HAZLETON — If determination was measured in dynamite, there would have been one huge explosion in Hazle Township Tuesday night.

Hazle played Jim Thorpe in the District 18 semi finals and both squads put forth amazing efforts.

The home team pulled out an 8-6 victory, but not before Jim Thorpe scored two runs in the final inning and ended the game with the bases loaded.

“They never died,” said Jim Thorpe manager Nelson Ulshafer of his team. “We made some crucial errors in the middle innings and they got a little lead. But (Jim Thorpe) never quit and they came right back in the last inning and got a little bit of a rally going.”

Hazle Township started quick, taking a 3-0 lead after two innings.

The local squad wasn’t about to surrender, though, knotting the score in the top of the third on a walk, a fielder’s choice, base hits by Mike Strucko and Braden McHugh, and a walk-off double by Manny Moralis. The hit by Moralis accounted for two RBIs.

A two-run homer in the fourth by Freddy Corrado again put Hazle in front for good.

Hazle got another homer in the fifth, this time by Ryan Bacho that was a solo shot over the left field fence.

For both Corrado and Bacho, they were their first home runs this season.

Going into the top of the sixth, the lead for Hazle was increased to 8-4.

With one out, Jim Thorpe’s TJ Ray walked. David Butler then singled and Strucko was hit by a pitch to fill the bases.

Aiden Sterling unleashed a single that scored two runs and brought JT within two. McHugh got his second hit of the night, a single, to load the bases with only one out.

A strikeout and a blooper toward first base ended the threat and the game.

Hazle Township manager Darry Ledger said the two home runs were important ingredients in the win.

“They were huge,” he said. “We had to get those insurance runs. They were big.”

Both teams had one loss coming into the contest. Hazle Township lost to Franklin Township in the first round of the playoffs, then defeated Franklin in a rematch.

Jim Thorpe had lost to Freeland to put them in the loser’s bracket.

Hazle Township will now play the winner of last night’s Valley West at Freeland game.

RAIN DELAY ... The game was scheduled to start at 6 p.m. but 15 minutes before that, a storm passed, dropping heavy rain. As a result, the starting time was an hour later. A crew of nine people raked, put about 12 bags of drying substance on the field and used leaf blowers to get the field in shape for the game.

HITTERS ... For Jim Thorpe, TJ Ray had two hits, a double and a single. Other hits were by Butler, Strucko, Sterling, McHugh, Moralis, Bruce McFarland and Kaleb Pawlings. The Hazle manager’s son, Nick Ledger, was 3-for-3 and scored twice. Two of his hits were doubles. Freddy Carrado was 2-for-3, hitting a home run and a single. He also scored twice.

Jim Thorpe 003 102 - 6 9 2

Hazle Twp. 212 03x - 8 7 1

Moore, Strucko (4) and McHugh. Ledger, Corrado (6) and Nika. W - Ledger. L - Moore. HR: Hazle Twp. - Carrado (3rd, one on), Racho (5th, 1 on).