Franklin 9-10s left no doubt, took home D25 banner

Editor's note: CORRECTION: we reported this was the first championship for 10U in over 20 years, one of our readers quickly pointed out that they won in 2014 and showed proof. Our apologies.

One play is never really the difference in a game.

​Sports writers throughout the history occasionally go down that path to glorify a turning point that led to a win, but it’s always the culmination of many plays that are the true portrait of a how a team wins.
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In Franklin’s 10 and under win over Butler by the score 10-4 this weekend,  there were several key plays, that, without their success, could’ve proved detrimental to the outcome. 
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Chase Barrett’s two seemingly routine gloves of grounders at short and perfect throws to first in the final inning were huge. One bobble and it could've led to a rally. But they were fielded clean and the throws were hard and on the money.

​Barrett Smith’s acrobatic catch, that no one in the stands thought he could get in the fifth, recorded a big out at time Butler appeared to rallying.
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In the same inning a shot deep to left field with runners in scoring position appeared to be sailing well over 50-inch-tall Owen Hefferman’s head.

But the speedy outfielder used every bit of his height and vertical leap to snag the ball at about eight and half feet in the air to retire the side and put the brakes on the mounting Butler rally.

Huge.

Any of these plays could have resulted in a different outcome had Franklin not executed them efficiently.

"You know the catastrophes that can happen on a single mistake​ and it just falls apart," said interim coach Matt Carll filling in for Scott Milliron, who was in a wedding Saturday. "If they made an error, it's all different. They kept their head until the end... they did a great job."
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To see more photos of Franklin 10U games visit ​https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p309234170
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Chase Barrett started on the mound for Franklin and befuddled Butler for the most part. Of the 79 pitches he threw to 18 batters, only two of them touched home plate. Bryce Beightol came in to relive him with two outs already in the fourth. Other than a two-run single given up in the fifth he kept Butler at bay

Offensively, having drawn the visitor of the coin-flip, they hopped right to putting up runs. Grayson Milliron drilled the second pitch of the game right-center. Then Michael Rodrigues and Garret Smith drew walks loading the bases for Barret who doubled in two. Torin Schmidt got a blooped base hit to score another. In all Franklin jumped out to a five run first with every batter getting up.

Butler did appear to be ready to strike back in the bottom of the first, but Barrett hunkered down on the mound and, with runners on base, struck out two and got a squib back to the pitcher only giving up one run.

Franklin exploded for four more runs in the third with a little help from Butler. ​

A pair of walks and an infield single by Hefferman loaded the bases. Milliron sent one up the middle to score two more. Franklin would then score two on wild pitches to take a 9-1 lead.

They took the lead to 10-1 when Cam Greska scored on a Schmidt infield grounder that end up a fielder's choice force at second.

In the bottom of the fourth it looked like Butler finally got its train moving.Two straight doubles led to a score.  Then an error put runners on first and third with no outs.

Then Barrett nearing his pitch count doubled down and struck out the next two batters. Beightol came in and threw only one pitch to record the final out of the inning with a routine grounder to second.

Butler again seemed poised for a big inning in the fifth but only ended up scoring one run thanks to two incredible catches by Franklin's third baseman and left fielder.

Even though Butler scatted eight hits in the game, every attempt at a rally was stopped dead in its tracks by solid Franklin pitching and defense before  doing much damage.

"​All these kids were warriors today. They just battled, they kept their heads. They were positive the whole time. That’s what we preach to them," said Carll who coaches many of the kids on the Firestorm travel ball team as well. "And, oh man - that first inning they came out hot.” 

Carll praised the entire team for their effort but noted the effort of his starting pitcher who also played a solid shortstop in the later innings and scored twice and drove in another in the 40-4 victory.

"Chase (Barrett) is just an amazing athlete, all these kids are great athletes, I’m not trying to single anyone out but Chase... to come out at such a young age and stick in their on the championship stage, in front of everybody... holy moly - that’s fantastic."

"This was such an honor to be asked to step in to coach these kids today," Carll said after the game where Franklin 10U won the District 25 title.

Head coach Scott Milliron was bummed earlier in the week when he learned the game was scheduled on the same day he agreed to be in a wedding out of town. "I can't emphasize enough how honored I am to be here and a part of this."

Carll said he goes back to being a fan again and will watch Franklin, the District 25 champs, from the other side of the fence as they head to play sections in Meadville beginning July 17 in Meadville. Franklin will play the District 1 winner in the 8 p.m. game under the lights at the Crawford County Fairgrounds field. Meadville/Vernon is taking on Saegertown tonight. Saegertown will need to beat Mdv/V twice wo advance.

To see more photos of Franklin 10U games visit ​https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p309234170