ALLENTOWN — Erich Klein’s voice bellowed across the field.

“Keep digging!”

The message was received as loud as it was delivered.

Klein watched his Northern Valley squad erase a five-run deficit to claim an 8-6 victory over South Parkland in the Lehigh Valley Senior Connie Mack semifinals on Friday night.

“I’m very lucky that I have players that don’t want to quit,” said Klein. “Every kid here. From the kids on the bench to the kids on the field. I have Watson Church, Brayden Buskirk, Cannon Fitch, they’ve been playing with me since eighth grade, and they wanted to come back for one more year. They love playing together.

“And you saw tonight, it’s never over till it’s over. Effort is free, and I have a great group of kids that just wouldn’t quit. They’re great kids with great parents behind them, too.”

Klein’s passionate plea to his team came after Fitch delivered a two-out game-tying single in the top of the fourth inning to erase what was a 6-1 deficit.

“If anyone’s name is called, we all can just step up and make plays, and get some hits,” said Fitch.

That mentality was present in the top of the sixth, as Coy Daubert led off with a single and moved into scoring position on a bunt by Jayden Christman. Buskirk followed with a go-ahead double to left field to score Daubert and give Northern Valley (17-2) its first lead since the top of the second inning.

The Chargers added an insurance run when Church reached on an error with two outs, and courtesy runner Christopher Vargas came around to score to make it 8-6.

“We’ve always been a fighting team,” said Church, who walked and scored a run. “No matter what, we always battle back to try to find ways to pull out a win somehow.”

South Parkland (16-3) threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning when Riley Zimmerman opened the frame with a single. But Christman got Andrew Bowser to hit into a 6-4-3 double play, with shortstop Cole Dynda making the turn to second baseman Daubert who fired to first baseman Parker Schaffer to turn two.

Benjamin Taylor reached on a single, and Carter Wanamaker got on via an error, moving Taylor to third base.

But Christman got a groundout to end the threat and keep the 8-6 lead intact.

Christman, who allowed just two hits in three innings of relief and earned the win, finished the contest with a 1-2-3 seventh inning to send the Chargers to the championship game.

After Northern Valley took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI single by Schaffer to score Vargas, South Parkland scored six runs in the bottom of the inning.

But the Chargers chipped away, scoring two runs in the top of the third on RBI hits from Kaden Moyer and Landen Cougle to make it 6-3.

A pair of leadoff walks from Christman and Daubert started the rally in the top of the fourth. Landon Rosado reached on an error with one out that allowed Christman to score.

Buskirk scored from third on a balk call with two outs to make it a one-run game and move Rosado to third.

Fitch didn’t flinch when he had the chance to tie it, lining a ball to center for a base hit.

“We just try to find a pitch to hit and put the bat on the ball,” said Buskirk.

It’s worked often for Northern Valley this season, which will now play for a Senior Connie Mack title.

“It’s just good to make it this far, because we haven’t made it this far in 15 years,” said Buskirk. “This is our last season of Connie Mack, so it’s a good feeling.”

TITLE TIME ... Northern Valley will travel to Southern Lehigh (18-1) today at 4 p.m. in the championship game. Southern Lehigh topped Nazareth 5-4 on a two-out walk-off hit with the score tied 4-4 in the other semi Friday. Northern Valley beat Southern Lehigh 9-3 on June 7.

HITTERS ... Fitch finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Buskirk added a pair of hits, scored twice and had an RBI. Zimmerman finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for South Parkland, while Delong added a pair of hits and scored once.

Northern V. 012 302 0 - 8 10 4

S. Parkland 060 000 0 - 6 7 4

Dynda, Christman (5) and Buskirk; Wanamaker, Taylor (4) and Marsteller. W - Christman. L - Taylor.