McADOO – If there is another little league baseball program in District 18 that can match pitch-for-pitch, hit-for-hit and produce champions like Valley West, it surely is Franklin Township.

For the second straight season, Township took care of what many consider to be “the program,” sweeping West in a best-of-three series at the host site Tri-County.

In another true-grit performance, the Maroon Marauders came from behind in true championship fashion, overcoming a two-run deficit to defeat Valley West, 10-5, and capture its second straight District 18 Little League 10-12 year-old championship.

Although the Marauders struggled at the plate to get hits, they played heady on the base paths, and took advantage of miscues to grind out the victory. The win sends this group of warriors to the Section 6 playoffs starting next week.

After tagging Valley West Wednesday with an 18-1 clubbing, Franklin was in a six-inning battle in this one.

“Valley West is a scrappy bunch of kids, and we knew that we had to keep our heads on the game,” said the Franklin Township skipper Ben Moyer. “We knew they’d come back … we warned our kids that they had to be ready.”

It looked like Franklin Township was ready at the onset when it scored a pair of first inning runs using a pair of walks and an Owen Moyer two-run single.

However, that lead didn’t last long as Valley West scored three in the top of the second and one in the third to jump in front 4-2.

Then the Marauders started to come to life with a four-run third. Carter Spotts and Miles Mann drew walks, after a fielder’s choice groundout, Myles Meek laid down a perfectly executed suicide squeeze bunt and a two errors opened the flood gates.

Franklin grabbed the lead and never looked back thereafter.

“This is the first game where we really faced adversity and we responded great,” Moyer said.

After grabbing the lead, Moyer called on his son Owen to pitch the final two-and-a third innings and slam the door on Valley West.

“That’s my son, he gives me headaches,” the skipper laughed about Owen’s performance.

But that wasn’t the case on his particular evening. Moyer mowed down the side over the last two innings with six-straight strikeouts.

The Marauders offense gave Moyer a little breathing with a four-run fourth inning that broke open what was a one-run game at the time.

Singles by Roman White and Moyer were the key blows in the frame.

“We were confident in the kids that we selected for the team,” said coach Moyer. “We had a great squad, great chemistry.

“It’s 11 ball players and everyone contributed - 1-throurgh-11. It didn’t matter who I subbed in … they were ready to play.”

That definitely showed as Township went a combined 5-0 in two postseason tournaments – including a pair of victories over a daunting Valley West program.

GREAT CATCH … Franklin’s centerfielder Meek came up with a super play in the fourth, robbing a sure extra-base hit from Bronx Mummy.

WHO’S ON FIRST … There was a bit of confusion in the top of the first when Valley West’s Jivan Llibre hit a line drive back to pitcher Mann who snagged the ball, but on the exchange to his his throwing hand, the ball came out of his glove. The home plate umpire called it right with an out, Mann flipped to first baseman White who forced Mummy who had got off the base. Quick double play!

FRANKLIN BATS … Franklin had five singles. Meek’s squeeze bunt, two from Moyer, and one each by White and Colby Solt. Solt’s hit was a back-breaking two-run single in the fifth inning which gave Franklin a big lift.

Valley West 031 100 – 5 7 4

Franklin Twp. 204 40X – 10 5 2

Kalce, Laibie (3) and Mummey; Mann, Moyer (4) and Carter. W – Mann L – Kalce.