Twenty-nine runs scored. Twenty-four base hits. Five home runs.

These are the two-game totals for the Tamaqua 10-12 year-old all-star team after just two games in the District 18 Little League Tournament.

On Monday, they defeated Jim Thorpe 14-3 in a four-inning game ended by the mercy rule to remain in the tournament winner’s bracket.

“Since these kids have been 5 years old we have preached to them to stay in the zone, work the count and swing hard at pitchers’ mistakes,” said Tamaqua coach Trevor Steigerwalt.

Tamaqua got right down to business and put up the No. 4 on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning.

Leadoff batter, Matt Ligenza, singled to center and raced to second when the ball was misplayed. After a walk to Brian Hinkle, Jim Thorpe pitcher Connor Patton induced two straight outs before Chase Andrews singled home both runners. Luke Kane followed with a home run over the left field fence to stake his team to a 4-0 lead.

Thorpe cut the deficit to three in the home half of the inning when Jack Edwards doubled to the left field wall to drive in Ian Henkles, who had walked.

That was as close as JT would get after Tamaqua scored five times in their second — with the big hit being an opposite-field two-run homer by Andrews.

“We focus on every at-bat, not winning the game,” said Steigerwalt. “Win the at-bat, win the inning.”

Down 9-1 in the last half of the second, JT managed a run when Matt Domski and Owen Hubbard walked and Domski crossed the plate after an errant throw.

“They jumped on us early, but we were able to get one back in the first,” said Thorpe coach Tim Hubbard. “Tamaqua went to the sectionals for a reason last year. They’re well coached and have discipline at the plate, and they certainly can put the bat on the ball.”

In the third, Tamaqua increased its advantage to 12-1. Three walks, a stolen base by right fielder Connor Dillon, a run-scoring wild pitch, and a single by Zander Coleman totaled three runs for the visitors.

Thorpe scored again in the third. Edwards walked, and after an error, Tanner Yurchak reached on an infield single. Edwards then scored from third on a double steal.

Tamaqua increased its lead in the fourth. Cooper Ansbach and Lucas Kennant singled and both were plated by a single from Ligenza, who was 2-for-3.

“We certainly didn’t expect to get 10-run ruled,” said Hubbard. “We might have made a couple of poor decisions with our throws ... but we always tell our kids to get the safe out.”

“I thought we had solid pitching and solid defense,” said Steigerwalt. “Of course, when our bats are working like they did, that puts a lot of pressure on our opponent to match our runs scored.”

Coleman pitched three innings and gave up two hits. He also had two RBIs, as did Andrews and Kane.

“Our backs are against the wall now,” said Hubbard. “I expect our kids to rebound and hit like I know they can.”

Steigerwalt has his team poised to make a deep run in the districts, but does have a few concerns.

“We have to back up our throws on defense and hit the cutoffs. We also have to be careful our confidence doesn’t turn into cockiness,” he said. “We’ll address these issues at practice on Wednesday.”

PITCHING LUXURY ... While most All-Stars teams have a number of players who pitched during the regular season, Tamaqua takes that to extremes as all 13 members of the squad are pitchers.

UP NEXT ... Tamaqua advances to the winner’s bracket semifinals on Friday where it will host Valley West. JT drops into the loser’s bracket and faces West Hazleton Wednesday.

Tamaqua 453 2-14123

Jim Thorpe 111 0- 3 21

Coleman, Matayak (4) and Kane, Ansbach (4); Patton, Edwards (3), Henkles (4) and Henkles, Domski (4). W - Coleman. L - Patton. HR: Tamaqua - Kane (1st, one on), Andrews (2nd, one on).