Tamaqua's 2016 baseball team isn't one that looks spectacular, but then again baseball teams need not be bombastic either.

But what the Blue Raiders are looking more and more like, is a team that will nibble at you, pick at you, and grind you. In other words, they've got a work ethic, and it showed once again Tuesday afternoon.Riding the bat of senior Matt Minchhoff, who doubled in two runners, was a huge reason for Tamaqua's 7-5 win over Lehighton in this Schuylkill Baseball League Division I ball game."Matt really gave us a big lift in that (first) inning," said his skipper Jeff Reading. "He gets a key two-out double and that was a big at-bat for him and the team as well."Minchhoff was on base all three times he came to the plate. He also singled in the second and drew a walk in the fourth.However, he wasn't the lone batter for the Raiders to have a multiple hit day. Sophomore Casey Rother added a pair of singles, Zach Coleman singled home a run, and Daylon Barron added a single in the seven-hit attack."I just felt so comfortable at the (plate) and I was seeing the ball really good today," Minchhoff said. "The big thing is we won today, and that's what matters the most."The Blue Raiders, now 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the league, put a two spot on the board in the home first thanks to Barron's single, an error by the Indians, a Rother single and Minchhoff's double."There were times when we gave them too many outs," said Lehighton manager Brian Polaha. "And we give up two runs on balks, plus the mental mistakes. But we can fix those."The Indians forged ahead in the second with a three-run outburst. Cole Haupt lit the fire with a single, then after an out, two walks loaded the sacks. Damian Mele drove in two runners with a single, before Cody Scherer made it 3-2 with a single.Tamaqua bounced back with two runs in the home second to take the lead for good. Two walks and a perfect sacrifice bunt from Thad Zuber set the tables for the rally. A balk produced one run, before Coleman delivered a run scoring single for a 4-3 lead.In its next two at bats, Tamaqua put a solo run in the third and two in the fourth. The third inning found Rother and Minchhoff getting singles, and Russell Blaker picking up an RBI on a fielder's choice groundout.Tamaqua pushed the lead to 7-3 with a two-run rally in the home fourth. A walk, a bunt sacrifice, along with an error put runners at the corners, before another balk produced a run, and Rother singled home the final run.Lehighton didn't go away, and turned up the heat with a two-run fifth-inning rally.John Herman fueled the rally with a single, followed by Brody Hydro's single. Haupt, who came on in relief, picked up two RBIs with another single. Zuber quickly was summoned to relieve starter Brady Akins, and he quelled the rally and kept Lehighton in check the remainder of the way."He's confident in his pitches, all we ask is for him to hit his spots," said Reading of Zuber. "We executed, I feel we have a great group of kids, we're in a tough league, which is pretty much even keel. This is up for grabs, the league is well balanced. The goal is to finish first or second (to make the playoffs)."DIAMOND CHATTER… There were errors, but there were some solid defensive plays on both sides. Lehighton's double play in the third saved it from a long inning.AROUND THE HORN… The Indians are a team capable of upsetting any of the top teams in the SIAL. Tamaqua has dug right into the title picture, with its lone loss at preseason favorite North Schuylkill.UP NEXT… Lehighton hosts Jim Thorpe Thursday; that same day the Blue Raiders travel to Blue Mountain.Lehighton 030 020 0 - 5-7-2Tamaqua 231 200 x - 7-7-2Scherer, Haupt (4) and Wagner; Akins, Zuber (5) and Rother.W - Akins ; L - Scherer.