PINE GROVE - Sometimes in the game of baseball all it takes is one big offensive inning to come away with a victory.

Unfortunately, for Tamaqua it had to learn that the hard way on Tuesday in the Schuylkill League semifinals against Tri-Valley.The 'Dawgs scored all four of their runs in the first inning, and that's all they would need, defeating the Raiders 4-0 to advance to the Schuylkill League Championship against Pottsville later today.Tamaqua's Connor Hartung, who pitched his team to a 7-2 win over Tri-Valley in a game earlier in the season, got off to a rough start in the rematch.After getting leadoff hitter Collin Mauer to ground out, Hartung walked Cale Bruso and then gave up a double to Hunter Bordner. Hartung then walked the next batter. Tri-Valley would then get its first two runs of the ball game after a single from Chase Schaeffer. Brusso would score with ease, but Bordner was allowed to cruise home after the umpire called obstruction when the Raiders third baseman ran into him as he was rounding third.Hartung then got Billy Wagner to fly out to center, but trouble would strike again when 'Dawgs catcher Hunter Herb smashed a double to center field, scoring two more runs."The first inning says it all, we just came out flat today," said Tamaqua coach Jeff Reading. "We got behind batters, we walked two guys there, and they came through with some hits and scored some runs."Then they had Hunter Bordner on the mound, who threw a great game. He pounded the plate and challenged our guys and they came out on top."The 'Dawgs big first inning got them started, but their pitching ace Bordner finished the job.Bordner pitched seven innings of scoreless baseball, giving up just four hits, while striking out nine batters. The Raiders four hits were the only four times that anyone was on base for Tamaqua."Coming into this game, I knew they were a good hitting team so all I was focused on doing was keeping the ball down and pounding the strike zone low," said Bordner. "I also thought I could use my curveball effectively if I kept that down as well, not hanging it. Everything just came together and I relied on my defense as well and they came through for us."The Raiders have been an excellent hitting team throughout the season, coming into the game against Tri-Valley hitting over .300 as a team.Simply put, Tamaqua just didn't get production from the top of its lineup. Their top four hitters went just 1-for-12 from the plate, which is something that obviously needs to be corrected before the Raiders enter district play next week."We just have to have a better focus at the plate," said Reading. "It's not rocket science, we just have to be smarter when we're up there at the plate. We have to react better to the ball and not guess so much."After Hartung's rough first, the junior settled down and pitched well, tossing six scoreless innings, striking out six. Hartung also provided much of the offense for the Raiders, coming through with two hits on the day.As of right now, the Raiders are still the No. 1 seed for the District 11 Class AAA playoffs with a record of 14-6. They will travel to Hamburg today to resume a game that is tied in the 11th inning. Tamaqua should open District 11 play on Wednesday, May 21 with a quarterfinal round matchup.Tamqua 000 000 0 - 0 4 1Tri-Valley 400 000 X - 4 4 0Hartung and Roberts; Bordner and Herb; WP - Bordner LP - Hartung.