(EDITOR’S NOTE: The Times News will be running a series of stories asking area coaches and athletic directors to recall their “Most Memorable” sporting event. Today’s Most Memorable moment comes from Tamaqua baseball coach Jeff Reading.)

The walk-off win is one of the most exciting experiences in sports.

When it occurs in the postseason, the exhileration is multiplied immensely.

So it comes as no surprise that longtime Tamaqua head baseball coach Jeff Reading would select one such game as his “Most Memorable” moment.

His only dilemma was which one to pick.

The Blue Raider mentor, however, couldn’t ignore the importance of a last-inning rally in the state semifinals. That win against Danville on June 9, 2003 propelled his team into the Class 2A championship game.

“Walk-off wins, those are definitely the games where people get their money’s worth. That’s just good baseball where two teams are getting after it,” said Reading, who also has fond memories of the 2014 state quarterfinal victory that came in his team’s final at-bat.

The 2003 squad enjoyed a 14-4 regular season before defeating Bethlehem Catholic, Northwestern and Pen Argyl to capture the program’s first-ever district title.

The success didn’t stop there, though, as Reading’s club downed Holy Ghost Prep, 6-1, in the opening round of states. That was followed by a 4-0 shutout of Palmyra in the quarterfinals.

“They were a team of firsts,” said Reading. “Every win was a bonus after the first one (at districts) and we just continued to move on. I told the guys, especially the seniors, to enjoy the ride because it doesn’t happen that often. Low and behold, we make it all the way to the state finals. It was a great achievement.”

That achievement almost didn’t happen.

Allen Graver gave Tamaqua a lead in the first inning against Danville when his single chased home Kyle Spotts with the game’s first run.

The Ironmen nearly tied the game in the fourth, but the Raiders caught a break.

“They had a runner (Chris Buck) on third with two outs and two strikes on the batter and he tried to steal home,” recalled Reading. “The pitch went to the backstop and it looked like they were going to score, but the umpire had called the pitch a strike. Our catcher (Alex Zukus) raced back and got the ball and threw to first and the run didn’t count.

“I remember (starting pitcher) Caleb (Calarco) had an 0-2 count on the batter and we called for a curveball. The runner on third started running and Caleb saw that and ended up crossing up our catcher. He threw a high strike, which the umpire called. Zukus went back to the screen, which was a good distance away. Their coach is yelling to his batter to run, run, run. But Zukus fires the ball to first to get the out.”

While Tamaqua dodged one bullet, they couldn’t avoid a second one the next inning.

Calarco gave up his first hit in the fifth, which was followed by a wind-blown homer that just got over the left-field fence. All of a sudden, the Raiders trailed 2-1.

“I think it was a 1-2 pitch,” said Reading. “We were ahead in the count ... he just made contact. You could see our outfielder drifting back. It was Jesse Tuckett in left, and he was a good outfielder. He was quick and read balls well. You could tell (the wind was affecting it), he got twisted up going after it. I was just watching it go back, and sure enough it went out.

“My first thought was why can’t we get any balls into the wind there.”

Danville maintained its one-run lead heading into the home seventh, with Tamaqua sending up its 7-8-9 hitters.

The bottom of the lineup would come through for Reading. Zak Kupchinsky singled to start the inning. After failing to get a bunt down, Tory Graver slapped a single to right. Next up was No. 9 hitter Marshall Garger, who had been 2-for-2 in the game.

“They called time and (Garger) came down to me, and I said, ‘You know what you’re going to do?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I’m going to win the game.’ I told him, ‘You’re going to bunt the ball.’

“I told him to bunt the ball down the third-base line. They were playing their third baseman back and having the pitcher cover that side on a bunt. (Garger) was deceivingly fast and he got the bunt down and beat it out.”

The Raiders had momentum now, but Danville hurler Pat Ross got Zukus to pop out to first. Spotts, however, produced a run-scoring grounder to tie the game.

Spotts later stole second, which proved to be key when Calarco hit a ball to short. Instead of Danville being able to get a force at second, its shortstop was forced to throw to first.

“The count went full (on Calarco) and he hit a ball to short,” said Reading. “All game their shortstop made throws in the dirt and their first baseman had been picking the ball. This time Caleb hits the ball and the runners are on the move. It was low again and the first baseman goes to pick it and you see the ball fall out of his glove.

“I just thought, ‘Oh my gosh, we just won the game. I can’t believe it.’ I remember putting my hands on my head and then dropping to my knees. The kids came running out of the dugout. It was just surreal.”

Although the Raiders couldn’t finish off their magical season, falling to Ellwood City, 3-1, in the state championship game, the lessons from that season are the same ones Reading still preaches today.

“Then and now, I preach to the kids to put the ball in play and run hard and good things can happen. Hustle and tenacity puts pressure on the defense.

“That was such a memorable game for me. What an exciting game with everything that happened.”