Franklin rolled into the championship game in the 12 and under District 25 bracket with a trouncing of both the tough Cranberry and Butler teams. They also edged Clarion 3-1 on the way.
Smart money was on them.
Cranberry, however, had other thoughts.
Smart money was on them.
Cranberry, however, had other thoughts.
Against Franklin a few days ago, Cranberry scored nine times. That’s a pretty strong offensive effort in baseball - so they knew if they could get another crack at them and somehow quell Franklin’s bats, stop their base runners from advancing and not throw as many wild pitches they'd have a shot.
They had to get by Butler in the loser’s bracket final to get that chance. And boy did they. Erupting for 17 runs to crush Butler in four innings.
Then it was revenge mode as they headed back to face Franklin at Miller-Sibley Thursday in a must-win or be eliminated game..
Then it was revenge mode as they headed back to face Franklin at Miller-Sibley Thursday in a must-win or be eliminated game..
“Hustle, hit-never quit,” was something they would yell out to each other in between innings.
On Thursday Cranberry jumped out to a first inning lead, but then, just couldn’t seem to get anything going in the next three innings.
Franklin’s defense was stellar.
Fortunately for Cranberry so was their defense and Franklin’s attempt to get any momentum started was stopped in its tracks.
Franklin’s defense was stellar.
Fortunately for Cranberry so was their defense and Franklin’s attempt to get any momentum started was stopped in its tracks.
The fifth inning was different.
Cranberry’s bats got hot and Franklin’s pitcher began struggling. A base hit and a couple walks lead way for a Matt Antrilli double ending the scoring drought. They added one more to put added pressure on Franklin in the final two innings.
Franklin just couldn’t muster any offense at all.
Cranberry added one more the sixth to stay alive to play Franklin one more time the following night.
Cranberry’s bats got hot and Franklin’s pitcher began struggling. A base hit and a couple walks lead way for a Matt Antrilli double ending the scoring drought. They added one more to put added pressure on Franklin in the final two innings.
Franklin just couldn’t muster any offense at all.
Cranberry added one more the sixth to stay alive to play Franklin one more time the following night.
Friday night Franklin looked more like themselves.
Even though Cranberry's Dylan Gregory drove an early pitch to deep right-center for a double, he didn’t make it any further than third despite his pleas of “Cmon don’t leave me out here,” to the next three batters.
Then Franklin, despite the first two batters going down quick, got a single up the middle from Korbyn Sires to bring up Jake Saragian. Getting his bat around quickly and connecting, the first base coach began yelling “hurry, get out, hurry.”
He wasn’t talking to his ball player, he was talking to the ball.
Whether it was the power of Saragian’s swing or the enthusiasm of the coach, that ball left the park and gave Franklin the first lead it has had over Cranberry in seven innings.
Then Franklin, despite the first two batters going down quick, got a single up the middle from Korbyn Sires to bring up Jake Saragian. Getting his bat around quickly and connecting, the first base coach began yelling “hurry, get out, hurry.”
He wasn’t talking to his ball player, he was talking to the ball.
Whether it was the power of Saragian’s swing or the enthusiasm of the coach, that ball left the park and gave Franklin the first lead it has had over Cranberry in seven innings.
In the second, Cranberry looked as though they had another chance to score, but again left runners on base as Franklin pitch Holden Goodman kept his head about him despite giving up a couple walks and drilling Korbin Baker in the leg to load the bases. He beared down and struck out the final batter of the inning.
In the bottom of the second Franklin added another after Cranberry pitcher Clark Findlay hit Tucker Montgomery and walked LJ Desko before Tanner Hefferman hit one off the Cranberry shortstop’s glove to score Montgomery.
That’s all Franklin would be able to muster the rest of the game. Though it gave them a 3-0 lead, Cranberry was about to come to life.
In the bottom of the second Franklin added another after Cranberry pitcher Clark Findlay hit Tucker Montgomery and walked LJ Desko before Tanner Hefferman hit one off the Cranberry shortstop’s glove to score Montgomery.
That’s all Franklin would be able to muster the rest of the game. Though it gave them a 3-0 lead, Cranberry was about to come to life.
That “hustle, hit - never quit” chant went through the dugout as they got ready to bat in the third.
With one out, Kannon Speerstra took one for the team and went to first rubbing his arm. Bryce “Boomer” Marchincke got a bobbled-base-hit that was enough to put runners at second and third.
This was the third inning in a row Cranberry threatened.
But unlike the first two inning’s this time they scored.
Clark Findlay was just a few feet from a homerun off the left-field fence. A good play on the ball and throw back in only allowed one runner to score. A walk loaded the bases and brought on a Franklin pitching change.
Carter Barrett came in to get Grayon Sutley to ground out to shortstop, but the play scored a run. Franklin got out of the inning still in the lead.
With one out, Kannon Speerstra took one for the team and went to first rubbing his arm. Bryce “Boomer” Marchincke got a bobbled-base-hit that was enough to put runners at second and third.
This was the third inning in a row Cranberry threatened.
But unlike the first two inning’s this time they scored.
Clark Findlay was just a few feet from a homerun off the left-field fence. A good play on the ball and throw back in only allowed one runner to score. A walk loaded the bases and brought on a Franklin pitching change.
Carter Barrett came in to get Grayon Sutley to ground out to shortstop, but the play scored a run. Franklin got out of the inning still in the lead.
The fourth inning got a little crazy with solid hits, but also throwing errors that cost Franklin some runs including a shot by Marchinke that lived up to his “Boomer” nickname that turned into an inside the park error riddled homerun.
Franklin still had three at-bats to come back from the now 6-3 deficit. But Findlay was pitching well and the infield was playing even better. Third baseman John Shreve didn’t seem to let anything get by him and made heads up throws to record needed outs. Baker at first was a backstop knocking down two hard shots at first. Any of these plays in the late innings that were not played like pros could’ve changed everything.
But they made the plays.
Franklin still had three at-bats to come back from the now 6-3 deficit. But Findlay was pitching well and the infield was playing even better. Third baseman John Shreve didn’t seem to let anything get by him and made heads up throws to record needed outs. Baker at first was a backstop knocking down two hard shots at first. Any of these plays in the late innings that were not played like pros could’ve changed everything.
But they made the plays.
“You guys did it,” yelled long-time coach Chip Jordan into the dugout after Cranberry shook hands with Franklin as the new District 25 champions.
We started last year with six of these kids… also we had them in fall ball. I could tell what kind of kids these were, they never really gave up. Franklin played a great game, we were just a tad bit better." Jordan said.
"They beat us," said head coach Franklin's head coach Ryan Goodman
"The ball didn’t bounce our way tonight. (Cranberry) played some good defense, the ball went their way," said Goodman. He pointed to some really good plays by players that had they not played them perfectly it could've changed some thing. "The tournament was great, the team is great, they never hung their heads. I’m super proud of the kids and they played well, practiced well and played good as a group. it was good season. its a great group of parents, you don’t always have that but we did. It was very pleasurable coaching these guys."
For Jordan, he said it was his first championship in his 40 years.
"It’s about the kids, that’s what the great part of this sport is. You let the kids play, you let the kids do their thing, you teach them, but you also have to stay out of their way and shut up," Jordan said after the game.
"These are a great bunch."
Cranberry moves on to sections July 18 to 22 in Saegertown.
"These are a great bunch."
Cranberry moves on to sections July 18 to 22 in Saegertown.
To view more photos from Franklin and Cranberry games please visit https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p735548083
One final thought
Cranberry's Clark Findlay threw six and one-third innings and the maximum amount of pitches allowed, 85. "He was out there throwing his guts out," said Chip Jordan, Cranberry's head coach.
Two of his pitches stood out to us here at Eight & 322. When he hit two Franklin batters during the game, he walked toward each of them as they made their way to first base just to ask if they were ok and to apologize.
That is Little League baseball right there.
Two of his pitches stood out to us here at Eight & 322. When he hit two Franklin batters during the game, he walked toward each of them as they made their way to first base just to ask if they were ok and to apologize.
That is Little League baseball right there.
To view more photos from Franklin and Cranberry games please visit https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p735548083
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