HOLLAND — There will be no hanging up the cleats just yet.

The gloves won’t be resting on the dresser.

That’s because the Franklin Township 11-12 year-old All-Stars are still alive in the Section 6 Little League Tournament.

A day after losing its tournament opener to Newton, Franklin returned to action in the loser’s bracket of the double elimination tournament. With determination and desire to keep their season going, Franklin Township got back in the win column with a 6-2 victory over Stroudsburg on Monday evening.

“I think we knew we played a good game (on Sunday). We were in the game the entire way,” said FT manager Ben Moyer. “We had base runners late in the game. So, I don’t think we were too discouraged by the loss.

“We felt that if we could come back out and keep hitting the baseball, and put pressure on the other team, we would be able to score some runs to get a W.”

Leading the charge for the District 18 champs was Carter Spotts, who took the bump and pitched an absolute gem.

In his first postseason appearance on the mound, Spotts came within one out of tossing a complete. The right-hander hurled 5 2/3 innings of one-hit baseball. He walked two and finished with 11 strikeouts. The only hit he allowed was a single in the fourth inning.

“You’re talking about a kid that has pitched zero innings for us in districts and sectionals and came in, and pitched one out short of a complete game, and really limited the damage to two runs.,” said Moyer of Spotts, whose jersey number (No. 11) matched his strikeout total.

“He did exactly what we needed him to do, so we could conserve some of our pitching moving forward.”

While Spotts didn’t give Stroudsburg too many chances to cross home plate, Franklin Township made the most of its chances — especially in both the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings.

After the District 29 champions scratched out two runs in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2, Franklin immediately answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame.

Jayce Hunsberger was hit by a pitch to start the rally, and Roman White followed with a bunt single. Hunsberger eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Solt, and White came around on a Parker Cummins RBI single.

Up 4-2, Franklin added some insurance in the fifth.

With one out, Spotts and Owen Moyer hit back-to-back doubles to score one run. Later in the inning, Moyer raced home on a passed ball.

FT’s Jakoby Andrews was the lone player with multiple hits, finishing with two singles, although everyone contributed to the victory that sends them into tonight’s contest against Southern Lehigh — which lost 4-3 in walk-off fashion to Newtown.

“It was a great team effort,” Moyer said. “The kids stepped it up when we needed them to — like Parker getting the big hit in the fourth inning. Carter pitched a near complete game, and Colby Solt came in to get the last out for us. It was a great win.”

ANDREWS ON TARGET … Andrews, FT’s center fielder, made it back-to-back games with multiple hits. He had a single and a double in Sunday’s game. Hard work has paid off in the batter’s box for him, according to his coach. “He practices non-stop. Always find him at the batting cages,” Moyer said. “He has been hitting the ball great for us. And he’s 11, and that makes it that much better.”

ONE LAST THING … When asked about anything else, Moyer signed off with, “It was hot, and our kids persevered.” The temperature was a blazing 95 degrees at game time in Holland.

Stroudsburg 000 200 - 2 1 1

Franklin Twp. 101 22x - 6 9 1

Jordan V., Dominick M and Frankie R; Spotts, Solt (6) and Moyer. W - Spotts. L - Jordan V.