HAZLETON - Sometimes losing can lead to winning.

Tamaqua's 11-12-year-old Little League All Star team lost its opening game in the District 18 tournament to Valley West.With its backs to the wall, Tamaqua dug in and posted an impressive 7-1 decision over Hazleton in the loser's bracket of the double-elimination tournamentSome of the pressure lay on the shoulders of right-handed pitcher Stephen Madesto who responded with a near complete game decision. Madesto came within two batters of finishing his start, allowing three singles, striking out 11 and issuing three walks.Meanwhile, Tamaqua tacked on six of their runs in a third-inning uprising, during which it sent 10-batters to the plate. Three Hazleton errors opened the gates and key hits from Jeremy Balliet, Gavin Semko and Brady Sherry made sure those miscues were going to pay dividends."We have a lineup that can hit and produce for us," said Tamaqua coach Gregg Steigerwalt. "That's what we teach them to do, play hard and take advantage of the opportunities. Our bottom of the lineup can hit, and we showed it in that big inning."Still the pitching of Madesto was the key."I had the pleasure of coaching him all season and he keeps batters off-balance," said Steigerwalt.Madesto twice wiggled free of threats. Hazleton put two infield singles together with two outs in the top of the first but catcher Mike Steigerwalt tossed out a would-be steal of third to end the inning. An inning later, Madesto was in trouble once more, issuing a walk and a single to Brian Lara with one out. But Madesto quickly doused the flames with back-to-back strikeouts."We have a lot of big bats. And we lose a lot of balls during batting practice," said coach Steigerwalt. "This win is going to give us a lot of confidence."Tamaqua finished with six hits, all singles. It got its first of the game when Mike Steigerwalt singled with one away in the first inning. However, Hazleton's hard throwing pitcher Andrew Acosta sawed off the next two batters bats with strikeouts and fanned two more batters in the second, before Tamaqua came to life and chased Acosta after one out in the third.Toby Berg singled for Tamaqua to open the home fourth, but never came around to score. Balliet picked up his second hit of the game in the home fifth and eventually scored on a double steal.Tamaqua advances to play a third game in the tournament on Friday. It will play the winner of tonight's Hazle Township at Freeland game. The site of Friday's game is still to be determined.BY THE NUMBERS … All three Hazleton hits came in the first two innings. It scored a run in its last at bat on a walk, an error and a wild pitch.COUNTING PITCHES … Madesto left after tossing 85 pitches, giving way to Lucas Shickram with one out in the sixth. Madesto tossed 54 strikes.THROWING LEATHER … Hazleton's slick shortstop Jonathan Urea was very impressive with four big time plays.Hazleton 000 002 - 2 3 3Tamaqua 006 01x - 7 6 2Acosta, Matyas (3), Horga (5) and Horga and Urea (5); Madesto, Shickram (6) and Steigerwalt. W-Madesto. L-Acosta.