PINE GROVE - Baseball can be so cruel that at times it can make you sick.

But when it's played well, it's a thing of beauty.Such was the case Monday at Stump Stadium in the Schuylkill Baseball League semifinals.Tamaqua's performance was a thing of beauty as it excelled in all facets of the game.The Raiders used the splendid pitching of Matt Minchhoff, some great defensive plays, and timely hitting from Zach Coleman, Owen Bates and Brady Akins to vault into Wednesday's championship game with an impressive 3-1 victory over Schuylkill Haven."It came down to the basics, hitting, defense and pitching, and that's why we're going to play for the championship," Tamaqua coach Jeff Reading said after watching Minchhoff come through time and again when the Hurricanes were only one swing away from a possible tie or win.Schuylkill Haven entered its final at bat down two runs, and quickly put the first two runners on base, thanks to a single from pinch hitter Dave Kane and an error. When Cole Handling bunted both runners over, the table was set for the top of the Haven order."No. I wasn't worried, I knew all I had to do was (calm) down, and throw strikes," said Minchhoff."His curve was so good today, that made his fastball even better," said his standout catcher Casey Rother.Indeed both battery mates were on the same page. Minchhoff reared back and fanned Tyler Browne on three pitches and got Austin Clauser to bounce into a game-ending grounder."It was all about pitching, and their guy (Ethan Conage) was very good, too," added Reading.The Blue Raiders did all of the damage in the third inning. With one down, Russell Blaker reached base on an error, before Daylon Barron laced a single to left. Coleman wasted no time in tagging a single to right for the game's first run. Akins added an RBI on a ground out before Owens lined a crisp single to center plating Coleman for the third run of the game."I was sitting on a curve ball," said Bates. "I just had it timed perfectly. I'm so glad that we can move on and play for the championship, and whatever help I can contribute to the win is great."The Hurricanes broke through for a run in the top of the fourth and could have had more if not for a sensational play from third baseman Eddie Titus.The rally started when Clauser was plunked with a pitch and moved up a base on A ground out. Noah Saul followed with a slow dribbler to third, Titus barehanded the ball and made an impossible throw to get the all-important second out. The play turned out to be even bigger when John Hughes followed with an RBI single."That play was outstanding," said Reading. "If Eddie doesn't come up with that play, they could have had a big inning."The Division II champion Hurricanes also threatened in the sixth when Bryce Moyer was hit by a pitch with one out and Browne singled with two down. Minchhoff came up with a defensive gem of his own, bouncing off the mound to peg out Clauser who hit a slow dribbler in front of home plate.PITCHING AND MORE PITCHING … Two superb efforts were turned in by Minchhoff and Conage. They both went the distance and each tossed 98 pitches. Minchhoff struck out five and walked two while Conage fanned seven and walked one.HITTING … Tamaqua got two hits from Coleman and one each from Thad Zuber, Akins, Blaker, Bates and Barron.UP NEXT ... The Blue Raiders, who won the Schuylkill League championship in 2013, will look for their second title in four years when they face rival Marian at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Pine Grove.Tamaqua 003 000 0 - 3 7 1Sch. Haven 000 100 0 - 1 5 1Minchhoff and Rother; Conage and Clauser. W - Minchhoff. L - Conage.