Ethan Laible couldn’t have asked for a better supporting cast.

The Franklin Township 11–12-year-old All-Star starting pitcher didn’t have to worry about trying to make every out himself Wednesday night.

Instead of focusing on striking out every batter last night, Laible had trust in his Franklin Township teammates to make the necessary plays on the field.

In the end, Laible and Company punched their ticket to the Section 6 Tournament championship with a 2-0 victory over District 20 champion Southern Lehigh in the loser’s bracket final.

Franklin will face Newton in the tournament championship tonight at 6 p.m. needing back-to-back wins to earn the Section 6 title.

“We have been preaching to these guys since the beginning that we go out there as a team and everybody needs to step up when their turn is called,” said FT manager Ben Moyer. “Ethan did a great job keeping his pitch count down. He only had three strikeouts in the game.

“Fifteen balls put into play, and we made 15 outs on the field without a single error. You can’t ask for anything more than that from them.”

After Laible opened the game with a single to right field in the top of the first, Beckett Spigelmyer started the bottom of the inning with a single to left field for Southern Lehigh.

After that, Liable held Southern Lehigh to only three more hits over the next five innings.

Southern Lehigh starter Bud Johnson (five innings) recorded nine strikeouts on the day, but FT hitters stayed confident at the plate.

“We always try to tell the kids ‘If you have a bad at-bat, or you strike out, you can’t let it affect you because the ball will find you in the field,” Moyer said. “And that was especially true tonight, as we had guys strikeout and came right back out on the field and made a great play. Kudos to them for keeping their heads in the game and staying focused.”

Laible got Southern Lehigh hitters to fly out three times, ground out five times and line out a total of seven times in the game.

A single run in two separate innings proved to be the difference in Wednesday’s pitching duel for Franklin.

With two outs in the second inning, Myles Meek delivered an RBI-single to score Roman White, who had singled.

With two-outs in the top of the last inning, Moyer watched Jayce Graham record a key hit in the tournament. Shortly after Jakoby Andrews and Brody Hunsicker hit back-to-back singles, Graham shook off a 2-2 count for an RBI-single to bring Andrews home.

“He’s our number 12 hitter and he probably came out and had the biggest hit of the year for us giving us that extra insurance run,” Moyer said. “Because you go up 2-0, it’s a whole lot more comfortable than 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth.

“What a huge spot for him with two outs. I’m proud of him. I’m proud of them all. One through 12, we have confidence in everybody.”

Playing three games in a span of four days, Franklin Township needs two wins to take the title home, with a winner-take-all game Friday at 6 p.m. if FT can prevail tonight.

“We have been telling our kids from the beginning we are coming to Sectionals to compete, and I think that we have shown that we are a team that can compete,” Moyer said. “We’re going to come out tomorrow against Newton and give it our all. We’ll give them our best shot.”

BUD AT BAT … The two teams combined for 10 hits, with Southern Lehigh’s Bud Johnson recording a pair of singles. Six different FT players had a hit.

EXTRA TRIP, NO PROBLEM … FT almost played three games in three days, but Tuesday’s game was postponed due to weather. “It was a bummer to make the trip down here last night and not be able to play the game,” Moyer said. “But, if you ask any of our families, getting the victory tonight made up for making the trip last night.”

UNFINISHED BUSINESS … A year after losing to Valley West in the District 18 championship and falling a game short of the Section 6 tournament, Franklin Township is where it wants to be right now – in the championship round with a chance to win a title.

Franklin Twp. 010 001 - 2 6 0

So. Lehigh 000 000 - 0 4 0

Laible and Spotts; Johnson, Spigelmyer (6) and Roth. W - Laible. L - Johnson.