We are a few days shy of the 4th of July, but the Valley West All-Stars didn’t want to wait to get the fireworks started.

Valley West put on an explosive display Monday evening against Tamaqua in the winners bracket of the District 18 Little League 10-12-year-old Tournament, rolling to a 17-1 victory.

Riding the crest of 12-hit attack and a terrific pitching performance from Christopher Knelly, there is little doubt that Valley West has already established itself as one of the favorites to capture the district title.

Knelly was at the forefront of the victory, using an ovcerpowering fastball to tame the Tamaqua hitters throughout the game.

He would rack up 11 strikeouts before departing after five-and-two-thirds innings of standout pitching. Knelly was touched for just one hit – a single from Ace Schickram. In fact, Schickram accounted for both of his team’s hits and the only run it scored.

Meanwhile, Valley West was lighting up the scoreboard.

The visitors scored two runs in the top of the first thanks to a moonshot home run by Knelly and added a solo run in third when Knelly doubled and taunted his way to a pair of steals, the last one allowing him to cross home plate.

Valley West broke things open in the fourth with four more runs, parlaying two hits and three walks.

Leading 7-1, the winners erupted for 10 runs in the sixth inning. The outburst featured Derek Radzwich unleashing his big bat with two home runs in the inning, while Tony Masias added a triple,

TOUGH GAME … Things can pile up on a team in a hurry. Just when Tamaqua seemed to be getting its bearings, Valley West started to assert itself at the plate.

NO CURVEBALLS

… Knelly is a perfect example why a pitcher at this level needs only a great fastball. He fired all heat and never once went to a funny pitch.

HIGHS AND LOWS

… Tamaqua came up with some standout plays in the field, including a pair of big-time snags by centerfielder Aiden Elston

HE KNOWS THE GAME

… Knelly is a clever player. That was on display as he goaded the Tamaqua defense into throws to the base he was on and then would take off for the next base - doing it twice for steals in the third inning.

VW 201 40(10) – 17 12 0

Tamaqua 000 100 – 1 2 1

Knelly, Jordan (5) and Klinger; Vidzicki, Conahan (5), Edmonds (6), Giuliano (6) and Schickram. W – Knelly. L – Vidzicki