The bats were hot early, the pitching was dominant throughout, and Tamaqua’s confidence never wavered.

Fueled by a complete-game, 12-strikeout performance from Abram Graver and a four-run first inning, Tamaqua defeated Valley West 5-1 on Sunday to win the District 18 10-11 Little League championship at Bill Angst Stadium.

“It feels good,” said Graver, who allowed just two hits and walked two over six innings. “I pitched really well, but we got runs early, and that helped a lot.”

Tamaqua finished 3-0 in the tournament, outscoring opponents 12-2, 4-2, and 5-1. Graver started all three games, striking out 11 in four innings in a 12-2 win over Freeland on June 18, six in 3 1/3 innings in a 4-2 win over Valley West on June 25 (in a combined no-hitter with Grayson Smith), and 12 in Sunday’s clincher. Across those outings, he allowed just four hits combined.

On Sunday, Graver struck out the side in order in both the third and sixth innings and finished his outing with 87 pitches.

Tamaqua came out swinging in the bottom of the first inning, with its first five batters reaching base.

Graver and Aidan Sabol both tripled, while Grayson Smith, Finnegan Davis, and Bryce Bailey each singled. Smith drove in the first run with a single to plate Graver, Sabol added a two-run triple to right-center to plate Smith and Davis, and Bailey capped the rally with an RBI single to bring in Sabol and give Tamaqua an early 4-0 lead.

“We talked about being aggressive early and adjusting to off-speed stuff,” said Tamaqua head coach Bryan Smith. “We knew they had a couple of really good arms and could pitch backwards. We moved up in the box, attacked early, and the kids executed.”

Tamaqua added a final run in the fourth, but it was the top of that inning that provided one of the game’s biggest swings.

With Valley West threatening, Sabol — playing his first game in center field — tracked down a deep fly ball for the second out. After a hit and stolen base by Chase Swircek put a runner in scoring position, Graver responded with a big strikeout to end the inning and strand the runner at second.

“I had Sabol in center field for the first time, and he made an incredible play out there,” Smith said. “I wanted to load the right side of the field with some of our better gloves, and it paid off. That catch kept us in the game, and gave us the confidence to come in and hit the next inning.”

Tamaqua fed off the momentum. Bryce Tuckett singled with one out in the bottom half before Mason Murphy reached on a fielder’s choice at second base. Layton Laybourn followed and reached on his second walk of the game. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Murphy scored on another wild pitch to extend the lead to 5-1.

Smith finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Sabol had a triple and drove in two runs. Graver, Davis, Bailey, and Murphy all added hits for Tamaqua, which totaled eight on the day.

Valley West scored its lone run in the second on a groundout from Henry Mehalick to score Jason Ervin and make it 1-1. Ervin and Swircek each had a hit for Valley West, which was limited to just one baserunner over the final three innings.

Smith praised the team’s resilience, which has been a hallmark of the group since their younger seasons.

“These kids are so resilient,” he said. “Up and down the lineup, they can hit, they can make plays, and they’re composed. Five runs is more than enough for this team. We’re excited for what’s ahead — and we’re dedicating this win to Coach Scott Murphy.”

Tamaqua will represent District 18 in the upcoming Section 6 tournament.

“Any time I have Abram on the mound, that little knot in my stomach is a little smaller,” Smith added. “He’s always played beyond his years. You keep an eye on that kid — he’s going to do some very special stuff.”

ANCHOR BEHIND THE DISH ... While Graver and the Tamaqua pitching were lights out throughout the tournament, catcher Nolan Runk has been a cornerstone of the team’s success behind the plate, fielding his position to perfection and showing incredible durability and dependability as he catches the team’s games.

Valley West 010 000 - 1 2 1

Tamaqua 400 10x - 5 8 1

Midas, Swircek (1) and Swircek, Midas (1); Graver and Runk. W - Graver. L - Midas.