The fireworks came later — but Franklin Township’s spark ignited early.

A year after winning the District 18 11-12-year-old Little League title, Franklin repeated the feat Saturday night, defeating Tamaqua 6-3 at Phifer’s Ice Dam Baseball Field. The victory was powered by a six-run third inning, clutch pitching from Myles Meek and Miles Mann, and standout defense — sending the returning champs back to the Section 6 tournament with momentum.

Franklin edged Valley West 1-0 in last year’s final, then advanced to the championship round of sectional play. With a veteran core and big-game experience, this year’s team is again built for a deep run.

Tamaqua threatened early, loading the bases in the top of the first, but Meek escaped the jam with a strikeout to keep the game scoreless. Tamaqua broke through in the third after Drake Miller singled, reached second on an error and eventually scored on another error after a hard-hit grounder by Jackson Faust to make it 1-0.

Evan Shannon followed with a single to once again load the bases with two outs, but Meek got a pop up to first baseman Jakoby Andrews to end the threat and keep it a one-run game.

Franklin answered immediately — and emphatically — in the bottom of the inning.

Christian Snyder, the No. 8 hitter, worked a walk to open the inning and set off a six-run outburst. Meek tied the game with an RBI single as Snyder beat the throw home. With the bases loaded and one out, Brody Hunsicker drew a walk to plate Bryson Brungard and make it 2-1.

Dean Kuhns scored on a wild pitch to give Franklin a 3-1 advantage before Andrews doubled to score Meek. Jake Kistner capped the rally with a two-out single to score Hunsicker and Andrews, and push the Franklin lead to 6-1.

“We talk about 1 through 12 — any of our guys can put the ball in play,” said Franklin manager Travis Hunsicker. “That rally started at the bottom of the lineup. Our 10, 11, 12 batters during the regular season batted 1, 2, or 3. This isn’t new — they’ve done it before.”

Tamaqua responded with two runs in the top of the fourth — but not before Franklin second baseman Brungard made a diving catch on a line drive for the first out of the inning, momentarily slowing the momentum.

“That’s Bryson Brungard,” Hunsicker said. “He’s an 11-year-old who’s always diving, always dirty — in practice, games, sun or rain. He’s fantastic. That’s just what he does.”

After an error and a single, Jakson Perez lined a two-run triple to left to score Kroy Tirpak and Adam Balliet and cut the deficit to 6–3. But with the tying run standing in the on-deck circle, Meek shut the door with a big strikeout to end the inning — then retired the side in order in the fifth.

Meek, a four-time district champion, delivered a steady performance. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing three unearned runs on six hits, striking out eight and walking just one. He threw 62 of his 86 pitches for strikes. Miles Mann recorded the final two outs in the sixth, with Franklin turning a sharp game-ending double play — Brungard to Meek to Andrews — to seal the win.

“Myles is one of our two aces,” Hunsicker said. “He’s a lefty, his ball moves, and he just doesn’t get rattled. You wouldn’t know if he gave up 10 home runs or struck out 10 in a row. That’s just who he is.”

Andrews finished 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI along with a run scored. Meek went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored, while Kistner added a 1-for-2 effort with two RBIs.

Tamaqua put up a strong fight in its run to the final.

“These kids have been playing all-stars together for the last three, four years,” said Tamaqua manager Mark Bartczak. “They’re close-knit. They’ve worked hard. It was one tough inning tonight — and that’s a life lesson. They responded well. They didn’t hang their heads.”

Tamaqua battled back after an earlier tournament loss, winning multiple games to earn a shot at the title.

“We had a long road ahead of us, and they accepted the challenge,” Bartczak said. “Even down 6-1, they came back and put themselves right back in the game. This group plays with heart and passion.”

Perez’s triple was one of seven hits for Tamaqua. Shannon went 2-for-3, while Tirpak, Miller, Schultz and Balliet also had hits, and Tamaqua played error-free in the field. Shannon struck out five in 2 1/3 innings.

“I’ve coached a lot of teams — basketball, soccer, baseball — but this group is special,” Bartczak added. “To watch their growth over the years, to see them care so much about the game and each other … it’s been one of the best times of my life.”

MOVING ON ... Franklin now advances to the Section 6 tournament and will likely face Stroudsburg on Saturday. As the players hoisted the championship banner and gathered for photos, fireworks burst through the summer night sky beyond the outfield fence — a perfect backdrop for a team that continues to rise to the moment.

UP NEXT ... Tamaqua will participate in the upcoming Panther Valley Little League Tournament, which gets underway this week.

Tamaqua 001 200 - 3 7 0

Franklin Twp. 006 00x - 6 5 4

Shannon, Faust (3) and Tirpak; Meek, Mann (6) and Hunsicker. W - Meek. L - Shannon. S - Mann.