For a while Saturday morning, Franklin Township looked primed to pick up a victory. It was playing championship baseball. It had discombobulated an otherwise composed Anthracite all-star team.

And Anthracite wasn’t just any all-star team. It was a seasoned team.

For the most part, the Coal Barons have been playing together for five years. So when they came prancing into the championship round of the prestigious Panther Valley 11-12-year-old tournament, they were the team to beat.

No doubt about it, the championship was going through Anthracite.

However, Franklin Township’s Rovers weren’t backing down, not one iota. They seemed ready to snatch the trophy from the vice-grip of the Barons.

But then the roof caved in. Before Franklin could get its footing and balance back together, Anthracite had put together a championship-winning, nine-run explosion in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The clutch rally lifted Anthracite to a 12-6 victory and the Panther Valley Tournament championship.

“This team is talented. We didn’t get the District 18 championship, but we got this one and it’s a very big win for the kids,” said Anthracite manager Josh Black. “To be honest, we didn’t really play well in the district tournament. But we did in this tournament.”

A unique tradition that spans 60 years, the Panther Valley Tournament offers another postseason opportunity after districts. Anthracite took advantage of it to reel off six consecutive wins on its way to the title.

“The final score does not indicate the closeness of the game,” said Franklin Township manager Kevin O’Donnell. “One play, one throwing error ... they scored two and after that the flood gates opened.”

Hot-hitting Chase Weaver slashed his third hit in as many trips to the plate to light the flame in the Anthracite fifth inning. After falling behind 0-2 in the count, pinch-hitter Connor Penberth worked a walk. Following a throwing error that scored two runs and gave Anthracite a 5-4 lead, relief pitcher Talon Sensinger was called on to face Drew Kokinda, who lashed a single.

Hayden Goida had a sure-bet extra-base hit taken away on a sensational catch from centerfielder Brady O’Donnell for the second out and it looked like Franklin might be able to limit the damage.

But starting Anthracite pitcher Stephen Hood drew a walk and Cody Orsulak was intentionally walked to load the bases. Trey McAndrew delivered an RBI single, and Brody Breiner poked out another two-run hit. Two more walks and an error made it 10-5, before Kokinda, batting for the second time in the inning, smoked a two-run single to left.

“That rally was unbelievable,” said Black. “We kept after it … we kept grinding.”

HITTING IT UP … Hood smoked a two-run homer in the first to put his team in front 3-0. Goida, one of the more consistent hitters for Anthracite, singled in a run in that same inning.

COUNTING THE NUMBERS ... Weaver led the winners with three singles, Breiner and Kokinda each had a pair, Hood’s homer was the lone extra-base hit in the game and Goida hit safely. Township had eight hits, including two each from Austin Greene and Rarick. Searfass, Noah Brandt, O’Donnell and Dylan Greene had one hit apiece.

NOTEABLE … Franklin starting pitcher Austin Greene was outstanding after a shaky first inning. At one point, he retired eight-straight batters before being lifted in the fifth.

Franklin Twp. 102 102 - 6 8 2

Anthracite 300 09x - 12 9 1

A. Greene, Sensinger (5) and Yeakel; Hood, Orsulak, Orsulak and Goida (5). W - Orsulak. L - A. Greene.