DRUMS – Yes, there will be a third meeting between the Tamaqua and Valley West 10-12-year-old All Stars.

Yes, buy your peanuts and crackerjacks this one should be a dandy — a winner take all District 18 showdown on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Tamaqua.

Tamaqua forced the deciding game in the double-elimination tournament with an impressive 10-2 rout of Valley West on Sunday.

After a slow start, Tamaqua’s offense flourished like the annual July Tiger Lilies during a fourth inning uprising that produced all 10 runs.

“They had a good approach at the plate and I think most of their hits were with two strikes,” said Valley West manager Russ Canzler. “Give them tons of credit. We just didn’t throw that put-away pitch.”

Certainly there were plenty of names to toss out in the winning rally. Take your pick from Cian McLaughlin, Brain Hinkle, Mason Ligenza, Luke Kane, Noah Mateyak, Blaise Gigli, Chase Andrews and Wyatt Steigerwalt. Those batters were spraying, knocking and screaming it all around Whispering Willows Park.

Surely McLaughlin was the keynote with four hits and an RBI, Hinkle doubled and singled home two runners, and Ligenza smacked a two bagger and a single for a RBI.

The offensive explosion exceeded Tamaqua coach Trevor Steigerwalt’s goal coming into the game.

“I told the boys before the game if we get seven runs on the board I like our chances,” Steigerwalt said. “Hey big games… both teams had their share. We did a good job hitting the ball tonight.”

As for being stymied early, credit Valley West’s hard-throwing right-hander Jonas Aponick. The fireballer with an over-the-top release and a drop-down sinker is coming off an injury to a pair of his fingers on his throwing hand. He pitched two-and-a-third innings and surrendered just one hit, an infield single from McLaughlin.

“It was tough … he’s not 100 percent,” explained Canzler of the decision to pull Aponick with one out in the third. “He jammed his fingers and he hasn’t been able to throw all week until yesterday. As you saw, his fingers were taped.”

Aponick scored his team’s first run after he singled and rode home on Brady Mitzenko’s double. Valley West made it 2-0 in the second without the benefit of a hit.

The rally that put Tamaqua into a winning mood began subtly with an infield hit from McLaughlin. Kane then singled, Mateyak hit safely for an RBI, and Gigli followed with a hit. When Cooper Ansbach’s foul ball off the plate bounced up and hit him in the face, he was removed in favor of Wyatt Steigerwalt who never skipped a beat with a hit of his own. And before Valley West could regroup, Tamaqua was riding the wave of momentum.

“That’s baseball … we had that disastrous inning,” said Canzler.

Steigerwalt was happy about how his team came alive offensively.

“We had some early butterflies, but the kids got that through their system,” he said.

It happened at just the right time.

So pack a picnic basket, Tuesday’s title game has all the makings of a dandy.

OFF THE WALL … Tamaqua slapped out two lasers in the rally one by Ligenza and the other double from Hinkle. And both players were robbed of possible extra-base hits as well. Ligenza in his second at bat in the winning rally lined a shot to right and in the third Hinkle’s rip to left was snared as well.

GO FIGURE … Losing pitcher Antonio Dogainero was roughed up after coming off a great performance last Tuesday against Anthracite. A combined total of seven pitchers made appearances on the mound.

THE OUTCOME … The winner Tuesday gets a berth in the sectional tournament, which starts next week.

Vy. West 110 000 - 2 8 2

Tamaqua 000 (10)0x - 10 13 1

Aponick, Dogainero (3), Gennaro (4) and Dogainero and Aponick (3); Coleman, Andrews (2), Mateyak (5), Hinkle (5) and Kane. W - Mateyak. L - Dogainero.