(EDITOR’S NOTE: Since May of 1999, the Times News Sports Department has featured an On This Date practically every day, highlighting an event that happened in the past. With the coronavirus putting a halt to most sports locally and nationally, the On This Dates have been expanded to the stories that actually ran in the next edition’s newspaper. Today’s On This Date story is from July 28, 2007).

By Rod Heckman

rheckman@tnonline.com

Big-time players are supposed to produce in big-time situations.

And Jared Ahner of the Franklin Township Red Sox is a big-time player.

It came as no surprise, then, that the league’s MVP and top pitcher delivered a big-time effort in Saturday’s championship game against Drums.

Ahner tossed a complete game three-hitter, striking out nine, to lead the host Red Sox to a 7-1 victory and the Keystone Senior Babe Ruth league title.

“I gave the ball to Jared and he had that look in his eyes,” said FT head coach Ken Eck. “He kept them off-balanced and his breaking ball was really working.

“Once we got up, Jared told me the three-run lead was all he would need.”

It was the visitors, though, who almost jumped out to an early advantage. A one-out double by Dino Deritis and a single and stolen base by Bill Burrows gave the Hazleton-based club two runners in scoring position. Ahner, however, got a strikeout and an infield pop-up to get out of the jam.

“We should have got some runs in that first inning,” said Mike Santucci, the Drums’ mentor. “He’s a real good pitcher and battled back. We had our No. 4 and 5 hitters up at the time, which is what you want, but he (Ahner) kept his cool and got out of it.

“That kid’s the best pitcher in the league. When you get behind him, it’s hard to keep your head up. They were just the better team today.”

Ahner eventually got his lead in the second inning, as some shoddy play helped Franklin grab a 3-0 cushion. After Eric Parliman singled to left, back-to-back walks to Kris Kalaf and Pat Dennis loaded the bases. A passed ball allowed one run to score, while a balk and a wild pitch plated two more. The Red Sox tacked on two more in the third as a sacrifice fly from Joe Hughes and another wild pitch pushed the margin to 5-0.

“I was just hoping to get a few runs, stay ahead, and then try to shut ‘em down the rest of the way,” said Ahner, who throws a fastball, changeup and slider. “I felt great and I had a good defense behind me. Everything seemed to be working.

“It was huge to get out of that first inning and after that, I tried to dig down and keep runners off base.”

While Ahner would set down the side in order in three of the last five innings, he did run into a little trouble in the fourth frame. Burrows smacked a double to lead off and scampered to third on a passed ball. Ahner’s only walk of the contest followed, but a grounder to third off the bat of Nick Hoffman turned into an around-the-horn double play.

Despite the shutout being over, the twin killing ended the potential for a big inning.

“The double play was one of the biggest plays of the game,” said Ahner, who finished with 104 pitches. “It feels great to win this. Last year we were runners-up. We have everybody back next year, so we’re hoping to be good again next year.”

The winners added some insurance in the home sixth, collecting half of their six hits in the frame. Hughes beat out an infield single and moved to third on Parliman’s double to the left field gap. Ben Millen delivered a two-out hit to right to bring home both runners.

“We had good defense, timely hitting and great pitching,” said Eck, whose team finished the season 20-3. “In the beginning of the season, I knew we were young but we had a lot of talent. I wasn’t sure how we’d respond to being young ... but everything just clicked.

“It was just a fantastic season, and we couldn’t have asked for more. My coaches do a great job, and I’m very proud of these players.”

Drums 000 100 0 - 1 3 1

FT Red Sox 032 002 x - 7 6 1

Davidyock, Wortherspoon (3) and Chrismer; Ahner and Farole. W - Ahner. L - Davidyock.