(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 sports locally and nationally, the On This Dates have been expanded to the stories that actually ran in the next day’s newspaper. Today’s On This Date story is from July 6, 2007).

By TJ Engle

tengle@tnonline.com

CONYNGHAM - Entering last night’s game, the Franklin Township 11-12 year-old All-Star team knew what Valley West pitching phenom Aaron Lipinski had to offer.

Meanwhile, the local All-Stars knew they also had a superb pitcher in Jacen Nalesnik on their side.

When it was all said and done, Nalesnik and Franklin Township’s offense were able to work together to score the all-important 4-1 victory and advance to Tuesday night’s District 18 winner’s bracket final against Tamaqua, a 5-4 winner over Hazleton.

“It was a pitcher’s duel back and forth,” Franklin Township manager Joe Hedash said. “Both teams didn’t hit the ball very well or very hard in the beginning. That’s probably because both of the pitchers were (throwing) really good.”

Nalesnik shut down the Valley West offense for the first five innings until he used up all of his 85 allotted pitches. He then turned the mound duties over to relief pitcher Anthony Rossino. Nalesnik allowed four hits, one walk and mowed down 10 Valley West batters.

Meanwhile, it was the Franklin Township offense that gave Nalesnik the run support he needed to post the win.

“We wanted to come in disciplined because we saw a little bit of Lapinski pitching before,” Hedash said. “He was around the strike zone, but he was up high. So, we had to be patient.

“Some of our batters weren’t that patient early in their at-bats because that meatball at the eyes looks pretty good and they were swinging at it.”

That was what happened with Franklin Township’s Sarah Keer. She was a little impatient in her first at-bat against Lipinski and struck out. Hedash put substitute Dan Berger in for Keer to play defense for an inning and then take an at-bat.

Hedash put his trust back in Keer as she re-entered in the fourth. When she returned to the plate in the fifth, she faced a new pitcher since Lipinski reached the 85-pitch maximum.

Prior to Keer’s at-bat, Nalesnik collected his second hit of the game with a single off Lipinski. Lipinski threw two pitches to Franklin Township’s Connor Hedash before leaving after maxing out his pitch count.

Hedash greeted VW relief pitcher Taylor Thomas with an RBI double, scoring Nalesnik.

Then Keer provided the fireworks that gave her team some insurance runs. On the very first pitch from Thomas, she connected to deep right-center field for a two-run homer.

It was the best boost of energy Keer could provide for herself and the rest of the team.

“It’s funny because she had her head down in the dugout after striking out,” Hedash said. “She was really down on herself. But we said, ‘Hey, don’t put your head down.’ And, she came through. And that was the difference.”

Up until Keer’s blast, it looked as if one run was going to decide the game.

Nalesnik provided that run in the third inning when he reached first base thanks to a fielding error by Valley West’s second baseman. Then, after two straight stolen bases, Nalesnik found his way home safely thanks to a passed ball.

“We got that run on the board early, and that was just because of Jacen on the base paths,” Hedash said. “You just have to manufacture something.”

Hedash was glad to see this year’s team live up to all of the hype last year’s team created, making it straight through to the winner’s bracket final.

“It’s great,” Hedash said. “This is a brand-new team. We had five guys returning from last year. So, you can’t say it’s the same team. We knew we had the bull’s-eye on our back coming in.”

Franklin Twp. 001 030 - 4 5 2

Valley West 000 001 - 1 4 1

Nalesnik, Rossino (6) and Hedash; Lipinski, Thomas (5), Boyle (6) and Michael. W - Nalesnik. L - Lipinski. HR: Valley West - Lipinski (6th, none on); Franklin Township - Keer (5th, one on).

(NOTE: Franklin Township went on the capture the District 18 championship, defeating Hazleton in the title game).