Configuring a batting lineup isn’t just picking hitters names out of a hat.

For Northwestern Lehigh coach Brian Polaha, the configuration has worked well and the top of the lineup has done a good job producing runs and setting the table for hitters further down in the order.

The foursome of Cannon Fitch, Ethan Konyak, Cole Dynda and Devin Rex came through for the Tigers when they met Saucon Valley in the District 11 4A championship game at DeSales University last week.

The four hitters have been on fire in districts and delivered six more hits in a 5-1 win over Saucon Valley to win back-to-back district championships.

Last year’s championship also came against Saucon Valley, so the Panthers were determined to find some revenge.

With junior Matthew Chaffier starting for Saucon and senior Griffin Unrath on the mound for Northwestern, both teams put runners in scoring position in the opening inning.

Northwestern’s threat ended on a hard-hit line drive double play, and the Panthers saw theirs get stopped on a more traditional 4-6-3 double play.

Chaffier retired nine of the next 11 hitters, but Unrath pitched his way out of a two-on, nobody-out jam in the second. He again allowed a runner into scoring position in the third, but pitched out of it with a strikeout to end the inning.

Saucon Valley put two runners on with one out in the fourth, but coach Brian Polaha decided to skip the magic show and go to sophomore Jesse Neupauer. Chaffier was the first to face Neupauer and got a sacrifice fly to put the Panthers up 1-0.

After giving up a single to Noah Hubert, Neupauer got the final out of the inning on an infield pop-up.

“It was pretty nerve wracking to come in with runners on first and second. It gets a little tight,” said Neupauer. “They were able to get a ball through and get a run, so that put us at a disadvantage, but we were able to come back and get some runs.”

Chaffier came out looking for a shutdown inning and never found it.

A fielding error opened the inning and freshman catcher Evan Fatzinger was given the task of bunting pinch-runner Brady Krimmel over to second. With third baseman Jacob Eshelman charging in, Fatzinger positioned the ball between Eshelman and the mound and got it through to short for an infield single.

One out later, the top of the order went to work.

Fitch and Konyak drew walks with Konyak’s pushing home Krimmel from third to tie the game.

Dynda then drove a long fly ball that scored two more runs to put Northwestern up 3-1.

Cleanup hitter Devin Rex grounded a single through the middle to score Konyak and Dynda and pile on two more runs to cap the five-run inning.

“Cannon’s a great leadoff hitter and anytime he doesn’t get on, I look to get on for Dynda and Rex,” said Konyak. “When he is on, I just look to move him over. I’ve got to do my job in the second hole and do my best to make this work.”

The foursome of Fitch, Konyak, Dynda and Rex finished the day with six hits, scored five runs, drove in four and had three doubles. In the three district playoff games, the first four hitters in the lineup hit .484 (15-31) with a home run by Rex. They also drove in 10 runs, drew nine walks, were hit by pitches seven times, and stole four bases. They scored 16 of the 18 runs scored by the Tigers in the three games.

Konyak also delivered a two-out single, and Dynda and Rex followed with RBI doubles for a 7-1 Northwestern advantage.

Neupauer allowed three hits and walked one over the final 3 2/3 innings, striking out four. He did allow a leadoff home run to Hubert in the seventh, but by then, it was too little, too late.