What a difference a day makes.

After being shut out and mercy ruled the night before, Towamensing brought it’s “A” game on Tuesday against Franklin in a winner-take-all match to win the District 18 8-10-year-old South championship,11-6.

“I have to admit that I was concerned about how we would play after losing to them (Monday),” said Towamensing coach Andy Pengelly. “Franklin’s a really good team and defending champs. We preached what we always do – win the at-bat, win the inning, play the game within the game.”

Pengelly’s troops answered the call, scoring three times in the top of the first inning with quality at-bats. Luke Matsko singled off the pitcher’s glove to get the rally started. Following a walk to Alex Keiper, Jason Carrelli blooped a single to left to load the bases with nobody out. Franklin pitcher, Jayse Lawrence, retired the next two hitters on an infield fly and a strike out, but wild pitches scored Matsko and Keiper, before Carelli scampered home on the back-end of a double steal.

“We wanted to be more aggressive running the bases and take chances that they wouldn’t make all good throws,” said Pengelly.

Down 3-0, Franklin came roaring back to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Leadoff hitter Aiden Solt banged a triple to the gap in right center. Carter Bellis then laid down a bunt single to score Solt. Bellis would later come home on a ground out and Lawrence, who had walked, scored the third run when Zoltan Bedoc’s single to right eluded the fielder.

“It was great for our team when we got all the runs back in the first,” said Franklin coach JC Dietz, who was hoping the momentum had switched to his team’s side.

Towamensing took the lead in the top of the second courtesy of three walks and a wild pitch.

A five-run third would blow the game open for the visitors. Anthony doubled home a run and then, with the bags loaded, Carelli lifted a deep fly ball over the left fielder’s head for a bases-clearing double.

With a comfortable cushion to work with, pitcher Cameron Pengelly shut down Franklin’s bats with three straight hitless innings from the second through the fourth

“Since he was nine, Cameron has pitched in big games, even against 12-year-olds, so he’s pretty used to the pressure,” said his father and coach. “He knew he wouldn’t shut them out for the whole game, but after the first, he took command.”

Pengelly reached his pitch limit in the fifth and Franklin, down 10-3, grabbed the opportunity to climb back in the game. A hit batsman, a walk, a wild pitch, and a double steal set the table for Bedocs again, and he promptly singled to center to score two. An infield error that lead to another run that cut Franklin’s deficit to four, but after a scoreless home sixth, Towamensing was hoisting the district trophy.

“When you play them, there’s a small margin for error,” said Dietz. “They were the better team today.”

Dietz said there was no reason for his team to hang their heads.

“I’m proud of our kids. We made it back to the South final with just four returning from last year’s champions. I wish Towamensing best of luck against the North.”

Pengelly felt his team’s victory was extra special because there was a “monkey to get off their back.”

“This victory was three years in the making, having lost to Franklin the last two times in the finals,” he said. “I guess you could say the third time was the charm.”

UP NEXT ... Towamensing will now meet District 18 North champion Valley West in a best-of-three series that begins on Saturday at Freeland at 1 p.m. Games are also scheduled for Sunday and Tuesday (if needed) at Freeland. Franklin will prepare for the Panther Valley Tournament, which will begin after district play has concluded.

Towamensing 315 101 — 11 7 4

Franklin 300 030 — 6 4 3

Pengelly, Carelli (5) and Anthony. Lawrence, Solt (3), Bellis (5) and Bellis, Snyder (2). W- Pengelly. L- Lawrence.