For a moment, it looked like the Tamaqua ship was sinking.

Stroudsburg jumped out to a four‑run lead Thursday at Billy Angst Stadium, putting Tamaqua’s hopes of reaching the District 18 11-12-year-old championship round in jeopardy.

But Tamaqua quickly found answers.

Pitcher Abram Graver settled in after a rough first inning, the offense woke up, and the Blue Raiders erupted for nine unanswered runs to rally for a 9-4 win.

“We have fight in us, we have fight in us, we have fight in us,” manager Bryan Smith repeated afterward.

Smith is a firm believer in positive thinking.

“We have a bunch of kids that find ways to win,” he said. “The way we play with (heart) and determination is the reason we are headed back to play for the district championship.”

The title matchup is set for 6 p.m. Monday in Jim Thorpe, which enters well rested in the double-elimination tournament. Tamaqua again faces a must-win situation.

“The kids know what to expect; they’ve faced this before, so it is nothing new to them,” Smith said.

Stroudsburg looked in control early, scoring four runs on four hits and capitalizing on a Tamaqua error in the first inning.

Leadoff hitter MJ Field blooped a single to center, George Sherman was hit by a pitch, and Jose McCracken reached on a fielder’s choice. Bronxton Tutty followed with a single that was misplayed in the outfield, allowing three runs to score. Tutty later came home to finish the inning.

“I know things looked pretty bad after that first inning, but you can’t sell our kids short. You saw what happened, we scored two runs to answer,” Smith said, smiling about the rally that cut the deficit in half.

Graver walked to start the bottom of the first, and Grayson Smith singled to center. After Finnegan Davis reached on a fielder’s choice, moving Graver to third, Bryce Bailey walked.

Jake Kufro also received a free pass to force in a run before Aidan Sabol came through with a sacrifice fly.

Tamaqua didn’t reach base again until the fourth, but tied the game with two runs. Smith was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and Bailey doubled with one out. A Stroudsburg error scored Smith, and with two outs, Nolan Runk lined an RBI single to right to even the score.

The momentum kept building in the fifth.

Parker Grim led off with a walk, and Preston Weschler laid down a sacrifice bunt. Ellison Sommers walked, and Graver ripped a two-run double to give Tamaqua the lead.

Back-to-back walks forced in another run, and a passed ball allowed Graver to sprint home. Sabol followed with a drive to right-center that nearly cleared the fence, bringing home two more and giving Tamaqua all the offense it needed.

Graver returned to the mound in the seventh and recorded two quick outs, including a strong defensive play by first baseman Davis on a throw from Sabol. After Graver issued a walk on his 86th pitch, Grayson Smith came in and got the final out on a sharp comebacker.

Now the scene shifts to Jim Thorpe.

A Tamaqua win Monday would send the championship back to Billy Angst Stadium on Tuesday.

IN COMMAND ... Graver regained his composure after throwing 27 pitches in a rough first inning. He needed just 50 pitches over the next four innings. After allowing four hits in the opening frame, he gave up only two more before exiting.

ROUGH GO ... Stroudsburg’s pitchers struggled throughout the game. The team appeared to have trouble with footing on the artificial mound and used five pitchers.

WEB GEM ... The defensive play of the night came in the third inning when Stroudsburg’s Tutty lined a shot to center. Grim charged in and made a terrific catch, robbing Tutty of extra bases.

Stroudsburg 400 000 - 4 6 1 Tamaqua 200 25x - 9 6 1

Willock, Ilch (4), Heimbach (5), Tutty (5), Field (5) and McCracken; Graver, Smith (7) and Runk. W - Graver. L - Ilch.