J.C. Dietz sees challenges as opportunities.

Dietz led a Lehighton baseball program that finished last season with three victories to a 4-0 start this spring.

After the Tribe’s first setback in their Schuylkill League opener Tuesday, Dietz saw something the squad can build on.

“I am very proud of this group,” Dietz said after an 11-5 loss to perennial power Pottsville. “They put the work in in the weight room in the offseason, they’re doing everything that I ask, and I couldn’t be more excited for them.

“The 4-0 start was great. We know how difficult Division 1 is in the Schuylkill League, and it’s a step up in competition. I don’t think these kids are going to back down. I think they’re going to give quality at-bats the rest of the year, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how things are going to turn out with this group of kids.”

Leading 3-2, the Tide (3-1, 1-0) broke the game open with seven runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Pottsville scored six runs with two outs.

The big blow came when Darren Yost delivered a double that cleared the bases to push Pottsville’s lead to 7-2.

No. 9 hitter Tyler Shappell followed with an RBI single to make it 8-2.

Luke Salem collected his second hit of the inning to bring in Luke Keitsock, who singled, pushing the advantage to 10-2.

“Once you get a hit like that offensively, I think it takes the weight off of everyone’s shoulders,” Tide mentor Michael Welsh said of Yost. “Hitting is a little bit contagious, especially in innings like that, and I was real proud of our guys, the effort with two outs. We try to emphasize that, scoring with two outs, and extending a lead.”

The Tribe (4-1, 0-1) responded with a leadoff walk from Dawson Keiser in the bottom of the inning. After Aiden Rarick reached on a force out at second, Ian Rarick (2-for-3, two runs scored, walk) launched a ball over the left field fence to cut the deficit to 10-4.

Following a Wyatt Selinko sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh for the Tide, Lehighton loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame when Ian Rarick reached on an error, Talan Sensinger singled and Austin Greene (1-for-3, run scored) walked. Carter Birnbaum followed with a ground out to score Rarick, making it 11-5.

“I thought our batters did a great job of working the counts the entire game,” said Dietz. “Right to the end of the game, our kids continuously had great at-bats, they worked the count. We got the pitch count up for their pitchers, and they just kept fighting until the end.”

The Tribe took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Michael Yeakel walked with the bases loaded and no outs to score Greene and tie the game at 1-1 before Brady O’Donnell put Lehighton ahead with a sacrifice fly to score Brinbaum, who singled.

Pottsville starter Michael Sukeena got a strikeout before a force play at second ended the inning.

“They played really, really well,” Welsh said of Lehighton. “They’re high energy. I was very impressed with the way they played. It was a tight ballgame and they had the lead. I was happy with our guys to answer and come back and get that 3-2 lead. But I knew they weren’t going to go away, we knew they weren’t going to go away. So we needed to continue to put some runs up on the board and give us some breathing room.”

RIGHT APPROACH

... Lehighton got the leadoff hitter on in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Sukeena had 49 pitches through the first two innings, allowing two runs, three walks and two hits. The Tribe drew seven walks in the game.

ROLLING

... Entering play Tuesday, Lehighton had outscored opponents 51-8 through the first four games.

UP NEXT

... Lehighton’s next two games will be against a pair of area teams. The Tribe visit Panther Valley on Saturday before hosting Jim Thorpe next Monday. Pottsville hosts the Olympians on Thursday.

Pottsville 012 070 1 - 11 12 1

Lehighton 020 020 1 - 5 6 4

Sukeena, Adams (5) and Murhon; Sensinger, Keiser (5), I. Rarick (7) and Yeakel. W - Sukeena. L - Sensinger. HR: Lehighton - I. Rarick (5th, one on).