The thrill of victory eluded Tamaqua’s 8-10-year-old All-Stars on Thursday.

Just when it seemed the Raiders were poised to knock off a determined Stroudsburg squad and force a winner-take-all game in the District 18 championship series, things unraveled.

Baseball is a game of outs, and much to Stroudsburg’s credit, it used every one it was given, rallying from behind for a 9-8 victory to complete a two-game sweep and capture the district championship.

The win sends the Pocono club into Section 6 play next week, while Tamaqua’s season comes to a close.

“These kids have so much heart,” Stroudsburg manager Ryan McClelland said. “There were a few kids with their heads down. I told them we’re not finished. We still have a chance. Don’t give in.”

His team trailed 7-2 entering its final at-bat in the sixth inning, but McClelland’s message didn’t fall on deaf ears.

The Maroon-clad all-stars erupted for five runs to tie the game, taking advantage of two errors while getting key hits from Bryce McClelland, the coach’s son, Brendan Willock and Costa Casagrande. Though Stroudsburg appeared to be running out of chances after Braxton Barrett recorded a strikeout and a pop out left Tamaqua one out away from victory, the momentum suddenly shifted.

A walk, an error, three more walks and two pitching changes allowed Stroudsburg to pull even.

“Things happen for a reason. We just lost a bit of rhythm and we couldn’t recover,” Tamaqua manager Mike Brennan said. “Yes, it is a tough loss. I love these guys. We made a good run in the tournament, and Stroudsburg showed they’re a very good team.”

Stroudsburg carried that momentum into the seventh inning.

Carter Pluviose, the ghost runner, started the inning at second after making the final out in the sixth. Following a pop out, Willock drew a walk before Francis Nothstein was hit by a pitch with two outs to load the bases. Tobias Carroll then laced a two-run double to center field, giving Stroudsburg a 9-7 lead.

Tamaqua made one last push.

The Raiders opened the bottom of the seventh with Max Field at second as the ghost runner. Camdyn Lux reached on an error, allowing Field to advance to third, but Stroudsburg turned a game-ending double play to seal the championship.

Prior to Stroudsburg’s comeback, Tamaqua appeared well on its way to forcing a deciding game.

Stroudsburg grabbed a 1-0 lead when Pluviose led off the game with an inside-the-park home run. The Raiders answered when Luke Tuckett singled with one out and scored on Hunter Hill’s two-out double to tie the contest.

Stroudsburg regained the lead in the fourth when Nothstein lined a triple to right field and later scored on a throwing error.

Tamaqua responded with a four-run inning.

Mason Keich and Barrett both opened the rally with walks before Tuckett singled home two runs. George Pinkey added an RBI single, and Hill followed with another run-scoring hit to give the Raiders a 5-2 advantage.

The lead grew to 7-2 in the fifth.

Rocco Biasi doubled, Gunnar Navratil walked, Ridge Graver singled, and Tamaqua added two more runs with the help of a wild pitch and an error.

“Even though they got that lead, I felt that we had one more chance,” McClelland said. “Some of our guys were down, but you have to think positive and believe in yourself.”

Stroudsburg answered the call.

WILD THING... The beauty of baseball was on full display. Outs must be recorded and plays must be made. Stroudsburg made the plays when it mattered most and earned its second straight district championship. Last summer, the club won the District 29 title before moving to District 18 following Little League’s district realignment.

HITTING IT OFF... Tamaqua finished with 10 hits, led by Tuckett’s three-hit performance. Hill added two hits, including a double. Biasi also doubled, while Pinkey, Lux, Graver and Field all singled.

Stroudsburg collected 11 hits. Pluviose had an inside-the-park home run and a single, while Casagrande, Carroll and Brown each had two hits. Nothstein tripled, and Willock and McClelland both added a single.

Stroudsburg 100 105 2 — 9 11 3

Tamaqua 100 420 0 — 8 10 5

Willock, Iannone (5), Pluviose (5) and Carroll; Barrett, Hill (6) and Tuckett, Pinkey (6). W — Pluviose. L — Pinkey.