For several innings, it looked as if Tamaqua had turned the tables.

Days after suffering a 10-0 loss to Jim Thorpe in the District 18 9-10 South Tournament, Tamaqua — coming out of the loser’s bracket — built a five-run lead Saturday with the division title on the line.

But Jim Thorpe had one more rally in store.

Miles Smith delivered a walk-off single on a 2-1 count in the bottom of the sixth to lift Jim Thorpe to an 11-10 win and the South championship.

His hit couldn’t have come at a better time.

Silas Kupstas, who reached earlier on an error, scored the game-winning run to cap a wild finish.

“We take pride in the next man up,” Jim Thorpe manager Kevin Thompson said. “These kids battled all day. We had a lot of good swings early, hitting it right at people. Finally, in the last few innings we were able to find some holes. Clutch hits, clutch at-bats.

“We put it together as a team effort and came away with a big win. But I was proud of Miles for getting that key hit.”

Jim Thorpe trailed 10-9 entering the bottom of the sixth. After one out, Nick Dedinsky walked. Tamaqua reliever Braxton Barrett recorded a strikeout for the second out, but Dedinsky stole second and then scored when Kupstas beat out a throw on a grounder, tying the game at 10-10.

Smith followed with the game-winner as Kupstas came around from second to score.

The game featured four lead changes, with Tamaqua briefly reclaiming the lead in the top of the sixth. Singles from both Parker Grim and Chase Eltringham, followed by a hit batter loaded the bases. Gavin Wagner’s fielder’s choice tied the game at 9-9, before Barrett gave Tamaqua the lead with a fielder’s choice RBI to make it 10-9.

Tamaqua had earlier leads of 4-1, 6-2, and 7-2.

“We were much better at the plate than the first time we played them,” Tamaqua manager Jeremy Eltringham said.

In the previous 10-0 loss, Tamaqua struck out 11 times and managed only three hits. In Saturday’s rematch, it had seven hits and significantly fewer strikeouts.

“I don’t want to make it more complex for nine- and 10-year-old kids, but it’s throw strikes, hit strikes,” Eltringham said. “We try to throw high-percentage strikes and take good swings. Looking back at that 10-0 game, we had more strikeouts. We had more hits today. We put the ball in play.”

With the win, Jim Thorpe advances to face Valley East in the District 18 North-South series. The best-of-three set begins Wednesday at Whispering Willows Little League Complex (Valley West).

“We keep saying, ‘Banner or bust,’” Thompson said. “This team, this coaching staff — we’ve been fortunate to work with a great group of kids the last four years. These boys are ready to put it together.

“And they’re ready to show up and make Jim Thorpe proud.”

TOP OF THE ORDER ... Jim Thorpe was led by the top of its lineup. Leadoff hitter Alex Eckert had two singles and scored twice. Julius Calcano, hitting second, finished with two singles, a walk, one run, and two RBIs.

RESPECT FOR THE OPPOSITION ... “They’re a tough team,” Thompson said of Tamaqua. “We knew going in they weren’t going to lay down. They put up a good fight. They really made us earn it today. We’ve got to tip our hats to them.”

TEAM CHAT ... After the previous loss to Jim Thorpe, Eltringham challenged his team.

“I asked them after the game, ‘Does anybody in this dugout think we’re a 10-0 team against that team? That they’re going to 10-run us?’ They all said, ‘Nah.’ Then I asked, ‘Was that your best game?’ They all said, ‘Nah.’ So we said, next time we play them, it’s going to be different. And I think if we play them 100 times, it’s going to be close every time.”

Tamaqua 042 103 – 10 7 2

Jim Thorpe 110 252 – 11 11 3

Chase Eltringham, Braxton Barrett (6) and Owen Hope; Nick Dedinsky, Owen Hosier (4) and Alex Eckert. W – Hosier. L – Barrett.