“Win today.”

It’s a mantra that’s as simple as it is clear.

And one that works perfectly for Josh Black’s Anthracite squad.

Anthracite battled back to erase an early deficit and top Franklin Township 5-2 in the opener of the District 18 10-12-year-old Little League Tournament Friday night.

“Our motto is win today,” Black said afterward. “And if you’re winning today, that means you’re winning everything; win every at-bat … everything you do, you gotta win.”

Chase Weaver delivered the big blow in the bottom of the fourth inning for Anthracite. With two outs and down to his last strike, Weaver jumped on an inside fastball from Franklin starter Austin Greene, driving a base hit to right field that scored Drew Kokinda, who led off the inning with a single.

Errors on the throw in allowed Connor Penberth, who also singled, and Weaver to come around and score to give Anthracite a 3-2 lead, one it wouldn’t relinquish.

“It’s really exciting,” said Weaver. “I was pretty nervous, just because it was such a close game, and I really wanted to win the game.

“It’s a really good win, just for everyone, and how well we played today … we just played really good.”

Anthracite added another run later in the inning when Stephen Hood (2-for-2, walk) ripped a single that scored Tyler Black, running for Mikayla Yuricheck, who had singled, to make it 4-2.

Kokinda (2-for-3, two runs scored) opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a single and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Engler to push Anthracite’s advantage to 5-2.

“We know they can play baseball,” said Black. “They’ve played baseball together for many years now. It was just a matter of getting it turned on.”

Franklin struck first, getting a run in the opening frame. Matt Yeakel led off the inning with a single, and scored on Austin Greene’s two-out double (2-for-3) to open the scoring and give Franklin a 1-0 lead.

Greene was at it again in the top of the fourth inning. Franklin’s cleanup hitter reached on a single and stole second to move into scoring positon.

Dylan Greene’s groundout moved Austin Greene to third. A wild pitch allowed Austin to score to increase Franklin’s lead to 2-0.

That was all the offense Anthracite pitching would surrender. Franklin had just one base runner – Yeakel, who reached on an error in the top of the fifth – over the final two innings.

“We knew we were going to be in for it,” said Franklin coach Kevin O’Donnell. “We knew we were gonna face two real good pitchers, probably two of the top pitchers in the district, if not the top two.

“We’ve played ball in the past with them on the travel team, and we know each other. And the kids knew they were in for a battle. We prepared, and we went toe-to-toe with them.”

Hood started for Anthracite and worked into the fourth inning, striking out nine. He was relieved by Cody Orsulak, who had four punch-outs the rest of the way.

“They both have been lights out pretty much all season long,” said Black. “It’s a good problem to have. There’s no drop-off whatsoever.”

Anthracite left a runner in scoring position in the second inning, and runners at second and third in the third before finally breaking through in the fourth.

“They’re a bunch of winners,” Black said of his team. “They just have heart. They don’t give up on each other, and it’s a total, complete team effort.”

UP NEXT

… Anthracite will play Valley East on Monday, while Franklin moves to the loser’s bracket and will play next on Wednesday.

Franklin 100 100 – 2 3 4

Anthracite 000 41x – 5 10 3

A. Greene, Rarick (5) and Yeakel; Hood, Orsulak (4) and Orsulak, Goida (4). W – Orsulak. L – A. Greene.