Middletown no-hits Franklin

Franklin Township opened the Pennsylvania 13-15 year old State Tournament in the same way it did the District Four Tournament - on the wrong end of the stick.

Once they sat in the dugout for a post-game huddle, Franklin Township manager Ricky Strohl made it apparent to his team that this has happened to them before with some worthy accolades on the line.

"I told them after the game that we lost the first game in districts and were able to come right back and win it," said Strohl. "We just have to try and find the most positives we can and build off it for tomorrow (Thursday)."

Middletown didn't greet Franklin too kindly at all on the opening day of the nine-team pool playoff, which stretches over the next three days.

The hosts only needed five innings to hand the locals a 14-0 setback taking advantage of a good day at bat and in the field.

Over the five innings of play, Middletown scored in every frame by producing 14 runs off of 14 hits.

Matt Altman led Middletown with a three-for-four performance with two doubles, a single, two runs scored and two RBIs, while Tom Kreiling followed with the same kind of performance with three singles and two runs scored. Oswald ended up with two singles, a run scored and two RBIs.

"They came right out," Strohl said. "They could hit the fast ball. We couldn't do anything about it. We couldn't get the breaking stuff over the plate. When you can't throw the curveball for a strike, they're going to sit on the fastball and it's obvious they're going to hit you around."

While Middletown had no problem zoning in, Franklin Township just couldn't get the spark it needed in the batter's box against Altman or Cole Creighton, who combined for a five-inning no-hitter.

"They both threw hard," Strohl said. "I don't know. We just didn't have the edge that we're used to having. So, we came out flat and we were shown how we're supposed to be playing basically. All credit to Middletown today. We just didn't come out ready to play."

Franklin Township has a chance to put the loss in the past at 4 p.m. today. The District Four champions will take the field against Aston Valley in its second of four games in pool play.

"We saw them play last year at States as well," Strohl said. "They gave us a good game last year and we came out on the short end of the stick. But, we're just going to come back with confidence. We're just going to take it one game at a time from here."

Middletown 212 36 - 14 14 0

Franklin Twp. 000 00 - 0 0 3

Altman, Creighton (4) and Lord; Ciavarella, Wenrich (3), Dailey (5), Thompson (5) and Berger. W - Altman. L - Ciavarella.