ALLENTOWN — For Northwestern Lehigh, it all starts at the top.

The first four hitters in the lineup came through again Wednesday for the Tigers in the District 11 4A championship game at DeSales University. The four hitters have been on fire in districts, and delivered six more hits in a 7-2 win over Saucon Valley to win back-to-back district titles.

Last year’s championship also came against Saucon Valley, so the Panthers were determined to find some revenge.

With junior Matthew Chaffier starting for Saucon and senior Griffin Unrath on the mound for Northwestern, both teams put runners into scoring position in the opening inning.

Northwestern’s threat ended on a hard-hit line drive double play, while the Panthers saw their threat get stopped on a more traditional 4-6-3 double play.

Chaffier went on to retire nine of the next 11 hitters, but Unrath pitched his way out of a two-on, no-one out jam in the second. He again allowed a runner into scoring position in the third, but as if to taunt Saucon Valley, again pitched out of it with a strikeout to end the inning.

Saucon put two runners on with one out in the fourth, but coach Brian Polaha decided to skip the magic show and go to sophomore Jesse Neupauer.

Chaffier was the first to face Neupauer and got a sacrifice fly to put the Panthers up 1-0. After giving up a single to Noah Hubert, Neupauer found some magic of his own and got the final out of the inning on an infield pop-up.

“It was pretty nerve wracking to come in with runners on first and second; it gets a little tight,” admitted Neupauer. “They were able to get a ball through and get a run, so that put us at a disadvantage, but we were able to come back and get some runs.”

Chaffier came out looking for a shutdown inning, but never found it.

A fielding error opened the inning, and freshman catcher Evan Fatzinger was given the task of bunting pinch-runner Brady Krimmel over to second. With third baseman Jacob Eshelman charging in, Fatzinger positioned the ball between Eshelman and the mound and got it through to short for an infield single.

One out later, it was time for the top of the order to go to work.

Cannon Fitch and Ethan Konyak both drew walks, with Konyak’s pushing home Krimmel from third to tie the game. Cole Dynda then drove a long fly ball to left that scored two more runs to put Northwestern up 3-1.

Cleanup hitter Devin Rex grounded a single through the middle to score both Konyak and Dynda and pile on two more runs to cap the five-run inning.

“Cannon’s a great leadoff hitter, and any time he doesn’t get on, I look to get on for Dynda and Rex. When he is on, I just look to move him over,” said Konyak of his role hitting out of the second spot in the lineup.

“I’ve got to do my job in the second hole, and do my best to make this work.”

The foursome of Fitch, Konyak, Dynda and Rex finished the day with six hits, scored five runs, drove in four and had three doubles. In the three district playoff games, the first four hitters in the lineup hit .484 (15-31), with a home run by Rex.

They also drove in 10 runs, drew nine walks, were hit by pitches seven times, and stole four bases. They scored 16 of the 18 runs managed by the Tigers in the three games.

For an encore, Konyak delivered a two-out single to left, and Dynda and Rex each followed with RBI doubles for a 7-1 Northwestern advantage.

Neupauer allowed three hits and walked one over the final 3 2/3 innings, striking out four. He did allow a leadoff home run to Hubert in the seventh, but by then, it was too little, too late.

HOMECOMING ... With the win, Northwestern takes the lone PIAA bracket spot reserved for District 11 in 4A. It will face District 4 champion Holy Ghost Prep. The game will be played at Northwestern Lehigh High School on Monday afternoon. The official time has not been announced.

BLAME IT ON THE RAIN ... In the quarterfinals, Northwestern trailed Wilson 5-1 when the game was suspended because of rain. When the teams came back the next day to complete the game, the Tigers were a different team. Devin Rex homered in the come-from-behind 7-5 win that jump started Northwestern. “We just weren’t into that game and were just down. We came back the next day and won, and it was awesome,” said Konyak. “We’re still riding some energy from that, and we’ll take it into states.”

Northwestern 000 050 2 - 7 8 1

Saucon Valley 000 100 1 - 2 9 4

Unrath, Neupauer (4) and Fatzinger; Chaffier, DiRusso (7) and Banonis. W - Neupauer. L - Chaffier. HR: Saucon Valley - Hubert (7th, none on).

Records: Northwestern (16-9); Saucon Valley (19-4).