For Franklin Township’s Cole Dietz, the idea is the same in free throw shooting a basketball and pitching a baseball — just keep hitting the target.

That’s exactly what one of the best 10-year-old free throw shooters in the country did Monday from the mound at Jim Thorpe’s McGarvey Field as Franklin defeated Towamensing, 10-0. The Franklin victory forces a winner-take-all game tonight for the District 18 8-10-year-old South Championship.

With his team facing elimination, Dietz was dominant from his first pitch. He struck out the side in the first and second innings with a double by Towamensing’s Cameron Pengelly squeezed in between the six K’s. For his four innings of work in a game ended by mercy rule, Dietz struck out nine, walked one and allowed just two hits.

“I just try to hit my spots inside and outside and change speeds,” Dietz said.

“He’s certainly no stranger to big moments and pressure situations,” said his father and coach, J. C. Dietz, referring to his son standing on the foul line and making over 90 percent of his free throws in front of packed gymnasiums earlier this year in the Elks’ Hoop Shoot competition.

“I’d rather pitch than play anywhere else,” said Cole. “I’m more calm and confident on the mound.”

Dietz helped his own cause in the bottom of the first as Franklin jumped ahead with three runs. After leadoff hitter Aiden Solt walked, Dietz lined a single to center. An infield single by Jayse Lawrence plated Franklin’s first run before Cody Snyder drove in another with a basehit to right field. A third run crossed on a wild pitch.

That’s all Dietz would need, retiring nine of the final 11 hitters he faced to earn the shutout.

“This was a real nice win for us considering we lost 8-1 against their same pitcher the first time we played them,” said coach Dietz. “They’re a really good team, but we did everything right tonight.”

Indeed they did, as Franklin sealed the victory with a five spot in the third and added two more runs in the fourth. Walks and wild pitches added to Towamensing’s woes in the third after an RBI single by Solt and a misplayed bunt added to the rally. In the fourth, back-to-back doubles by Dietz and Lawrence put the nail in the coffin and set the stage for tonight’s rematch.

“We don’t have big bashers,” said coach Dietz. “We rely on small ball and try to set the table for Cole and Jayse, who have come through for us all through the tournament.”

Towamensing coach Andy Pengelly said he could tell early it wasn’t his team’s day.

“We came out flat against a Franklin team that has four starters from last year’s district championship team,” Pengelly said. “Once we fell behind, you could see our kids were not mentally sharp.

“We’ve never had to come from this far behind. We keep telling them to win the at-bat, win the inning. It’s the game within the game, and we didn’t do that.”

A single by Luke Matsko in the third was the only other hit Towamensing could manage off Dietz.

TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT ... Tonight’s championship game will start at 6 p.m. Towamensing will throw its ace, Pengelly. Franklin counters with Lawrence.

BUGBALL ... With game time temperature at the 90-degree mark, the field was swarmed by tiny flying gnats that players tried chasing away with constant waving of their hands.

VERY BLUE ... Something you don’t see everyday in youth baseball was four umpires working the game so every base and home plate had its own set of eyes to make the calls.

Towamensing 000 0 — 0 2 2

Franklin 305 2 — 10 8 1

Keiper, Carelli (3) and Anthony; Dietz and Bellis. W-Dietz. L-Keiper.