MINERSVILLE — Tamaqua’s baseball team continued its hot stretch to start off the season.
The Blue Raiders improved to 8-1 overall when they took down Minersville, 11-1.
“Different people have stepped up in different games,” said Tamaqua’s head coach Jeff Reading. “Tonight we were able to get everyone on board, we looked for hitter counts and were aggressive on those counts.”
The Blue Raiders connected on 12 hits in the game. Led by Cooper Ansbach who went 2-for-3 including two RBIs.
“I was really hunting the fastball and waiting for a pitch to hit,” said Ansbach. “It was just about jumping on the first pitch and making something happen.”
Tamaqua struck first as Mason Ligenza hit a leadoff homer to center field on the second pitch of the game to put Tamaqua up 1-0.
After a Jake Yenser ground out. The Blue Raiders got two on base as Luke Kane and Ansbach singled. Kane came around and scored after a throwing error to put the Blue Raiders up 2-0. Gavan Hess came up to the plate and hit a one-run single to extend Tamaqua’s lead to 3-0 heading into the bottom of the first.
“We always say let’s put the pressure on them from the beginning,” said Reading. “We were able to do that today.”
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Minersville’s Alexander Halford (7) pitches during the game against Tamaqua at Minersville’s Del Hauck Field Friday afternoon April 11 , 2025. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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Tamaqua’s Noah Mateyak (11) pitches uring the game against Minersville at Minersville’s Del Hauck Field Friday afternoon April 11 , 2025. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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Tamaqua’s Luke Kane (13) beats the throw to Minersville’s Nolan Plesnarski (34) at first base during the game at Minersville’s Del Hauck Field Friday afternoon April 11 , 2025 Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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On a 3-1 pitch Minersville’s gets Tamaqua’s Maximus Najarro (25) out at second base to end the fist inning during the game at Minersville’s Del Hauck Field Friday afternoon April 11 , 2025 Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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Tamaqua’s Mason Ligenza (7) rounds third base after drilling a homerun as the first at bat during the game against Minersville at Minersville’s Del Hauck Field Friday afternoon April 11 , 2025Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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Minersville’s Cam Rogers (12) bats during the game against Tamaqua at Minersville’s Del Hauck Field Friday afternoon April 11 , 2025. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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Minersville’s Alexander Halford (7) pitches during the game against Tamaqua at Minersville’s Del Hauck Field Friday afternoon April 11 , 2025. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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Minersville (6-4) went down in order in the bottom of the first inning as Logan Hutsko lined out, Cam Rogers struck out and Alexander Halford flew out.
The Blue Raiders offense stayed hot in the second inning. Tamaqua got two on as Ligenza was intentionally walked and Yenser drew a walk. Kane came up and delivered as he hit a single to right center field to drive in two to make it a 5-0 game.
Reading credited his team for getting on base and driving runners in.
The Battlin’ Miners got out of trouble as they turned a double play and got a strikeout.
Tamaqua got another run in the third inning thanks to a Brayden Witkowski RBI to make it 6-0.
Minersville recorded their first hit of the game in the bottom of third inning when Aidan Ryan hit a double into right field. Hutsko came up next and smoked a single into center field to make it 6-1.
Both teams were held scoreless the next two innings. When the sixth inning came the Blue Raiders exploded for five runs on four hits.
Ansbach hit a two-run double with ...
