Two titans in the District 18 10-12-year-old Little League All-Star tournament were trying to survive elimination on Friday.

Both Tamaqua and Anthracite were sent to the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament by undefeated Valley West.

The two teams are mirror images of each. Big, strong, athletic players. Both sides with strong pitching. Both teams with players up and down their lineups capable of knocking it out of the ballpark.

In the end, however, it was Tamaqua that proved to be a little better as it posted a 9-5 victory in the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Game of the Week.

“You got a team over there that’s pretty good and pretty equal to what we have,” said a thankful Tamaqua skipper Trevor Steigerwalt, “Our bats can go up against any team in the district playoffs. We lost a tough one to Valley but our kids kept their heads in the game.”

Last night, Tamaqua zoomed out to an early five-run lead. With pitcher Zander Coleman tossing perfect ball through the first three innings of play, the Coal Barons were digging out of a deep mine-pit hole.

TN/LVHN Player of the Game Chase Andrews, who drove in four runners and was perfect in three official plate appearances, got of Tamaqua off to its quick start, driving in two runs with a single in the first inning. Andrews’ hit followed a Brain Hinkle double and a Cian McLaughlin single.

Hinkle and McLaughlin were heavy hitters as well in the lineup. McLaughlin finished with three hits, including two doubles, while Hinkle powered a solo home run to centerfield leading off the third and also slamming a double.

“I was nervous coming into the game,” said Andrews who also pitched two and two-thirds innings of relief. “But once we got out to that early lead things settled down as far as I was concerned.”

It looked like lights out for Anthracite when Tamaqua went on a six-hit rampage in the fourth, scoring four more runs as eight batters made a trip to the plate. Lucas Kane, who had three hits for Tamaqua, bagged a double while McLaughlin and Andrews also added key hits as Tamaqua stretched its lead to 9-0.

Anthracite regrouped to score two unearned runs off Coleman. Hayden Goida and Drew Kokinda both singled in runs in the rally. The Coal Barons didn’t go down without a fight as they scored three more runs in the sixth as with Trey McAndrew’s two-run double the key blow.

However the threat came to a close after a bang-bang play at the plate accounted for the second out of the inning and a ground out ended the contest.

“Sure it’s disappointing for our team,” said Anthracite manager Josh Black. “We just got started a little late tonight.”

UP NEXT ... Tamaqua must now beat Valley West twice to capture the District 18 title. It gets its first chance on Sunday at 6 p.m. at Conyingham Valley

BUSY MAN … McLaughlin registered five chances at second base for Tamaqua and was flawless in all of those tries. In the third inning, he had three balls hit at him — all three liners. He also was involved with ground outs in the first and second innings.

TOSSING AND TURNING … Tamaqua used three pitchers; Coleman threw 35 pitches; Andrews 30 and Hinkle mopped up to face the final two batters of the game. All three hurlers are eligible for Sunday.

HITITNG HARD … Tamaqua had 16 hits. McLaughlin, Andrews and Kane each with three hits; Lucas Milot and Hinkle both singled twice, and Wyatt Steigerwalt and Mason Ligenza both added a single. For Anthracite, Goida singled twice; Mikayla Yurchak and McAndrew both doubled, and Chase Weaver and Kokinda both had singles.

Tamaqua 203 400 – 9 16 1

Anthracite 000 302 – 5 6 0

Coleman, Andrews (4), Hinkle (6) and Kane; Orsulak, Black (3) and Goida. W-Coleman. L-Orsulak