Schuylkill League Division I softball play is now all tied up in the all-important loss column.

Pine Grove, the defending league champion, pulled the string on Tamaqua Thursday afternoon when it scored a run in the top of the seventh and made that hold up, escaping with a 2-1 decision.

The loss was the first in the league for the Blue Raiders (10-2, 7-1), who are having a spectacular start to the season.

The Cardinals (10-2, 8-1) avenged an earlier loss at home to Tamaqua (6-5), and inched ahead in the league, going one game up in the win column.

“This was so very important to come in here and beat such a great team,” said Pine Grove manager Ryan Leffler. “We were fortunate enough to get the big hits when we needed them, and we put the ball in play to win it.”

Pine Grove slipped in front 1-0 in the top-half of the first inning when heavy-hitting Trish Kopinetz lofted a towering fly to left that just cleared the fence.

For a moment, it looked like Tamaqua outfielder Madison Matsago drifted to the base of the fence and nearly snagged the ball.

“I thought she caught it for a moment,” said Tamaqua head coach Jillian Barron. “It was so close to her glove.”

That run held up until Tamaqua tied it in the home sixth. There were two outs when Miranda Chinchar lit the fuse with a triple down the left field line, and moments later, Brooke Zellner picked up an RBI hit. The threat continued thanks to Jada Schellhammer’s single. However, winning pitcher Oliva Lehman got an inning-ending groundout.

“They’re such a good hitting team, and we were able to hold them to one run is a great effort by our pitching and defense,” said Leffler.

Both hurlers were at the top of their game. Schellhammer allowed five hits five; Lehman also allowed five hits while fanning four.

Pine Grove dug in when it came to bat in the seventh. Faith Steva lined a double to center. Schellhammer then fanned Avery Nagle, but the ball was in the dirt and Tamaqua catcher Zellner had to throw to first on the strikeout, allowing Steva to take third.

The Blue Raiders brought the infield in to cut the run at home, but Steva managed to score on a grounder by Emily Hindman to the left of second baseman Courtney Hoffman, who threw to first as Hindman broke to the plate and scored easily.

“We weren’t going on contact,” said Leffler. “But when (Hoffman) had to go to the hole Emily just knew to run. If she doesn’t have to field the ball where she did, I would have held (Emily).”

There’s still plenty of softball to be played. North Schuylkill moves into the picture with only one loss in the division, identical with Tamaqua and Pine Grove.

SOUND ON THE HILL

… Both pitchers threw exactly 102 pitches; Schellhammer hit the strike zone 71 times, compared to 32 balls; Lehman pitched 66 strikes and 36 balls.

BIG TIME DEFENSIVE PLAYS

… There were several web gem plays on both sides, but one of the best came from Tamaqua’s Matsago when she fell down snaring what would have been an extra-base hit from Caitlyn Becher with two outs and a runner on first.

AT THE PLATE

… Schellhammer led Tamaqua with a double and single. Chinchar tripled. Jen Fredrickson and Zellner each singled. Kopinetz and Steva led the winners with a homer and double.

Pine Grove 100 000 1 - 2 5 0

Tamaqua 000 001 0 - 1 5 0

Kopinetz and Lehman; Zellner and Schellhammer. W - Kopinetz. L - Schellhammer.