The way the Towamensing Township 10-12-year-old All-Star team has been scoring runs, it’s a wonder that this team is just 1-1 in the District 18 Tournament.

On Wednesday, it did it once again, posting double-digit scoring en route to its first win by staving off Tamaqua 13-12. Towamensing moves into a Friday evening game at Anthracite.

In two games, this team has posted 27 runs, though it has given up 17 to Jim Thorpe in the first-game and 12 to the Blue Raiders.

That led the Township manager Matt George to smile when asked about all the runs his team has been able to post.

“I guess you can say we’re just trying to outscore the other guys,” said George.

Indeed that would seem to be the outlook. And when Tamaqua seized a 4-0 lead to open the game in the top of the first, Township wasn’t fretting. In fact, George knew better.

“We knew they were a pretty good hitting team from what we were told,” he said. “But (the coaches) just told the players to go out and swing the bats and make things happen and we did.”

Township quickly seized back the lead with a five-run first inning, sending 11 batters to the plate. Though Towamensing had but two hits in the rally, Tamaqua struggled getting the ball over the plate as four walks and three hit-batters were its undoing in what would be a fatal first.

“I’m proud of the kids the way we battled,” said Tamaqua head coach Joe Ligenza as he watched his team exit the double-elimination tournament. “I can’t say enough about our heart and desire. It was a matter of us struggling and at times not making good decisions.”

And for the second straight game, Tamaqua had more hits than its opponent. This time the Blue Raiders smacked out 10, one more than Towamensing. After Tamaqua forged a 5-5 tie in the top of the second, Towamensing scored six more runs over the next two innings and never trailed thereafter.

Hot swinging Mason George led the winners, going 4-for-4, and was the lone player on is team to have more than one hit. However, two big hitters that came up strong for Towamensing were Cameron Pengelly, who delivered a two-run homer, and Caleb Jacoby, who produced two-run single in the home fifth that proved to be the game-winner.

“They both had big hits for us as you can see we’re not just a one-man hitting team,” said George. “We’ve got guys up and down the lineup and hitters that can produce coming off the bench.”

Luckily for Jacoby’s hit in the fifth, Tamaqua came ever so close to rallying for the win. The Raiders put together a momentum-builder, scoring three runs in their last at-bats. Denny Krell and Logan Morgans had key hits in the rally, which was aided by two errors, two walks and a hit-batter.

“For a moment I really thought that we were going to make a comeback,” said Ligenza. “But give them credit, too. They made some big plays with the pressure on them.”

CRANKING IT UP

… Morgans and Krell (singled, double) led the way for Tamaqua with three and two hits, respectively. Scott Case drilled a double in his only official at bat for Tamaqua. Also garnering hits were Mason Ligenza, Declan Coleman, Pierce Grim and Declan Frantz.

TOWAMENSING SLUGGERS

… Besides the aforementioned George, Pengelly and Jacoby, Luke Matsko, AJ Borger, Cam Seidle and Connor Lawless each chipped in with hits.

Tamaqua 413 103 – 12 10 2

Towamensing 542 02x – 13 9 2

Case, Krell (1), Steigerwalt (4) and Ligenza; George, Borger (4), Pengelly (6) and Keiper. W – Borger L – Case