OREFIELD It was practically the same scenario.

Unfortunately for Tamaqua, it didn't produce the same result.Trailing by a run in the seventh inning with two men on base, two outs and cleanup hitter Brett Kosciolek at the plate, the situation was just about a mirror image of the Blue Raiders' previous PIAA playoff game.But while that contest ended in euphoria, Monday's state semifinal contest against Pope John Paul II ended differently.Kosciolek, whose two-run triple in the quarterfinals allowed Tamaqua to rally for a win and advance to the Class AAA's Final Four, instead hit a sharp grounder to first. The Golden Panthers' Trevor O'Brien knocked the ball down, picked it up and stepped on the bag to not only end a 1-0 ball game but also end the Raiders season."I've been around baseball long enough to know that it's not over until it's over," said winning head coach John Duffy. "And you can tell (Tamaqua's) a very well-coached team. I know how their game ended the other night. I knew they weren't going to die until the last out. We have four walk-off wins ourselves so we know it's not over until the 21st out. Luckily, we got the 21st out before they scored a run.""From the beginning to the end, from the first pitch to the last, is how we play," said Tamaqua mentor Jeff Reading. "It's not over until the last out. We had an opportunity. It came down to the last pitch. Brett put the bat on the ball and hit a nice, hard ground ball down the first base line but the first baseman was there to make the play."After Pope John Paul pushed across the game's first run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a fielder's choice, the Raiders had just one more inning to extend their season. And when Panther closer, Dan Zurowski, got the first two outs it seemed Tamaqua would go down quietly. But Nate MacDonald worked out a walk and a grounder off the bat of Matt Roberts was thrown away at first to leave runners on first and third.Zurowski, however, bore down and was able to retire one of the Raiders' best hitters."When we had two outs and we had that bad throw, I kind of got a little nervous," said Zurowski. "But I've been out there a lot in these situations. I knew what I had to do. I just had to get one more out."When coach came out to us, I asked him do we want to put this guy on. He said no because it puts the go-ahead run on second. I knew then I had to pitch to him and I knew he was a dangerous hitter. I just made my pitches and we got out of it."Getting out of it was something the Panthers were forced to do much of the contest.While Tamaqua (20-7) managed just four hits, the Raiders ended up leaving 10 men stranded on base including four in scoring position.Besides the final frame, Reading's club had a first-and-second, one out situation in the first inning. That scoring chance was thwarted when Kosciolek's screaming line drive was hit directly at the left fielder and a strikeout followed. Another first-and-second occurred in the third inning, but a fielder's choice ended that opportunity.Probably the best shot at getting on the scoreboard, though, came in the fifth. Bo Rottet was hit by a pitch to lead off and was sacrificed to second by MacDonald. Roberts (2-for-4) delivered a single to right, sending Rottet to third. PJP's starter, Josh Lafferty, however, got a key strikeout of Kosciolek and a ground out from Owen Bates."We've dodged so many bullets all year that we're used to that," said Duffy. "We get ourselves in trouble at times but our kids are tough as nails. Obviously we have a lot of respect for (Kosciolek). Our scouting report told us he was one of their better hitters. That's one time where we're looking for a strikeout from your pitcher. That was just mano e mano. And that time Josh won the battle."Lafferty and Tamaqua starter Ian Nicholls both battled their way through five scoreless innings. While Lafferty, who is headed to Widener, constantly pitched with runners on base, Nicholls didn't face much pressure due to throwing strikes and relying on a solid defense.Nicholls went to a two-ball count on just two hitters and never had a three-ball count. He only struck out one, but received support behind him. Roberts threw a runner out trying to steal, while third baseman Zach Coleman (who was inserted into the lineup when Connor Hartung was hurt in warm-ups) made a diving grab off a liner. Adam Bates made a running grab at the fence in left field and Kosciolek made a nice catch on a foul ball near the fence at first."He was the guy to start tonight and was given the opportunity to do the job for us and he pitched well," said Reading of Nicholls. "Overall, our defense as a whole this year has really been our cornerstone. Pitching and defense wins you games. If you get one run, many times pitching and defense can win you a game. We just couldn't get that run tonight."The Panthers (22-6) managed their run in the home sixth after Rottet took over Tamaqua's pitching duties. Kyle Miller, who had three hits, singled to left to start the inning. Chris Kucewicz, squaring to bunt, was then hit by a pitch. After a fly out to right moved Miller to third, Joey Pedorenko sent a grounder to second. The Raiders tried to turn the double play but Pedorenko beat the return throw to allow Miller to come in with the game's only run."They were just able to get the bat on the ball and we couldn't get that double play." said Reading. "The ball just wasn't hit hard enough to get it. With first and third, if we get two we're out of the inning. The kids were looking at us before he hit, should we come home with the ball. We said if you have the opportunity to get two, you get two."I talked to them (after the game) and told them do not let one game overshadow what you accomplished this year. What they did this year is hard to do. We never quit."Tamaqua 000 000 0 - 0 4 0Pope JP II 000 001 x - 1 5 2Nicholls, Rottet (6) and Roberts; Lafferty, Zurowski (6) and Williamson. W - Zurowski. L - Rottet.