Yes, Tamaqua’s 11-12-year-old All-Stars are alive and well.

That’s because this band of youngsters finds ways when the unexpected seems out of reach.

And so it has come to pass that the Rumblers are going to try and do something that hasn’t been accomplished since the 2004 all-stars — win a District 18 championship at home Wednesday evening at 6 against a tough Jim Thorpe outfit.

Tamaqua rallied around several standouts, including its superb pitcher, Bryce Bailey. The right-hander came up big in a must-win game, allowing just three hits while helping lead his team to a 4-3 victory. The Rumblers had to win Monday in order to force Wednesday’s winner-take-all championship game in the double-elimination tournament.

What was even more impressive was that just a week ago, Tamaqua was knocked into the loser’s bracket after dropping an 8-5 decision to the Olympians.

Jim Thorpe’s standout pitcher, Nick Dedinsky, gave the Rumblers all kinds of agita in the last meeting. Dedinsky was sitting pretty through most of five innings before Tamaqua used a final at-bat rally to score five runs, highlighted by Finnegan Davis’ three-run home run.

This time, Tamaqua pecked away, scoring two runs in the third inning and one each in the fourth and fifth, eventually chasing Dedinsky, who didn’t quite have all of his usual stuff.

“I told you this team is so determined. They’re a bunch of kids who don’t know when to quit. Losing is not part of their style,” an elated manager Bryan Smith said afterward.

Smith knows what he has — quality hitting and stifling pitching.

“I knew before the tournament started that we had pitching and hitting, but we had a slow start with the bats. That pitching has always been there for us,” the skipper explained. “What a fantastic game Bryce threw for us ... he was great!”

For the first time in the series against Jim Thorpe, Tamaqua grabbed the lead with a two-run third inning. After Preston Weschler drew a leadoff walk, he advanced to third on a passed ball and a groundout. One out later, Abram Graver singled to right field to score Weschler. Grayson Smith followed with a single before Davis reached on a fielder’s choice. Bailey then walked to load the bases, and Graver scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead.

Tamaqua increased its advantage to 3-0 in the fourth. Aidan Sabol singled with one out, Bryce Tuckett drew a walk, Mason Miller reached on a fielder’s choice, and Parker Grim stroked an RBI single to bring home Sabol.

However, the Rumblers were far from out of the woods.

Jim Thorpe was poised enough to dent the scoreboard with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. After Eduardo Camacho smoked a liner to shortstop, where Graver made a superb play, Julius Calcano singled to right for only the second hit off Bailey. Alex Eckert uncorked a hard-hit ball into the gap for a double, sending Calcano to third. When Owen Hosier’s liner was dropped for an uncharacteristic error, Eckert eventually scored, trimming the deficit to 3-2.

And the Olympians were huffing and puffing, breathing down the throats of Tamaqua.

Then Tamaqua’s poise rose to the top, thanks to a pair of slick middle infielders. Graver, at shortstop, fielded a grounder, and flipped to second baseman Weschler, who fired to first baseman Davis.

Wham, bam — end of inning.

A big-league type twin killing.

“That was so smooth. That’s what makes them special. They come up with not just big hits, but big plays in the field,” Smith said with delight.

Bailey’s teammates quickly came to the fore, rallying for a huge insurance run in the fifth that tilted the tide back in Tamaqua’s favor.

Showing as much chutzpah as grit, Abram Graver reached on an error by the third baseman and advanced to second on the play. Grayson Smith moved him to third with a groundout before Finnegan Davis lined a single to right, scoring Graver with what proved to be the most important run of the ballgame.

Thorpe had one last chance and nearly made the most of it.

Jagger McElmoyle reached on an error, moved up a base on a groundout and eventually scored on Miles Smith’s RBI groundout to make it a one-run game. Bailey then had to face Thorpe’s best hitter, Eduardo Camacho, who blasted a first-pitch line drive to shortstop. Graver was there to make the catch, ending the suspense-filled ballgame.

For Jim Thorpe, its skipper nailed it.

“You know, we never got the momentum. We struggled to get a timely hit off Bailey, who did a great job for them,” Steve Heydt, the Thorpe manager, said.

Indeed, that was the case.

Now the final game is set for Wednesday at famed Billy Angst Baseball Field on Dutch Hill in Tamaqua.

SINKER AND CURVE... Bailey relies most on his curveball, but when he is on with his fastball, it becomes much more effective. Bailey allowed just three hits over six innings, striking out four while walking one and hitting two batters. He threw 77 pitches, 47 for strikes.

HITTING IT... Tamaqua finished with seven hits, all singles. Grayson Smith and Finnegan Davis both collected two hits, while Abram Graver, Aidan Sabol and Parker Grim all added one apiece. Graver, Davis and Grim each drove in a run. Jake Kufro continues to swing the bat well despite being held hitless Monday.

HOW ABOUT THAT... The web gems began with Tamaqua’s slick 6-4-3 double play, Graver to Preston Weschler to Davis. Then there was Graver’s game-ending snag of Camacho’s line drive at shortstop. The kid can really stroke it. Jim Thorpe second baseman Bentley Heydt also made a sparkling catch on Weschler’s liner in the fourth.

Tamaqua 002 110 — 4 7 4

Jim Thorpe 000 201 — 3 3 1

Bailey and Runk; Dedinsky, Pruitte (4), Hosier (6) and Eckert. W — Bailey. L — Dedinsky.