Baseball purists would likely appreciate this style of play: pitching, clutch hitting, sacrifices and double plays.

Indeed, it was an old-fashioned baseball game Tuesday at Mount Olympias.

The Colonial League battle came down to the wire before Northwestern Lehigh pulled out a 6-4, extra-inning victory that ended in dramatic fashion.

The Tigers needed a two-run rally in the top of the eighth inning to move in front.

The Olympians were pressing hard and loaded the bases with one out. With the way they were swinging the bats late, they seemed ready to answer again.

But the Tigers stayed steady and turned a game-ending double play that bailed out winning pitcher Cole Dynda, who went all eight innings.

Dynda was dominant early, nearly perfect through four innings. He held Jim Thorpe without a hit or baserunner until a one-out walk to Noah Pastor.

But Northwestern Lehigh turned a big-league double play, as second baseman Ethan Konyak started it, throwing to shortstop Cannon Fitch, who relayed to first baseman Tanner Fronina to end the inning.

It was the first of two double plays for the Tigers.

“I can’t thank the defense behind me, enough.” Dynda said.

Dynda also had help from his offense in the eighth.

After Jim Thorpe tied the game at 4-4 and forced extra innings, Northwestern Lehigh started its rally with back-to-back singles by Konyak and Dynda. Manager Brian Polaha then called for cleanup hitter Mark Shafer, who had singled in the sixth, to lay down a sacrifice bunt, moving both runners into scoring position.

Devin Rex followed and drove the second pitch he saw to center field for the game-winning hit.

“The first pitch, I didn’t like it,” Rex admitted. “I was looking to hit the ball to right center and I hit it to dead center. They’re a good ball club, our defense didn’t play great (late).”

Dynda returned to the mound in the bottom of the eighth after Polaha left him in despite briefly considering a change.

“His pitch count wasn’t bad, he’s our guy, I thought about pulling him,” Polaha said. “I trust him, and he said he didn’t want to come out.”

Jim Thorpe nearly spoiled the finish, loading the bases with one out. After Dynda struck out the leadoff batter, Noah Pastor singled, Brody Schrantz walked and Michael Antignani singled to left to load the bases.

But Northwestern Lehigh turned its second double play of the game, going second to short to first to end the threat.

“That was such a great play by everyone, I almost wanted our shortstop (Fitch) not to throw it, because the ball was hit so slow, but (Fitch) said to me afterward that he just threw it as hard as he could,” Polaha said.

The Tigers built an early lead behind Dynda, and opportunistic offense. They went up 1-0, extended it to 3-1 and later led 4-1.

However, Northwestern Lehigh left several runners on base early, stranding two in the first, two in the second, one in the third and three in the fourth. The Tigers scored in the second without a hit, taking advantage of an error, then added two runs in the fifth on a Dynda single, an errant pickoff attempt and two walks.

“We made too many mistakes, and that set us back,” Jim Thorpe coach Joe Marykwas said. “Had we played better and smarter, it is a (scoreless) game. But this is baseball, and we will learn.”

Jim Thorpe rallied in the fifth when Kade Hess hit a double and Tyler Hoherchak added an RBI single. In the seventh, the Olympians scored three times to tie the game. Michael Antignani walked, Hess delivered an RBI hit, Hoherchak added a run-scoring double, and Nathan Frantz capped the rally with an RBI double.

“Cole was having some location issues in that inning,” Dynda’s battery mate Lucian Sterling said.

Dynda regrouped and finished strong, even after Jim Thorpe loaded the bases again in the eighth before the game-ending double play.

GAMER ... Northwestern Lehigh’s defense made the difference. Turning two 4-6-3 double plays in a high school game is rare and requires timing and practice.

LEATHER GOODS ... Both teams made strong defensive plays. Rex also made a highlight-reel play at third base in the second inning to rob Zach Murphy of a hit.

BY THE NUMBERS ... Both teams finished with seven hits. Dynda had three singles. Hess and Hoherchak each had a single and double for Jim Thorpe.

TOSSES ... Dynda struck out nine and said his slider was his go-to pitch. Jim Thorpe used three pitchers, combining for seven strikeouts and six walks.

Northwestern 010 020 12 - 6 7 0

Jim Thorpe 000 010 30 - 4 7 3

Dynda and Sterling; Schrantz, Hoherchak (5) and Murphy. W - Dynda. L - Hoherchak.