The 2025 Schuylkill League Champion Tamaqua Blue Raiders baseball team (Photo by Eli Doyle).

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Noah Mateyak added another level to his comeback season in dominant fashion Thursday night.

The Tamaqua senior left-hander tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits while striking out seven, to lead the Blue Raiders to a 4-0 win over Tri-Valley in the Schuylkill League baseball championship at Robert Wetzel Field.

Mateyak, who did not play baseball last season, faced just 23 batters and needed only 91 pitches to secure Tamaqua’s second straight league crown and fourth overall (2024, 2013, 2009). The win also marked Tamaqua’s 20th of the season.

“It was a very hard decision,” Mateyak said looking back a year ago. “In the middle of the season, I really regretted not coming out. I wished I was a part of the team and then they ended up winning the league championship.”

Fast-forward a year in time, and Mateyak was the man for the job when it came to toeing the rubber in the biggest game of the season to date.

“I’m glad to be back, and we did it again,” Mateyak added. “It’s great because being on the mound, you’re in charge of everything. Everyone is dependent on you and I just make sure to throw strikes.”

Tamaqua (20-1) struck early and never looked back. In the bottom of the first, Mason Ligenza drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on a line-drive single to center by Cooper Ansbach to put the Blue Raiders ahead 1-0.

Ansbach finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, adding another run-scoring single as part of a two-run fifth inning. Luke Kane brought in a run on a sacrifice fly and Tamaqua tacked on its final run in the sixth. Ligenza reached base three times, scored three runs and stole three bases from the leadoff spot.

The Blue Raiders totaled seven steals on the day and committed no errors in the field. Landon Kamant made two stellar plays at the hot corner at third base and went 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of singles.

Tamaqua’s offense tallied 10 hits, including two from Kamant and one each from Jake Yenser, Logan Morgans, Maximus Najarro and Kane.

Tri-Valley (17-6) managed just two hits — singles by Peyton Schley and Bailey Clark — and did not advance a runner beyond second base. The Dawgs turned a double play and played clean defense.

Schley, a freshman, took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits over four innings. Jason Stewart threw two innings in relief, giving up one run on two hits. It was Stewart’s season debut on the mound.

Game Summary

Schuylkill League Baseball Championship
At Robert Wetzel Field

TRI-VALLEY (0) — Nuegard cf 0 0 0 0, Miller dh 3 0 0 0, Stewart ss-p 2 0 0 0, Doyle 1b-ss 3 0 0 0, Klock 2b 3 0 0 0, Porter lf 3 0 0 0, Hatter c 2 0 0 0, Schley p 1 0 1 0, Wehry 1b 1 0 0 0, Clark 3b 1 0 1 0, Scheib rf 2 0 0 0 — Totals 21 0 1 0.

TAMAQUA (4) — Ligenza cf 1 3 1 0, Yenser rf 3 0 1 0, Kane c 3 1 1 2, Ansbach ss 4 0 3 2, Mateyak p 4 0 0 0, Kamant 3b 3 0 2 0, Morgans lf 3 0 1 0, Frohnheiser 1b 0 0 0 0, Najarro dh 2 0 1 0, Steigerwalt pr 0 0 0 0, Witkowski 2b 3 0 0 0 — Totals 27 4 10 3.

TV (17-6)  000 000 0 — 0

Tam (20-1)    100 201 x — 4

2B — Kane

SB — Ligenza 3, Ansbach 2, Yenser

SF — Kane

Tri-Valley

(Pitcher                       IP, H, R, ER, BB, K)

Schley (L, 3-2)        4, 8, 3, 3, 3, 2

Stewart                 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2

Tamaqua

Mateyak (W, 4-0)  7, 2, 0, 0, 1, 7

HBP — By Stewart (Najarro), By Mateyak (Stewart). WP — Stewart.