There was no need for a third meeting between the Tamaqua and Hazleton Little League All Stars.

That's because Tamaqua took care of business on Saturday in the District 18 9-11 year-old tournament final, posting a 9-3 victory. Tamaqua, which also beat Hazleton earlier in the week, finished the double-elimination tournament unbeaten.The win gave Tamaqua the District 18 championship and sends it into the first round of Section 6 Tournament play on Thursday in Bucks County, where the Northampton Little League will roll out the red carpet for the double-elimination tourney.The Blue Raiders were too much for the Mountaineers on Saturday, with their long ball hitters, their finely tuned defense and a superb pitching performance which combined to produce the impressive victory.Starting and winning pitcher Brian Hinkle was spot-on most of the afternoon, and there were only a handful of times that Hinkle was in trouble, in this his 82-pitch performance.Hinkle's teammates staked him to a 4-0 lead. Hinkle helped his own cause with a Texas League blooper behind second base to start the contest. It was the first of his three hits. Hinkle was not only taking control on the mound, but his bat rattled off a double, a three-run home run, and the game-opening single, producing a four RBI outing.Hinkle looked like he was going to be stranded in the first inning until Cian McLaughlin picked up an RBI on a groundout. Zach Coleman kept the inning cooking with a single, before Luke Kane walked. That set the tables for Cooper Ansbach who drilled a two-run double for a 3-0 lead. Tamaqua upped the score to 4-0 in the top of the second, coupling a Mason Ligenza single and a Hinkle double."We're very solid all-around," said Tamaqua manager Trevor Steigerwalt in describing his team. "We have a lineup that can produce the long ball, kids that can run … we're a smart, fundamentally sound club - and we've four pitchers that can throw it."Hazleton made it interesing with a three-run second as it got back-to-back doubles off the bats of Sam Guzman and Christian Castro, and an RBI single from Sam Delhoyo. It could have been worse for Tamaqua, but a pair of web gems from the defense cooled the rally. First, there was a liner to second that was gloved by McLaughlin, then right-fielder Ansbach made a terrific play as he came up throwing on a hit, cutting down Greg Horinko as he tried legging it to second.The Raiders answered with a big five-run outburst in the third. Hinkle hit his three-run homer in the frame and McLaughlin added a two-run shot.Hinkle then settled in on the mound and blanked Hazleton the rets of the way.CHARTING HINKLE … Hinkle was crafty in his pitch selection, using an off-speed toss and a breaking ball to go along with a fastball. He finished with 55 strikes and 27 balls. He walked only one batter and registered three Ks.THROWING LEATHER … The Raiders' defense was superb at times, especially the play of Ansbach in right. In addition, to the play he made in the second inning to throw out a Halzeton baserunner, he also snared a sure-bet extra-base off the bat of Emmanuel Sanders in the first inning. Fielding gems were also turned in by Tamaqua first baseman Noah Mateyak, and Hazleton third baseman Sanders.NO POWER OUTAGE … Both teams barreled it up. Tamaqua had three doubles - two from Ansbach, and the homers from Hinkle and McLaughlin. Also adding hits in the win were Dillon (two), Ethan DiBonafaso and Mateyak. The Mounts collected four doubles: One each from the Guzman brothers, Sam and Kevin, Castro and Delhoyo.Tamaqua 315 000 - 9 11 0Hazleton 030 000 - 3 8 2Hinkle and Kane; Horinko, Pillier (3) and Delhoyo. W - Hinkle. L - Horinko.