The thought of pitching when temperatures are in the 90s is unreal.

The idea of throwing 100 pitches in those kind of conditions is even more amazing.

On Monday, Palmerton’s Brady Reph dealt with the oppressive heat better than could be expected and led Palmerton to a 9-4 victory over Northampton in the opening round of the Lehigh Valley Senior Connie Mack playoffs.

Reph allowed six hits in his complete-game effort, walked two and gave up only one earned run while striking out seven.

“It was very hot,” said Reph, who ended with 101 pitches, 67 for strikes. “I didn’t have much left. I gave it my all at the end. That last pitch I gave it all I had.

“My fastball was my best pitch today. It’s my go-to pitch. My team was there to help on offense. That helped a lot scoring a whole bunch of runs.”

Reph was actually staring at a loss after three innings, as Northampton scored unearned runs in both the second and third to grab a 2-0 lead.

But the Bombers knotted the score with a pair of runs in the fourth, and then exploded for six more in the fifth to take control.

“We’ll have a very stagnant offense and then we’ll come out and score seven or eight,” said coach Randan Solt. “That’s just living our season. I think that’s the biggest thing, is knowing when we’re down multiple runs we can make it happen. We’re never out of the game.”

Gaige McGowan and Reph had back-to-back singles to start the fourth-inning rally, while Jared Grammes walked to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed one run to cross and a ground out by Corey Serfass plated the tying run.

“I think we hit very well, and we also create runs when we get on base,” said Solt. “It’s just a matter of how we get on base. I think the way we run the basepaths is efficient. We’re trying to always create runs, even without getting hits.

“That’s our No. 1 goal, to always try to find a way to get runs and I think we do a great job of battling when we aren’t getting hits. When we get hits, that’s when we become dangerous.”

Solt’s club created plenty of runs in the fifth. Palmerton loaded the bases with one out before McGowan drilled a single to left to score two runs. An error on the left fielder allowed a third run to sprint home. Grammes doubled in McGowan while Lucian Sterling added an RBI single.

That was more than enough for Reph.

“I think he did a great job today,” said Solt. “It’s not easy to go seven (innings) in 100 (degrees). It was a great job, he threw a lot of strikes, not a lot of walks, and that’s what we needed.”

“He threw a gem,” said Northampton coach Bill Hughes. “(Our starter, Gavin Caravello) was throwing efficiently ... but I think the heat got to him. You’re out there, the catchers and pitchers are out there working in the heat and it becomes tough.”

BIG HITTERS ... McGowan finished with a pair of hits, scored twice and knocked in two for the Bombers, while Serfass added a pair of hits, two stolen bases, a run and an RBI. Eight different players scored runs for the winners, while every one in the lineup reached base. Northampton received a pair of hits and an RBI from Cody Reimer.

MOVING ON ... Palmerton advances to the next round in the single-elimination tournament. It will play again Wednesday at South Parkland at 5:30 p.m.

RECORDS ... The Bombers are now 11-7, while Northampton ends the season with a 9-9 mark.

Northampton 011 001 1 - 4 6 3

Palmerton 000 261 x - 9 8 3

Caravello, Hughes (5), Basara (6) and Knechel; Reph and Ahner. W - Reph. L - Hughes.