.

But the damage was already done with Northwestern leading 2-1, heading into the bottom half of the third.

“At times this year, I don’t think we’ve played championship baseball, but we’re fighting and clawing when we’ve made mistakes, and we’re winning ball games,” said Tigers head coach Duran Porrino. “I think a big part of that is our senior leadership and the fact that our guys don’t get negative attitudes. When things aren’t going right, a lot of teams will get negative; our guys are great at staying positive.”

The Tigers certainly needed to stay positive in the fifth as the Bombers (7-5) reclaimed the lead by one (3-2) after a strange turn of events. Ben Serfass and Tanner Burnett reached base on singles, with Serfass scoring in the inning on a throwing error, and Burnett on an Eric Nothstein strikeout that was dropped by the catcher. On third at the time of the strikeout, Burnett challenged the Tigers’ catcher and when the throw went to third, he was able to scamper home to give the Bombers the one-run advantage.

But much as it has throughout the season, Northwestern was able to answer. Consecutive bunt attempts by the Tigers’ Nathan Goodolf and Connor Snyder were mishandled by the Palmerton first baseman, allowing them to reach base. A single by Welch brought in Snyder, but the play was once again mishandled, this time in left field as Goodolf advanced to third on the error. A sacrifice fly to center by Perich then brought in Goodolf to give Northwestern the lead.

The bottom of the seventh looked like it could be a possible game-winning inning for the Bombers, as they threatened with two on and just one out. But a lineout back to the pitcher produced a game-ending double play.

“Any time you can get the leadoff guy, you give yourself a chance, and that was huge. Going into any late-game situation down just a run I feel really good about that. We have the guys that can bunt and hustle to the bag,” said Porrino. “This was a playoff-type atmosphere here today, we faced a good pitcher, the best we’ve seen all year, and we were able to come away with the win.”

LEADERS

... Welch had four hits on the day for Northwestern, while Serfass and Burnett had two each for the Bombers.

KING OF THE HILL

... Despite the loss, King was great on the day for the Bombers. He struck out seven, walked just one, and gave up two runs in seven innings.

Northwestern 002 000 2 - 4 8 3

Palmerton 100 020 0 - 3 6 4

Castrine, Welch (5), Perich (7) and Holmes; King and Burnett. W - Welch. L - King.