Towamensing Township’s 8-10-year-old softball all-star team made community sports history on Saturday.

In sweltering, 90-degree heat that had an obvious effect on all the players - especially pitchers and catchers - the young Bombers became the first team in their age group from Towamensing to win a Section 6 championship and qualify for the Pennsylvania State Tournament.

Towamensing scored 10 runs in the fifth inning to finish off a 15-1 mercy-rule victory over Brodheadsville’s West End.

On the mound for Towamensing was Bella Marquez, who impressively struck out 11 and gave up five walks in going the distance. She allowed just two hits.

“She’s averaging 15 to 18 K’s (strikeouts) a game. She battles every single time,” said Towamensing head coach Jeremy Burger about Marquez’s performance.

Her teammates provided awesome defense throughout the game, with leadoff batters for West End getting on base in three innings, but scoring only once.

Despite getting 15 runs, Towamensing had only two hits in the game, both of them coming in the final frame.

West End starting pitcher Annabella Landes started strong and allowed just two Palmerton runs in the first three innings. In the fourth, she gave up three runs and then was pulled from the game. A total of three pitchers took turns on the mound for West End.

West End pitchers combined to allow 16 Towamensing batters to reach base on either walks or hit by pitches.

Burger termed it an “exciting win,” adding, “It’s a community win for all the girls in the community that participated throughout the year. It’s a huge win for the parents. The community as a whole has come together to support these girls.”

Aggressiveness was the key to the first three runs that Towamensing scored.

In the first inning, Autumn Burger walked with one out, stole second and third, and in a gutsy move bolted home on a wild pitch - beating out the toss from the catcher to the pitcher covering the bag.

In inning two, Vivan Zalek got a two-out walk, stole second and third and slid into home on another wild pitch to give her team a 2-0 lead.

Zalek was named the game’s MVP as a result of her base-running determination, getting a fifth-inning base hit and weathering the heat in her catching gear.

“She has just been a tremendous catcher for us throughout the entire season,” coach Burger said of Zelek. “She put the ball in play. She got on base for us today. She’s a great, well-rounded player. She deserves it.”

West End had early chances to score but just couldn’t capitalize on those opportunities.

In the second inning, Leah Santangelo blasted a triple deep into right field, but was left stranded when Marquez struck out three of the next four batters she faced.

In the third, a lead-off walk of Olivia Hayes, followed by a stolen base put the West End player in scoring position. Marquez responded with three consecutive whiffs.

Santangelo got the only run for West End in the fifth when she walked and then scored on a single by Cheyenne Farmer.

Besides Zalek’s single, the only other Towamensing hit was by Sophia Benscoter who unleashed a double down the left field line.

ONTO STATE COMPETION ... Towamensing’s next game is scheduled Thursday when it begins playoffs in the state competition in Lewistown.

GREAT UMPIRING ... A quartet of veteran officials umpired the game. They were Dan Buck behind the plate, Dan Rossino at first base, Josh Mooney at second base and Randy Schoch at third base.

THEY’VE COME A LONG WAY ... District representative Mike Netzik said he’s proud of the local softball program considering it only was formed in 2017 (first games were played in 2018) and already has a state contender. Helping the District 18 league get started was Matt Birnbaum, president of the West End Little League and an assistant coach of the team Towamensing played. Others who have been active in the success of the local league, were Netznik, Matt George, Roohben Smith, Rodney and Tara Strohl, Tom Goida, Ashley Schirer and District Administrator Jim Burns.

Towamensing 110 3(10) - 15 2 0

West End 000 0 1 - 1 2 1

B. Marquez and Zalik; Ianes, Farmer (5), Scantagelo (5) and Liezbirski. W - B. Marquez. L - Ianes.