Tamaqua and Pottsville squared off on Wednesday and provided the same result.

Same result, as in the Blue Raiders and Crimson Tide once again put on a show.Schuylkill League and District 11 title contenders over the past three seasons , Tamaqua and Pottsville didn't let down their fans who certainly got their money worth on the hill on Wednesday.After nine innings, and a strong pitching performance from both sides it was the Tide that came out on top with a 3-2 Schuylkill League Division 1 victory.Pottsville (6-2, 4-0 SL Division 1) took the early lead in the first inning as they got to Tamaqua (3-3, 2-3) pitcher Brett Kosciolek early.A double by Eli Nabholz knocked in Travis Blankenhorn, who singled in the inning and Ty Painter, who reached on a walk to give the Tide a 2-0 lead.After that, Kosciolek was locked in, striking out six. In four innings of work he gave up two runs on two hits and two walks. The Raiders ace was right around 70 pitches when he was relieved by Rottet in the fifth, which was an obvious attempt to keep the seniors arm healthy after he had some soreness there in 2014."Our pitching was pretty good today," said Tamaqua coach Jeff Reading. "Brett and Bo did a nice job of keeping their lineup at bay for most of the day. We knew today was going to be a pitchers dual and that's exactly how the game was. Both sides pitched well."Tamaqua evened things up in the fourth inning when freshman Casey Rother came through with a big hit, knocking in a run. Then Jake Humes followed with an RBI double to make it 2-2.The game saving play of the day for the Tide came on the next at bat when Zach Coleman sliced a single to center field. Tide Centerfielder Darion Jacoby made an incredible throw to home plate, nailing Humes to get the final out of the inning.Even with all that, it looked like the Raiders' bats were starting to heat up on the Penn State baseball bound Nabholz. But as most talented and veteran pitchers do, he responded by pitching four scoreless innings through the eighth. Tamaqua didn't have a hit after the fifth inning."If you were to give me any two lineups in the league I would take our lineup and Tamaqua's lineup," said Nabholz, who threw over 120 pitches. "These are the two top lineups in the league in my opinion. I knew today was going to be a battle. I struggled a bit today when I was trying to spot my pitches too much, but when I had a good mix going, that's when I was most effective. You can't just come out here and throw fastballs against this team, you have to have your off speed stuff going."In the ninth, it was Pottsville's Brandon Daubert that got the rally started for the Tide with a hard hit ball that bounced off the glove of Rottet and into the infield. Then Gavin Hinchliffe laid down what was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt, but it was misplaced allowing him to reach first base.After getting the next two batters out Rottet plunked Blankenhorn to load the bases. The game-winner for the Tide then came on the next at bat when Rottet walked Painter to give Pottsville a 3-2 lead. Rottet's walk to Painter was his first of the day as he put together a solid performance on the mound, allowing just three hits, while striking out six in five innings of work.Junior J.J. Spehrley came into close the ninth and did a formidable job, not allowing a single Tamaqua hitter on base."Our league is competitive this year and it's going to be a grind," said Pottsville coach Mike Welsh. "Our kids did a fantastic job of continuing to make plays and battling and we were able to come out on top. I also have to give J.J. (Spehrley) a lot of credit today for coming in and performing in that situation. For a junior, who hasn't had a lot of experience at this level, he came in and finished out the game for us."Pottsville 200 000 001 - 3 5 1Tamaqua 000 200 000 - 2 7 2Nabholz, Spehrely (9), and C. Hinchliffe; Kosciolek, Rottet (5), and Rother; W - Nabholz L - Rottet.