Recently, Catasauqua head baseball coach Steve Bradley shook up his lineup on and off the field.

So far, the moves have worked and the timing has been perfect.

The Rough Riders won their second straight game with a 4-3 walk-off victory over Palmerton Monday afternoon on Hunter Reitz’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly.

Catty’s victory raised their record to 7-8 overall, and the Rough Riders now need to win three of their remaining five games to qualify for the District 11 Class 3A bracket.

In the home seventh, Cole Schiffer led off with a single, Austin Brett followed with a sacrifice bunt that he beat out, and Derek Troxell was intentionally walked that helped set the stage for Reitz’s walk-off.

“This was huge,” said Bradley. “Palmerton probably has the best one to nine hitting lineup in the league. They are a very good team.

“We took a 3-1 lead, and they came back to tie it. Brett made a great catch (in left field) with the bases loaded that saved a few runs. (Anthonie) Hunsicker made a nice play in center, and John Pushkar laid down a perfect bunt to score Hunsicker with our first run.

“I think both teams knew it would come down to the seventh. We knew it was coming. It was like a gunfight at the O.K. Corral.”

Over the last two games, Bradley noted that he moved Austin Brett up to the number two and moved Derek Troxell to the third hole with Reitz at cleanup.

In the field, Bradley moved Hunsicker from third base to center field, Christian Fye from third base to second base, and Pushkar from second base to third base.

“It has worked for us,” said Bradley. “We are better defensively and we have a ton of speed at the top of our lineup.”

Catty starter sophomore McKay Lewis went five innings, scattering eight hits and recording five strikeouts. Wes Fotta had three strikeouts over the last two innings and held Palmerton hitless.

Lewis admitted that he responded to his supporters.

“Today was a tough game,” said Lewis. “They were a good team, but I feel like I was capable of doing what I did. I did what my coaches and my teammates have been asking me to do throughout the season.

“Hopefully, I can have the same performance next time I’m on the mound.”

Troxell, a team captain, realized the importance of both victories.

“The win today was the biggest of the season,” said Troxell. “We had a big one against Bangor, and we knew today was just as big. We are clicking at the right time, and we need to keep it up if we want to make the playoffs.”

Schiffer, the other team captain, also acknowledged the significance.

“Today’s win was a huge win,” said Schiffer. “Every game from now on should be taken as a playoff game because that’s our ultimate goal. This was a team that beat us earlier in the year, and the second time around we got the win.”