Palmerton’s baseball team played it very clever for nearly six innings Monday afternoon in a Colonial League showdown against Northwestern.

The Blue Bombers approach reminds one of a Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament player — bluff, bluff and bluff, and when the stakes are high pull out your best card and sweep the pot.

Palmerton was playing it close to the vest even while the Tigers were blasting out to an early lead, but before things were finally settled, it was the visitors who rolled out the trump card.

In an impressive display of hit the ball, run the bases, and pitch well enough, Palmerton roared to a 14-5 victory. The Bombers clubbed out 13 hits led by Jake Taschler and Zack Silfies, who both had three hits.

Palmerton roughed up starting pitcher Mason Vogwill. Although, the way the Tigers’ right-hander started, it sure looked like it was going to be a tough day at the plate for Palmerton.

Despite Vogwill’s comand during the first four innings, Palmerton skipper Brian Taschler wasn’t worried.

“We’re battlers up-and-down the lineup,” said Taschler, who saw his team clinch a District 11 playoff berth with the win. “This team finds a way to get it done. It doesn’t matter if we’re down 10 runs, were coming to the plate to hit the ball. That’s our attitude. It’s all about attitude and how you approach your at-bats.”

Also impressive was the pitching effort of the Bombers’ Brody Behler. Early in the game, Behler was like a neon sign — he was lit up twice for home runs. The first was a solo shot with two outs in the bottom of the first by Ty Wiik. Derek Holmes followed that with a blast of his own.

The Tigers added two more runs in the third, getting hits off the bats of Jake Haas, and an infield bleeder from Ray Perich to take a 4-0 lead.

“Brody is such a quality pitcher, he just dug in,” said Taschler about the way his pitcher bounced back from the rough start. His ERA was 0.68 before today.”

As Behler began to settle down on the mound, the Palmerton bats began to wake up.

Palmerton started its accent with a two-run outburst in the fifth using three walks and a two-run single from Selfies.

The Bombers then flashed a full house in the sixth, exploding for eight runs.

Jake Taschler, son of the manager, fueled the rally with two hits in the inning.

“I’m just so glad we won,” said the first baseman. “I didn’t have a good at-bat my first time up, I really wasn’t seeing it well. But I finally got my eye.”

Six hits were collected in the sixth-inning uprising. In addition to Taschler, Roe doubled in two runs, Ben Serfass plated two runners with a single, and Rick Baumgardt and Reis also hit safely.

“Vogwill started to tire some and they started hitting it better,” said Northwestern manager Duran Porrino. “Their hitters made the adjustments and they made us throw strikes. It’s a testament to them … they weren’t over anxious.”

HONESTY THE BEST POLICY … Holmes’ home run was at first thought to be a ground-rule double. But Palmerton’s fielder Silfies told base umpire Frankie DeAngelo it went over the fence. “That’s a great tribute to that young man,” said plate umpire Rick Bennett.

BATTLING … Behler finished with 101 pitches 58 were strikes. He allowed five earned runs. Vogwill had command until the fifth and sixth innings as his pitch count rose. He threw 88 pitches in the first five innings, before leaving in the sixth after 100-plus pitches.

AT THE PLATE … There were a total of seven extra-base hits on the game — five from the winnings side. Haas, Wiik and Holmes had two hits apiece for NW. Palmerton missed out on a chance to score in the fourth when Silfies and Burnett singled with no outs and Taschler drew a two-out walk, but they came up empty.

Palmerton 000 028 4 - 14 13 1

Northwestern 202 010 0 - 5 8 0

Behler, King (7) and Burnett; Vogwill, White (5), Holmes (6), DeLong (7) and Wiik. W - Behler L - Vogwill.