FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Tension was palpable throughout nearly eight innings as neither the defending Schuylkill Baseball League champions, Tamaqua, nor perennial contenders Blue Mountain yielded ground.

It wasn’t until veteran senior Cooper Ansbach delivered a clutch hit, driving in Mason Ligenza for the game’s only run, that Tamaqua secured a 1-0 victory on Wednesday.

The win propels the Blue Raiders back to the championship game, where they’ll face Tri-Valley today at 4:15 p.m. at North Schuylkill’s Robert Wetzel Field, aiming for back-to-back titles — a first in the program’s history.

“I was looking fastball all the way,” Ansbach said. “I was trying to hit something hard. I got that first pitch and hit it hard, and the defense couldn’t make a play on it.”

Ansbach’s line drive narrowly eluded Blue Mountain shortstop Evan Setlock, who made a valiant effort deep in the hole. Ligenza, showcasing his speed, scored from second base, sealing the win.

The game featured a masterful pitching duel between Ligenza and Blue Mountain’s fiery southpaw, Aiden Grace. Both starters battled through the lineup, neither yielding an inch.

“Hey, Grace was just great,” Ansbach said, tipping his hat to his opponent. Ironically, neither starting pitcher earned the decision. Ansbach secured the win in relief after Ligenza reached his 100-pitch limit. Similarly, Grace exited after hitting his pitch count, having started the bottom of the eighth and recording a pop out.

“He really was tough on me,” said Ligenza, the highly sought-after power-hitting Raider. Ligenza admitted to some frustration after attempting to homer off Grace in the fifth inning, only to strike out. “Yeah, I really wanted to try and go yard, and it was a bit of frustration on my part.”

To Grace’s credit, he stayed composed, allowing five hits — two each by Landon Kamant and Luke Kane, and one by Ansbach. Ansbach added a second hit off freshman reliever Brady Strause.

“I wasn’t hitting the ball all that well,” said the Tamaqua third baseman. “But for some reason, I was able to get my bat on a few of his pitches.”

Ligenza was dominant on the mound, finishing with 13 strikeouts, issuing just one walk in the fourth inning, and allowing two hits. He carried a no-hitter into the fourth before Setlock’s clean single to center. Grace recorded Blue Mountain’s other hit in the fifth.

Tamaqua manager Jeff Reading wasn’t surprised by the game’s intensity.

“This was a tough win — you name it, nerve-wracking,” said the veteran manager. “It was a pitcher’s battle. Both came out determined. This was going to be a battle all day; there was no momentum either way.”

Blue Mountain threatened in the fourth when Ligenza issued a pair of two-out walks. Tamaqua had a golden opportunity in the same inning when with one out, Kane singled, and Ansbach reached on an error. However, Kane was caught stealing third, and Noah Mateyak struck out after a nine-pitch at-bat, with Grace refusing to yield.

“He’s such a competitor; he wanted to win this game badly,” Blue Mountain manager Jarrod Kramer said. “There were times when we had breakdowns. Grace wanted the ball; he wanted to pitch. He’s a big-game player, and he showed that.”

Blue Mountain’s defense shone, making several key plays. “We had some great plays made by our outfielders,” Kramer said, lauding his team’s resilience, especially considering earlier-season losses of 2-0 and 11-0. “Grace is such a competitor; the other guys feed off his energy.”

Tamaqua nearly ended the game in regulation after Kane led off the seventh with a single, and Ansbach followed with a deep shot to left, but Blue Mountain’s Wyatt Barnes made a spectacular catch. Kane advanced to second on Kamant’s single, and the bases were loaded after Morgan Logan’s walk. Grace extinguished the threat by inducing Max Najara to ground out.

Now, Tamaqua faces league rival Tri-Valley tonight.

“We get a chance to defend, and that’s all these kids want,” Reading said.

BLISTERED ... Ligenza developed a blister but bore down, striking out the side in his final inning.

QUALITY BASEBALL ... The $6 admission was well worth the doubleheader. Tri-Valley defeated Schuylkill Haven 3-1 in the opener. The Hurricanes went 14-0 in the regular Division II season.

STELLAR IN THE FIELD ... Blue Mountain’s defense was outstanding, taking away several would-be hits. Ansbach noted that windy conditions kept the ball in play.

Blue Mountain 000 000 00 – 0 2 1

Tamaqua 000 000 01 – 1 6 1

Grace, Strause (8) and Sebastian; Ligenza, Ansbach (8) and Kane. W – Ansbach L – Sebastian.

Records: Blue Mountain (13-8); Tamaqua (19-1)