FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - It’s been a rocky start for the Tamaqua softball team to open the season.

But manager Tony Zancofsky isn’t pushing the panic button.

“We’re learning,” the second-year head coach said positively. “It’s early, and I know we will get better.”

Though the Blue Raiders had their hands full on a windy, damp Friday afternoon against North Schuylkill - one of the better teams in Division 1 of the Schuylkill League - getting doused 10-0 in five innings of play, it’s the learning process that Tamaqua is going through in the eyes of Zancofsky.

Dominic Grosso, at the helm of the Spartans, knows what its like to struggle, and has slowly built North Schuylkill’s program into one of the top ones in the league. And it showed with depth, pitching and hitting.

The home team pounded out 14 hits off a pair of Tamaqua pitchers. Included in that hit parade were four extra-base blows, one of which was a triple by Emma Slotcavage. Adding doubles were Kiera Meskunas, Lize Brouse and Mia Croker.

“We’ve got some kids that can swing the bats,” Grosso said.

A 14-hit attack verifies that. But Grasso has a trio of pitchers that he can call upon.

On Friday, it was Bridget Flynn in the circle. She fired a three-hitter, striking out eight without a walk. The only batters who solved Flynn’s pitching were Kolbe Robb, Mia Bamford and Addison Krall.

The Spartans (6-3; 5-1) struck for a run in the first when Olivia Jones, who had three hits to pace the winners, drove in Slotcavage, who reached on a walk. Then in the second, North Schuylkill added four more runs, slamming out four hits in the rally.

Slotcavage doubled in the rally, while Jones and Lisa Holmes singled. The lead swelled to 8-0 with a three-run North Schuylkill rally in the third. Slotcavage barreled up a triple for the key hit.

North Schuylkill added a pair of unearned runs in the fifth.

“We’re working hard, and I do expect us to get better,” Zancofsky said. “The weather hasn’t helped either … we’re struggling.”

SIDE NOTES … Tamaqua (0-6; 0-4) managed only to get a runner to second base, which came in the top of the third when Veronica Scott drew a walk and Robb poked out a single.

WEB GEMS … Tamaqua right fielder Bamford made a solid play, taking away a sure extra-base hit from North Schuylkill’s Flynn in the first, and ending a potential big inning for the winners. North Schuylkill’s third baseman Croker and second baseman Maria Monahan turned in solid plays, taking away hits.

THEY PLAYED BECAUSE … North Schuylkill’s new digs features all synthetic turf on both the softball and baseball diamonds. It’s the only reason the games were played; otherwise the rains that had moved through the area negates any chances of playing.

Tamaqua 000 00 - 0 3 2

North Schuylkill 143 02 - 10 14 1

Linkhorst, Gormley (2) and Krell; Flynn and Brouse and Capone (5). W - Flynn. L - Linkhorst.