From here on out, every regular season game left on the Tamaqua softball slate will feel like a playoff game.

The Raiders, who have struggled at times this season, have been playing some good softball of late. They showed that in a dominating 16-0 victory in four innings over Schuylkill League Division 1 opponent Jim Thorpe on Thursday.

As a result, Tamaqua (7-10) now needs just one more league win to qualify for the District 11 playoffs.

“I think we’re just playing with confidence now, and that is showing. But we have been playing tough all year, and we lost some really close games this season that could have gone either way,” said Tamaqua head coach Jill Barron. “The games where we have struggled, it’s been offensively, and a game like today where we hit the ball very well, will definitely help with that.”

The Raiders pillaged a ton of runs right from the start, getting out to a 9-0 advantage after the first inning. Tamaqua had eight hits in the frame with Bryn Clifford (2), Addison Krall, Riley MacMillan and Kolbe Robb all coming through with RBIs in the inning.

As good as the Raiders were from the batters box, they were even better defensively. The shutout effort was led by pitcher Bryn Clifford, who was on her game from the onset. The Olympians (4-13) didn’t have a base runner as Clifford threw a perfect game, striking out 10 of the 12 batters that she faced.

“My rise ball and my drop curve were really working today, and I think that kept them off balance. But I definitely want to thank our shortstop, Leah Crowley, for making a great play that kept a runner off base,” said Clifford. “As a team, we’re just playing solid right now, and we’ve figured some things out since the beginning of the season. Our bats have definitely come alive, but today was fun, and it was great to get my first perfect game.”

Tamaqua continued to bring runs in the third and the fourth, adding two runs in the third, and five more in the fourth to end the game in just four innings.

“We’re coming together here at the right time,” said Barron. “The message at the end of the game today was, if we keep playing like this, take this momentum into next week and then into the playoffs; we could be a competitor here at the end of the season.”

LEADERS ... Hailey Williams led the Raiders with three hits, including a two-run home run in the first. Gabby Robb also had a nice day at the plate, coming through with two hits and three RBIs.

STREAKING ... Tamaqua started the season 0-6, but since then has won seven of its last 11, including a recent win over a 16-2 Blue Mountain team that leads the Schuylkill League Division 1 standings.

Tamaqua 902 5 - 16 10 0

Jim Thorpe 000 0 - 0 0 3

Clifford and Krall; Goodchild, Levins (4) and Mahmde. W - Clifford. L - Goodchild. HR: Tamaqua - Clifford (1st, one on).