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Tamaqua tops Weatherly to advance Evan Shannon, Jackson Faust combine for no-hitter as Tamaqua moves on to D-18 11-12 championship

Weatherly’s run in the District 18 11-12-year-old Little League tournament came to an abrupt end Tuesday evening.

Tamaqua came out firing on all cylinders, using a barrage of early offense to post an impressive 10-0, four-inning win.

Now, the Raiders will look to take another step toward a district championship when they face a familiar foe — Franklin Township — on the road Thursday.

Tamaqua, which will need two wins to claim the title out of the loser’s bracket, knows the challenge is a tough one, but it’s one the team is ready for.

The Raiders avenged a 2-0 loss to Weatherly last Thursday by seizing control early, taking a 5-0 lead after the first inning behind a dominant start from Evan Shannon, who was nearly untouchable on the mound.

“Our kids can usually hit the hard stuff, but the way (Shannon) was throwing, we had a hard time getting around,” said Weatherly manager Jeremy Witner.

Shannon was electric, needing just 10 pitches — nine of them strikes — to strike out the side in the first inning. He threw two innings before handing the ball to reliever Jackson Faust, who closed out the final two frames. The duo combined for a no-hitter against a Weatherly lineup that had been strong throughout the tournament.

“(Shannon) went in there — it’s tough to hit. He pitched very well,” said Tamaqua manager Mark Bartczak. “He throws one ball in the first inning. You don’t expect that from anyone.”

Tamaqua wasted no time backing up Shannon. In the first inning, the Raiders got hits from Brady Bartczak, Faust and Kroy Tirpak, whose double was the only extra-base hit of the game. Three walks helped fuel the rally, and 10 batters came to the plate to give Tamaqua a 5-0 lead.

The second inning brought more of the same. After Drake Miller walked and Gavin Lutz singled, Aiden Barrett executed a bunt to move the runners over. Bartczak followed with an RBI single, and Faust drove in two more with a base hit to push the lead to 8-0.

“Man, did we hit tonight,” said Bartczak. “This was very important. We wanted to jump on them like we did.”

Tamaqua was quiet at the plate in the third, but ended the game via the 10-run mercy rule in the fourth. Miller and Lutz singled with one out, Barrett walked, and Bartczak delivered his third hit of the night to bring in the ninth run. Faust then ended the game with a single to center that made it 10-0.

“Now we’ve got everyone on board for Thursday,” Bartczak said, noting the benefit of Shannon’s brief outing and the team’s eight-hit performance.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED ... Bartczak said he challenged his players to attack early — and they responded.

JUST TWO ... Weatherly managed just two baserunners: Kaden Witner reached on a two-out error in the second, and Colton Delauretis walked to lead off the third.

AT THE PLATE ... Tirpak doubled in the first. Bartczak had three singles, Faust added two hits, while Miller and Lutz each chipped in with singles.

Weatherly 000 0 – 0 0 1

Tamaqua 530 2 – 10 8 1

Skonieczny, Gilbert (1) and Titus; Shannon, Faust (3) and Tirpak

W – Shannon L – Skonieczny.

Tamaqua’s Evan Shannon slides home for a run as Weatherly pitcher Tucker Gilbert tries to make a play at the plate. RON GOWER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Tamaqua’s Jacob Baddick is all smiles as he scores the 10th run of the game thanks to a hit by teammate Jackson Faust ahead of Weatherly catcher Owen Titus. RON GOWER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Tamaqua’s Brady Bartczak slides into second base as Weatherly’s Vance Gerhard awaits the ball. RON GOWER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS