A loss to end the season is always a bitter pill to swallow.

But Tamaqua’s 10-7 defeat at the hands of North Bethlehem in Wednesday’s Section 6 contest couldn’t take away the success — and the experiences — the squad gained over the past few weeks.

“Our goal that we set out for this year was to win the district,” said Tamaqua manager Bryan Smith. “Last year (at the 8-10 level) we did that as well, and to win back-to-back is something I’m pretty proud of. District 18 is good competition year in and year out. And for us to repeat, I was real proud of these kids to do that.”

Smith was also proud of the way his team rebounded from not only Tuesday’s 20-3 loss to Newtown, but also the 3-0 hole they faced Wednesday against North Bethlehem after the first inning.

“These kids are so emotionally strong,” said Smith. “They never give up. They always think they have a shot. We’re in that Newtown game, and Mason Murphy, my center fielder, comes off the field and says, ‘Alright boys, let’s get those 17 runs back.’ And they bought in. It was like, Wow! So, tonight we fell into a deficit again.

“There’s never any negative emotion. They always have each other’s back. They’re all cheering for each other. Back in my day if you get blasted by 17 runs, I didn’t act as strong as those kids act. Hats off to them, and hats off to their parents for raising 12 great kids.”

Down 3-0, Tamaqua sent 11 batters to the plate in the second to erase the margin and push across six runs.

Nolan Runk and Ellison Sommers got things started as both produced singles. After a strikeout for the second out of the inning, five straight RBI singles from Murphy, Layton Laybourn, Preston Weschler, Abram Graver and Grayson Smith — along with a wild pitch — put the District 18 champs ahead 6-3.

“I think they were trying to look ahead a little bit and put in a different pitcher, possibly trying to save some arms for Newtown, and man, my middle to the bottom of the lineup that inning just responded,” said Coach Smith.

“I was looking down from the third base box and I could see their eyes light up because the kid was throwing a bit slower. The message was wait back, let it travel, and drive it. And they did. A lot of those hits came with two outs.”

Unfortunately for Tamaqua, that lead didn’t hold up.

North Bethlehem got a run back in the home second, and then played three runs in the fourth to regain the advantage, 7-6. A hit and an error delivered a pair of runs, while an RBI single by Daxon Oscavich accounted for the go-ahead tally.

“Even when we gave the lead back ... we hustled to get another run in,” said Coach Smith. “(Starting pitcher) Grayson unfortunately hit the pitch limit and had to come out.”

Weschler walked to lead off the top of the fifth and moved up on a Graver hit. After a fielder’s choice and wild pitch, an error on a ball hit by Finnegan Davis brought home the tying run.

But North Bethlehem responded in the home half, taking advantage on an error and scoring runs on a passed ball and wild pitch. Gianni Donofrio also added an RBI single.

“District 18 is phenomenal competition. You’ve got some great teams in there, and it’s hard to win,” said Coach Smith. “And for these boys to do it two years in a row, I can’t wait for next year. I was talking to them after the game. I told them, ‘Be proud, be happy, but don’t put the bats or the glove down. Go and play other sports, because I’m a big proponent of playing other sports at this age, but go and hit the cage. Go and throw a session with your parents. Have at it.’

“They’re going to grow so much between 11 and 12 years old. And next year, they’re the kings of the hill ... I would love for these boys to have the success they had this year again and go for the three-peat. It would be amazing.”

TONS OF OFFENSE ... The teams combined for 24 hits. Graver had three singles and an RBI for Tamaqua, while Sommers added a pair of hits and a run. For the winners, who will now face Newtown, Jayden Desgoulter had two hits including a two-run double. Julian Rodriguez and Oscavich both ended with two hits.

LITTLE LEAGUE PRIDE ... Coach Smith talked about his town’s program and similar ones in District 18. “Little League, to me, was always you get to play with your town, you represent your town, you get to play with your friends, you’re playing summer ball. It starts as a rec league, and it morphs into an all-star team. You get to go battle, and you get to go battle other programs that are similar to your program. And, at times, it seems like some in Little League are kind of losing touch with that a little bit.”

Tamaqua 060 010 - 7 11 3

N. Bethlehem 310 33x - 10 13 2

Smith, Kufro (5) and Runk; Mullen, Donofrio (2), Desqoutter (3), Tyrrell (5) and Desgoulter. W - Tyrrell. L - Kufro.