CONYNGHAM - The clock struck midnight for Jim Thorpe on Saturday in the District 18 9-11 Little League Tournament.

Valley West, who downed Thorpe on Friday, proved to be too strong again a day later as it rolled to a 16-0 victory to claim the D-18 title.

The lopsided loss didn’t measure the effort put forth by the JT players, who tried to hang with a powerful West squad.

“Hey, we played hard, the boys came to play,” Thorpe manager Mark Domski said. “They’re a very good team. I know we were down at (pitcher). But when you don’t score runs, and other team hits the ball well - as they did - that’s what’s going to happen.”

Valley West collected 12 hits, including a home run, two doubles and two triples. The winners scored in every inning, including five in the opening frame.

Meanwhile, winning pitcher Austin Roberts was nearly pinpoint perfect - allowing just two hits, both singles.

The first hit Thorpe was able to muster came from Bryce McElmoyle leading off the home third. The other came from Ben Remmel in the fourth.

Valley West mentor Greg Pavlick was quick to give credit to his opponent. After all, Thorpe did register a 7-4 win over West earlier in the tourney.

“Jim Thorpe’s a good team; don’t let the score fool you,” said Pavlick, who knew his team needed to bring its A-game.

“We knew what was on the line; we had to stay on them. They’re a very good team; we had to get on them early. Once (Thorpe) got going, they’d be tough to (put away).”

Valley West went through its lineup in the first, with all nine would-be hitters getting a plate appearance with four of them collecting hits.

Logan Billig ripped a triple, while Taylor Zola chased home the first run with a ground-rule double.

Mason Rinker was a terror all day for the winners, going 3-for-3 with a single, double and home run.

Ahead 5-0, Valley added a run in the second as Roberts singled and scored on a throwing error.

After scoring another unearned run in the third, Valley West put things out of reach in the fourth.

Rinker blasted a solo homer, and Zola delivered a triple. Blaze Chipeleskie drove in a pair of runs with a single, and Caleb Sniscak also picked up an RBI single.

“We got staggered there for a little bit,” Domski said of his team, referring to the hitting assault Valley West produced. “We battled. I told them they’re winners in my book.”

EFFICIENT WORK … Winning pitcher Roberts was very Johnny-on-the-spot on the bump. He threw a total of 54 pitches in four innings, 38 for strikes. He issued two walks and struck out five.

OFF TO SECTIONAL PLAY … Valley West will move into the sectional tournament later this week, which is being hosted by East Stroudsburg Little League.

GAMES TO PLAY ... Jim Thorpe is still playing baseball. The all-stars will compete in the Panther Valley tournament.

Valley West 511 8 - 16 12 0

Jim Thorpe 000 0 - 0 2 4

Roberts and Rinker; Grant, Calacano (4) and Knopf. W - Roberts. L - Grant. HR: Valley West - Rinker (4th, none on).