The Panther Valley Little League Tournament, a time-honored tradition that has been played for nearly 60 years, may not have had a more dominating all-star performance than the one turned in this season by Franklin Township’s 9-10-year-olds.

The burgundy-clad Rovers were never headed in eight games, dispatching seven opponents in mercy-rule fashion en route to capturing the Times News sponsored Mike Turano Memorial Trophy.

Scoring in every inning, Franklin Township closed out its perfect run in the tournament with a four-inning 11-0 victory over Tamaqua Friday evening, finishing well before dusk engulfed Tamaqua’s Bill Angst Stadium on Dutch Hill.

“We have some great kids. We’ve been fortunate to have good pitching and some timely hitting throughout the tournament,” said Franklin Township manager JC Dietz. “This has been such a great experience for the players, the coaches, and the fans.

“I was honored to be a part of this event. It has so much tradition and I’m proud of our team for winning the tournament.”

To be sure, the Rovers clamped hard on Tamaqua at the onset, zooming to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first and gliding to the victory. Zoltan Bedocs singled to start the rally, and then watched as his teammates coaxed five walks and a hit batter to forge the early lead and build momentum.

That was more than enough for the Franklin pitching combination of Cole Dietz and Jayse Lawrence, who combined to toss a no-hitter. Dietz worked three full innings, walking one a striking out four. Lawrence pitched the final inning, striking out three and walking one.

Tamaqua coach Brian Yenser knew coming in that his team was in a precarious position. The Raiders were sapped of pitching, needing to use their top two hurlers in an eight-inning victory over Weatherly one night earlier.

“Franklin is a fantastic team. I give them props,” said Yenser, who was also without Anna Ackerman, the team’s No. 3 pitcher. “I’m proud of our kids. We had a nice tournament. Franklin is just very good.”

The quick 5-0 start turned to a 6-0 lead in the second for Franklin. It closed the game out with a three-run third and two more runs in the fourth.

HITTING IT HARD… Franklin Township had six hits in the contest. Carter Bellis had two singles and an RBI. Adding one single apiece for FT were Hunter Steigerwalt, Dietz, Lawrence and Bedocs.

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAY … The game’s webgem play came from Tamaqua second baseman Jaden Chalk who went to his left and snagged a liner hit by Aston Wentz in shallow right to rob the Franklin hitter of a base knock.

Franklin Twp. 513 2 – 11 6 0

Tamaqua 000 00 – 0 0 1

Dietz, Lawrence (4) and Bellis; Meckes, McCabe (3) and Fronheiser. W – Dietz. L – Meckes.