PINE GROVE – Playing on high school baseball’s version of “Field of Dreams,” Tamaqua realized a dream come true on Thursday night.

That’s because the Blue Raiders upset heavily-favored Blue Mountain to win the 2024 Schuylkill Baseball League championship.

While many had annointed the Blue Eagles the league title before the playoffs even started, Tamaqua’s inner conclave believed they could do it.

That faith never wavered — even after a late season free-fall during which it lost five of eight games.

After defeating Schuylkill Haven in the semifinasls on Wednesday, the Blue Raiders quickly washed the duds, grabbed a bus ride, and proceeded to Stump Memorial Baseball Stadium — where all of Schuylkill County has a yen to step on this special baseball diamond.

“After we beat Schuylkill Haven, the kids took it to heart, took the challenge and ran with it,” Tamaqua manager Jeff Reading said about the opportunity to face a Blue Mountain team that went unbeaten in league play this season. “We came into this game focused and ready.”

While Tamaqua’s bats were once again on point, it was the pitching that was the key to this win.

“We believe in ourselves,” said Wyatt Steigerwalt, the gritty junior who showed nerves of steel coming in to relieve starting and winning pitcher Cooper Ansbach.

Ansbach battled some control issues, but stepped up to record big outs time-and-time again in blanking the high-powered Eagles through the first four innings.

“We are a team, and we band together,” Ansbach said. “I knew if we could get through the fourth inning, we would be alright. Because Wyatt would come in and do a great job of having my back.”

Tamaqua took it to the Eagles at the onset scoring two runs in the opening inning.

With one away, Steigerwalt got a new lease on life when his foul fly ball was dropped. He then made the Eagles pay by stroking a single. Luke Kane also singled, before Ansbach slapped a two-out hit to score both runners.

“We wanted to get out on top of them early, so it was nice to get those two runs in the first inning,” Ansbach said.

Blue Mountain was knocking at the door in just about every inning, but Ansbach kept grinding, kept his composure and never ceded a run.

“Cooper is a battler, he doesn’t give in, he just keeps battling,” Reading said. “He’s had these types of games all season ... sometimes he gets himself in a little trouble, but he finds ways of getting out of it. Today he gave us a gutsy performance.”

With one out in the fifth and Ansbach pushing his pitch count limit, Reading called on Steigerwalt in relief to finish things off — and he responded magnificently.

Meanwhile, the Blue Raiders delivered the knockout punch in the form of a four-run seventh.

Tamaqua — which sent nine batters to the plate in the inning — used a leadoff walk to Landon Kamant, an infield single by Logan Morgans and a sacrifice bunt to set the stage. Blue Mountain wanted no part of heavy-hitting Mason “The Big Bopper” Ligenza, walking him intentionally to fill the bases. The strategy backfired as Steigerwalt, Kane, Lucas Kamant and Ansbach all drove in runs.

“It was a huge inning,” Reading said. “Two runs were not comfortable ... six were.”

It was the perfect coup de grace to cap off the dreams of a championship.

“They beat us twice earlier this season,” said Ligenza. “But the third time was the charm for us. We found a way to get this done.”

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE … “I think so,” said Reading when asked if his youthful team’s championship came sooner than he would have predicted. “If you would’ve asked at the beginning of the year if we would win a league championship, I would have told you that the potential was there, but that we might still be a little young.”

HITTING AWAY … Tamaqua had nine hits, led by Ansbach’s three, two off the bat of Steigerwalt, and one each by Jake Yenser, Morgans and Kane. Blue Mountain managed just three hits, singles by Josh Dewald, Robert Gromley and Aidan Grace.

MISSING A TURN ... Gromley has had a banner season on the mound for Blue Mountain, but the senior right-hander injured his elbow and won’t pitch the remainder of the season.

HOISTING THE MANTLE … Dr. Stephen Toth, chairman of the Schuylkill Baseball League, smiled broadly as he presented the championship trophy to Tamaqua. The reason “Dr. T” — a former standout baseball player at the now-defunct Cardinal Brennan High School — probably got a little extra joy out of this presentation is that he’s the assistant superintendent at Tamaqua.

Tamaqua 200 000 4 – 6 9 1

Blue Mt. 000 000 0 – 0 3 2

Ansbach, Steigerwalt (5) and Kane; Gustitus, Miller (7) and Lebold. W – Ansbach L – Gustitus.

Fact