POTTSVILLE — North Schuylkill’s Reggie Crawford is better known for his swimming than playing baseball.

On Thursday, the all-state swimmer made quite a splash on the pitching mound against Palmerton, tossing a no-hitter and striking out nine in his five innings of work.

The Spartans (17-7) easily defeated the Blue Bombers, 13-0, in the District 11 Class 3A baseball semifinals.

Besides having an incredible day throwing, Crawford also hit a two-run homer, was 3-for-3 batting, walked once and scored in three of his four trips to the plate.

The tall, left-handed junior got into a little trouble in the fourth inning when he walked three batters. Two strikeouts and an outfield fly kept Palmerton off the board.

The pitching was exceptional,” said Bomber head coach Brian Taschler. “I guess (Crawford) was throwing in the high 80s, low 90s and hitting his spots. It’s hard to hold that.”

Of course Crawford’s own coach, Nick Brayford, was happy.

“He’s a state champion swimmer so he got a late start in baseball,” Brayford said. “He went to a YMCA event so he didn’t really get his first start until mid April. This is only his 21st inning of the season. He keeps getting better. He keeps getting stronger.”

The Bombers got behind right in the first inning when the first two North Schuylkill batters, one of them Crawford, walked. Both had steals. Although Palmerton pitcher Zach Silfies struck out the next two batters he faced, Brandon Rockwell drove in the two runners with a single to right field.

The Spartans were contained in the second inning, but then began their offensive, getting three in the third frame and eight more in the fourth.

The fourth inning was the only one that Palmerton had runners on base. That was thanks to three walks.

“They’re a great team,” Taschler said of the Spartans. “That’s why they’re the No. 1 seed. We threw three of our best pitchers and they hit every one of them. You’ve got to hand it to them.”

ALL SCHUYLKILL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP ... Next up for North Schuylkill is the District 11 Class 3A championship game, which will be played at 10:30 a.m. Saturday against Pine Grove in Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. “We’re happy to be playing another Schuylkill League team,” Brayford said. “The Schuylkill League will take home the title.”

A TOP 100 TEAM ... According to MaxPreps, North Schuylkill is ranked 74th in the state in baseball. Palmerton is ranked 288th.

Palmerton 000 00 - 0 0 4

N. Schuylkill 203 8x - 13 10 0

Silfies, King (4), Boehler (4) and Burnett. Crawford and Little. W - Crawford. L - Silfies.