Sometimes, Tamaqua’s softball team can even surprise itself.

The 2025 season has been a joyous ride for the Blue Raiders. And there are those that may have not expected much, but are now enjoying the success.

On Friday, the Blue and White found themselves in a bit of a quandary against Notre Dame-Green Pond in a District 11 Class 4A quarterfinal contest before pulling out a 4-3 victory.

But once again, Tamaqua used some magical pixie dust late in the game to rally for a pair of runs in the home sixth to turn a deficit into a lead.

Peyton Faust singled home courtesy runner Mia Bamford, who entered after Addison Krall drew a leadoff walk to ignite the winning effort, to tie the score.

That set the stage for Nico Conahan, who delivered what proved to be the game-winning run. Conahan’s safety brought home Jalissa Correa, who was pinch running for Faust.

“I just wanted to make contact, and put the ball in play,” Faust said after her second hit of the day tied the game and set the table for Conahan.

The win sends Tamaqua (15-6) into today’s early wakeup call for a 9 a.m. match-up at Pates Park to face top seeded Northwestern Lehigh (20-1), which beat Bethlehem Catholic 11-1.

Of course, it wasn’t an easy ride for the Raiders. They trailed from the start as Notre Dame scored the game’s first run in the top of the first while Addison Ryan singled home Hannah Lilly.

Ryan ended up driving in all three of the Crusaders’ runs on two hits. Her sacrifice fly in the third put her team ahead 2-1, while her clutch two-out hit in the fourth allowed ND to go up 3-2.

“I was afraid of her, she is so strong and in the (seventh) I was hoping she wouldn’t hit it out,” Tamaqua head coach Tony Zancofsky said. “She’s such a powerful girl she could hit it out anytime.

“But we have a bunch of kids that battle, they have a determination and find a way to win.”

And to be honest, their ability to do that sometimes puzzles even the most optimistic rooter.

Freshman pitching sensation Naomi Knitter, who has enjoyed a stellar season, went the distance in the circle.

She threw 104 pitches, allowing seven hits and two earned runs.

“Yeah, I was nervous but once things got going, I was OK,” the right-hander said. “My drop and fastball were working, and I used those (two) pitches mostly. But my adrenaline kept me going. Yes, I did have nerves early.”

After Tamaqua knotted the score 1-1 in the first, Notre Dame went ahead in the third by manufacturing a run. Natalie Lilly slung an 0-2 pitch for a single to center field and raced to third when Riley Palank was safe on error.

Ryan skied to deep right allowing Lilly to tag and score for a 2-1 lead.

Tamaqua answered in the home half of the inning when with one down, Kolbe Robb walked and moved to second when Ceanna Gormley singled.

That set the stage for Leah Crowley, who singled home Robb to make it 2-2.

Things went silent for Tamaqua in the run department for a couple of innings, although it twice left runners stranded at second in the fourth and fifth frames.

“Yeah, we missed a few chances to score,” Zancofsky said. “It went back and forth and I was hoping that we didn’t get to the bottom of the (seventh).”

Instead, things played out in the sixth, even though Notre Dame had taken a 3-2 edge in the fifth.

“It’s definitely exciting, I was looking for that first pitch,” Faust said of her hit that tied the game. “It was big for the school; we haven’t had that type of a win in a while.”

SHE’S CLUTCH … The Crusaders brought in relief pitcher Rachel Fisher to face Conahan with one ball in the count in the sixth. Conahan never flinched, beating out an infield hit for the winning run.

LEATHER MADE … Both sides had some solid defensive plays in the field. ND center fielder Natalie Lilly chased down a bomb hit by Krall in the third. Tamaqua right fielder Megan Linkhorst had a busy day in the field as well.

AT THE PLATE … Conahan and Faust each with two hits to lead the Tams. ND was led by Ryan’s two.

Notre Dame 101 010 0 - 3 7 1

Tamaqua 101 002 x - 4 7 2

Szczepanski, Fisher (6) and S. Ryan; Knittner and Krall. W - Kittner. L - Szczepanski.