Sometimes the best laid plans don’t work out the way they were intended.

Tamaqua Valley Athletic seems to have it in place early, but before the stretch run begins, the A’s seem to sink like they are in quick-sand.

It happened again Wednesday night in an 11-9 Schuylkill Teener League Senior Division loss to Schuylkill Valley.

Schuylkill Valey improved to 6-3 in league play, just behind American League front runner Girardville (7-2). Meanwhile, Valley Athletic fell to 0-10.

“We’re a pretty good hitting team, but we just breakdown at the wrong time,” Tamaqua coach Sean McLaughlin said. “Our kids up and down the lineup can all hit; it’s just that we make a mistake in the field or fail to throw strikes consistently. When you walk guys that gives them extra outs.”

Valley Athletic did its customary thing - scoring early en route to leads of 1-0 and 3-2. The A’s top three batters each poked out two hits led by Chase Andrews’ double, single and two RBI. Tommy Case and Lucas Milot also had a pair of hits. In addition, Nate Fannock provided a triple for Valley Athletic during the early innings while Tim Fritzinger and Mike Styka added singles.

But the leads quickly disappeared as the Schuylkill Valley Marauders used a five-run third inning to jump in front 7-3, and then packed on a three-spot in the fifth and a solo run in the sixth.

The winners were paced by the four-hit outing from Luke Salem. Luke Keitsock singled and doubled, with his twin bagger the lone extra-base hit for his team. Aiden Murhon, the starting pitcher for his team, slapped out two singles as did winning pitcher Kieran Houston. Max Isley, had three RBI.

The A’s kept chipping away after falling behind, using a three-run fourth thanks to Andrews’ slashing double to left center, then cut into the deficit with a run in the sixth thanks to Case’s single and Milot’s RBI hit.

However, Houston settled into a solid groove to retire the side in the seventh in order to secure the win.

Sch. Valley 025 031 0 - 11 12 2

Valley Ath. 122 301 0 - 9 9 3

Murhon, Houston (2) and Salem; Fannock, Styka (6) and Andrews. W - Houston L - Fannock.