(EDITOR’S NOTE: Since May of 1999, the Times News Sports Department has featured an On This Date practically every day, highlighting an event that happened in the past. With the coronavirus putting a halt to sports locally and nationally, the On This Dates have been expanded to the stories that actually ran in the next day’s newspaper. Today’s On This Date story is from July 2, 1996).

By Joe Plasko

TIMES NEWS Staff

Tamaqua knew it couldn’t take its District 18 Little League 11-12 year-old opener at Summit Hill for granted.

The Hillers handed Tamaqua an opening loss a year ago, and jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in Tuesday’s first round clash.

A six-run second inning gave Tamaqua all the runs it needed to shake Summit Hill for a 6-4 opening round triumph.

Nesquehoning, Jim Thorpe and Franklin Township were also local winners as the double elimination tourney continued Tuesday with first round action.

Tamaqua will now host Franklin Township, an 8-6 winner at Freeland, at the Bungalow Field on Monday, but not before surviving a determined effort by persistent nemesis Summit Hill.

“They’ve been a thorn in our side, knocking us off a couple of times in District 18 and the Panther Valley tournament, so we didn’t take them lightly,” said Tamaqua coach Allen Spotts.

The Hillers actually outhit the Tams, 8-5, but some second inning walks and two-run singles by Tamaqua’s Brian Martin and Jamie Ryan led to the decisive rally.

“As a coach, I’m ecstatic with how we hit the ball, but Tamaqua made the plays,” said Summit Hill skipper Paul Yurick.

An infield hit by P.J. Yurick, an error off the bat of Andrew Lynn and Matt Kosciolek’s RBI single up the middle gave Summit Hill a 1-0 edge in the first. Center fielder Martin ended the frame by throwing out Lynn at the plate after snagging Billy O’Gurek’s hard-liner.

Chris Porambo walked and scored on a wild pitch in the second, upping it to 2-0.

Tamaqua made its move in the bottom of the second. Passes to Jay Strausser, Kyle Spotts, Ricky Cipko and Ryan Petro and an error off the bat of Lucas Watts tied it at 2-2.

Starting hurler Kosciolek was relieved by Yurick, who was greeted by singles from Martin and Ryan that put Tamaqua ahead to stay at 6-2.

Yurick kept Tamaqua off the board the rest of the way, fanning six.

Summit Hill cut it to 6-3 in the third when Kosciolek stole home on the back of a double steal after Jared Bales was thrown out at second.

Strausser, who whiffed eight and walked four in picking up the victory, walked O’Gurek to open the sixth. With one out, Jerome Frets doubled home O’Gurek, and Ashley Yurick walked.

Reliever Ryan took over and gave up a single to P.J. Yurick but also induced a couple of fielder’s choice grounders to third baseman Caleb Calarco to pick up the save.

Yurick, Bales and Frets each had two hits for Summit Hill with Lynn and Kosciolek chipping in singles. Ryan and Martin had two singles apiece for Tamaqua, with Spotts adding a single.

Summit Hill is slated to host Valley East tonight in the losers’ bracket.

Summit Hill 111 001 - 4 8 1

Tamaqua 060 00x - 6 5 2

WP - Strausser. LP - Kosciolek.