With one pitching change, the whole tone of Northern Valley’s playoff game against Lower Macungie changed.

What was a wild, back-and-forth battle turned into a pitching duel that Lower Macungie came out on top of with a 6-5 win over Northern Valley, which were eliminated from the Lehigh Valley Legion tournament. The loss not only ended the season, but ended the coaching career of Brad Rauch, who is leaving to spend more time with his family.

Northern Valley put up two runs in the top of the second on a walk to Connor Simms and a single by Josh Farber put two runners on with one out. Bobby Croneberger delivered a long double to center field to bring in both runners for the quick 2-0 lead.

Lower Macungie got to starter Simms for four runs in the bottom of the inning, kicking off what would be a wild couple of innings.

Josh Lichman walked with one out in the third and an infield single by Justin Augustus moved him to second before a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position. Simms then reached on an infield single that allowed both runners to score to give the Chargers a 5-4 lead.

Another walk moved Augustus to second and a fielding error brought him home and left runners on first and second with two outs. That’s when the Mustangs brought in Ryan Hummell, who issued a walk that loaded the bases before he got a grounder back to the mound to finish off the threat and begin a stretch where he would set down 13 of the next 14 batters with only Nick Buskirk breaking the streak with a bunt single.

Hummell had handcuffed the Chargers offense in two other games during the season.

Lower Macungie loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, chasing Simms from the mound in favor of Josh Lichman, who walked his first hitter to force in a run and tie the game before getting a perfectly executed 4-6-3 double play to end the inning with the game tied 5-5.

As Hummell continued to cut down hitters, Lower Mac loaded the bases with two outs against Lichman in the fifth, but he battled back from a 2-0 count to get an inning ending strikeout. In the sixth, a bloop single, a stolen base and a walk put runners on first and second before Lower Mac moved the runners up to put runners on second and third with one out.

Rauch went to Josh Farber on the mound, and he got a ground ball but the runner on third was able to score to give the Mustangs a 6-5 lead.

Hummell put the side down in order in the seventh to preserve the win. In two previous games against Northern Valley, Hummell had throws 3.1 innings and allowed one hit and a walk while striking out six and giving up just one unearned run. In Thursday’s game, he pitched 4.1 scoreless innings.

The game was the end of Rauch’s tenure as the Northern Valley head coach. Rauch has decided to end his coaching career to spend more time with his family.

Rauch has sacrificed family time for his players over the years, including substituting his own concert tickets to two players for theirs so they could see the same performer but on a different date that would allow them to not miss a playoff game. He also returned from a family vacation early to coach the team in a legion championship game.

“It’s been a good run,” said Rauch. “I did those things because my players have been really good guys and I have always thought they were special and deserved everything I had to give them. Now, it’s time to be a dad and not a coach.”

The tournament ended with North Parkland downing South Parkland for the championship and a trip to the Legion Regionals, which will be played at Emmaus Community Park beginning on Saturday.

Lower Macungie is the host team for the tournament and receives an automatic spot in the field of eight teams in the double-elimination battle.