Sometimes, a little rain is a good thing.

Franklin Township trailed 4-1, with its only run scoring on a hit batter, an error and a wild pitch. At the plate, its hitters were just 1-for-11 when rain started to fall at Limeport Stadium in the top of the fourth inning.

Coach J.C. Deitz used the delay to let his players know they looked a little flat and had to pick things up or be eliminated from the Connie Mack state tournament. His challenge was simple: Tie the game by the end of the inning once play resumed.

The challenge was accepted.

The Mud Dawgs responded by taking a 5-4 lead and went on to defeat East Stroudsburg 7-5 to keep their tournament run alive.

“It wasn’t that they weren’t trying or they weren’t into it, but they just didn’t have the fire that they usually have had this season and throughout the tournament,” explained Deitz. “There was just something lacking; maybe it was from the two days between games or because guys are going on vacation, but I told them, ‘You’re not on vacation yet.’”

Appropriately enough, Franklin Township’s first run of the inning looked much like its first run of the game, as an error, two hit batters and a passed ball brought a run home.

From there, Brayden Ulshafer singled to drive in a run, and a groundout by Matt Goida plated another to tie the game. The go-ahead run scored when Luke Haydt ripped a double into the right-center field gap to bring home Ulshafer.

Ulshafer has swung a hot bat for Franklin Township, hitting .667 (8-for-12) in the tournament with four runs scored and three RBIs.

“I play basketball, too, but I’m not playing now. I’m just focusing on baseball and working to get better here and help my team,” said Ulshafer. “I think it’s paying off because I’m playing well and I feel comfortable at the plate.”

East Stroudsburg scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning against starter Parker Rodgers to take a 4-0 lead.

Haydt came on in relief and, after allowing a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly, settled in by striking out the final two hitters of the inning. He allowed a runner to reach second base in both the fifth and sixth innings but stranded both.

Franklin Township added to its lead in the fifth after another of East Stroudsburg’s three errors put the leadoff hitter on second base. One out later, Logan Bellis drilled a double into the right-center field gap to score Braylon Hunsicker, who had reached on the error.

Cash White was robbed of a hit when shortstop Even Siptroth made a diving catch of a sinking liner on the second-base side of the bag for the second out. A walk to Grant Birnbaum brought Ulshafer to the plate, and he followed with a single to left that scored Bellis and gave Franklin Township a 7-4 lead.

“Ulshafer has been playing great,” said Deitz, who also serves as Lehighton’s head coach. “I really got on him as a freshman, and I think he would tell you that, because there was something there. I think he sees now why I was on him because he has become such a great player, and he’s only going to get better.”

Midway through the bottom of the seventh inning, light rain began to fall again as East Stroudsburg mounted one last rally.

With a runner on second and one out, Noah Whitney singled to right to score a run and cut the deficit to 7-5. One out later, Haydt walked a pair of hitters and was visibly frustrated with the calls from the home plate umpire. Deitz then turned to White, who retired the final batter on a 1-2 pitch when Bellis handled a grounder at first base to end the game.

“We’re playing really well right now. We’re confident, we just play together, and we’re getting results,” said Ulshafer.

“Nobody expected us to be here at this point — nobody,” said Deitz. “These guys just keep going about their business and they don’t care who they’re playing. They just know they need to keep winning, and they get the job done.”

THE ROAD AHEAD… Franklin Township has reached the final four, joining Northampton, Southern Lehigh and Plymouth Whitemarsh. Southern Lehigh and Plymouth Whitemarsh remain undefeated in the double-elimination tournament.

Franklin Township will play Northampton on Friday at 5 p.m. at Living Memorial Field in Coopersburg, while Southern Lehigh and Plymouth Whitemarsh will meet at the same time in Limeport. The winner of the Franklin Township-Northampton game will then make the short trip to Limeport to face the loser of the other matchup.

Saturday will feature the championship game — or games, depending on whether one team remains with just one loss.

VACATION PLANNING… As of Thursday night, Deitz expected to have just 10 players available for Friday’s game. Family vacation schedules have affected the roster, with this weekend being a popular time for families to begin summer trips. Even so, Deitz and his players remained upbeat despite knowing they would be short-handed.

Franklin Township 001 420 0 - 7 7 2

East Stroudsburg 004 000 1 - 5 5 3

W - Haydt. L - Miller.