Baseball is a funny game.

In the blink of an eye, the Northern Valley Connie Mack baseball club went from being in control to being out of control.

While on a slippery slope after seizing an early three-run lead on Wednesday, the Chargers made a few miscues and found themselves in a hole.

But they found a way to beat back Hellertown 10-6 Thursday evening in a game that was suspended Wednesday in the top of the third inning and finished last night. Northern Valley advances to meet South Parkland today at 5:30 p.m.

The win sends the No 3-seed to the semifinal round, but it looked very precarious after Hellertown used a two-out rally in the top of the fifth to score five unearned runs.

“This is my 24th summer coaching baseball, with no kids on the team, I love it,” said Northern Valley manager Erich Klien. “These kids did everything that we teach them to do. We got great pitching, we got (patience) from our hitters when we needed it.”

The Chargers started Thursday’s game with a 4-1 lead, but a decisive fifth inning say Hellertown go ahead 6-4 only to see Northern Valley score six runs in the bottom of the frame.

The Chargers coaxed four walks and got timely hitting in the big fifth inning. Landon Rosardo drove in two runs in the rally with a bases-loaded single.

Watson Church had an infield single and the door-buster hit came from Cannon Fitch and drove in the final runs of the uprising.

“We got a great group of kids, a bunch of tenth graders that got cut by (their) high school team,” Klein explained. “They never quit, we had a bunch of last-inning comeback wins.”

Hellertown caught a huge break to take a brief lead it half of the fifth.

It started with a one-out walk to Mac Gilman and a single from Josiah Kuhns off relief pitcher Kayden Moyer.

Moyer, who looked totally on top of his game and in command, got a fly out, but a routine fly ball was dropped and the doors opened for Hellertown. The visitors took advantage and scored five unearned runs to take a 6-4 lead.

That set the stage for the Chargers, who got timely hitting to rally and secure the win and a berth in today’s semifinal round.

“We always make a goal (to) make our playoffs and qualify for states, which we just did (with this win),” Klein said.

Northern Valley fell behind 1-0 on Wednesday when Hellertown scored in the top of the first. Gilman stroked a single to open the game and came around to score when Joe Dries doubled.

The Chargers tied it in the home first when Fitch singled, stole second and raced home on Cole Dynda’s single for a 1-1 score.

The Chargers scored three in the second inning, parlaying a Brayden Buskirk single with a Rosardo bunt single. An error allowed Buskirk to score for a 2-1 lead. Fitch picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly and Dynda singled in the third run of the inning for a 4-1 lead.

Rain then suspended the game to finish up yesterday at Northwestern Lehigh’s high school field.

PITCHING GALORE … The Chargers used four different pitchers, but Klein said he has plenty of arms for the next game with South Parkland. Moyer picked up the win after working some early troubles but never wavering.

HITTING MACHINE … The winners clubbed out 10 hits with Rosado, Dynda, Church and Fitch getting two hits apiece. Buskirk and Jayden Christman each had singles. Dries had Hellertown’s only extra-base hit, a double.

Hellertown 100 050 0 - 6 5 2

No. Valley 130 060 x - 10 10 2

Gillman, Flores (5), Kuhns (5), Gilman (5) and Banonis; Church, Moyer (3) Fitch (6) and Buskirk. W - Moyer. L - Kuhns.