Williamsport heats up late to beat Milton MAY 18, 2023 CHRIS MASSE Sports reporter cmasse@sungazette.com Christian Franzen started his season playing junior varsity baseball. Quentin Mazzante spent the first 5 1/2 innings Wednesday watching his Williamsport teammates play against Milton. No matter how things started, Franzen and Mazzante continue embracing their opportunities. And they both shined when provided them yesterday, helping Williamsport rally for a key win. Franzen went 2 for 4 with an RBI and run, while Mazzante hit a crucial two-out, three-run pinch-hit double in sixth inning as Williamsport rallied from a two-run fourth inning deficit and defeated Milton, 13-7 at Logue Field. The Millionaires (12-6) scored 12 runs in their final three at-bats, generated 11 two-out runs and built momentum entering next week’s District 2-4 Class AAAAAA semifinals where they will host either Delaware Valley or Wyoming Valley West. “My chances have been limited these last few games, so I was just trying to make the most of my opportunity and working to make it count,” said Mazzante, who took third on the throw home and then scored when that throw went past the catcher. “I was tired rounding third but it felt good.” Franzen has been providing Williamsport good feelings, too. The sophomore worked his way into the starting lineup by midseason and is 3 for 6 with two RBIs over his last two games. His fifth inning RBI single gave Williamsport a 4-3 lead and he also made a quick tag on a throw from shortstop Cayden Robertson which cut down a runner at third in the top of that inning, a play which eventually saved a run in a tie game. “I just feel welcomed here,” Franzen said. “Coming in and playing JV and then coming right up, it was hard at first but I’ve adapted over time.” “I’m really happy with Christian,” Williamsport coach Kyle Schneider said. “He doesn’t think, he just makes plays. He swings the bat well, and I love watching him play.” Williamsport scored four more runs following Franzen’s RBI single and took an 8-3 lead. Milton, however, had won three straight thrilling games in which it erased deficits of 10, five and eight against playoff qualifiers, so no lead felt safe. The Black Panthers (6-12) again mounted a charge and scored three runs in the sixth highlighted by an Isaiah Day double, Ethan Rhodes single and Brayden Gower RBI single. So, when Williamsport loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the inning, clinging to that two-run lead, it needed some insurance. Mazzante provided it in a big way. The junior turned on a 3-2 fastball and drilled it deep down the left field line before scoring on the ensuing throwing error and putting Williamsport ahead 12-6. Earlier that inning, Tre Brown smashed a pinch-hit single to the left-center fence as Williamsport showed that its threats come not just in the starting lineup, but throughout the roster. “Everyone on this team can hit. We know 1-30 on this team can hit,” Mazzante said. “It makes us so much more versatile and this is a big win to get us into the playoffs.” Milton will not reach the playoffs but it is building quite a strong foundation in former St. John Neumann coach Cory Burkholder’s first season there. The Panthers were playing without four starters yesterday, but still pushed a 6A title contender hard and were coming off three dramatic wins. They also have doubled last season’s win total and return most of their roster next season. So, while Milton did not get the win yesterday, it did continue doing something big. It took another step in the right direction. “We call it money in the bank. We’re investing. We’re investing in ourselves, we’re investing in each other and the kids are investing in the program,” Burkholder said. “They know what it takes now and they’re starting to believe it. They’re going to carry on what they’re building and I’m proud of them for that because the vision is there and the building blocks are there and they really want to get better and we’re committed to helping them get better.” Milton scored three second inning runs without a hit and took a 3-1 lead before charging back after Williamsport went up five in the fifth. Even in the last inning, Milton made sure it made some more noise. Blaik Hadcock hit a two-out double, Day (2 for 4) singled and Rhodes belted an RBI single. Chas Shief, however, denied another big comeback win, closing the game with a strikeout and earning the save after Ethan Eckard threw four quality innings of relief to get the win. Rhodes is one of several underclassmen starting who is having a strong season. The center fielder went 3 for 4 against Williamsport and is 7 for 9 over the last two days. Aiden Keiser added three RBIs and Gower struck out six in 4 1/3 innings before reaching the 100-pitch limit. “These guys are learning how to build momentum and what it takes to win. They’re learning the winning mindset and I’m happy about that,” Burkholder said. “We did go down fighting. Those moments come with development and just believing in ourselves and growing as a team.” Franzen has done a lot of growing throughout the season and has become a reliable hitter in run-scoring situations. After hitting an RBI single which gave Williamsport a brief lead Saturday against Loyalsock, Franzen delivered again with his go-ahead RBI single in the fifth inning yesterday. That hit came after Kellen Jackson drew a lead-off walk and Griffin Vollman (2 for 4, 3 runs) singled. Franzen also singed in his first at-bat before stealing second. Even when he was retired, Franzen hit the ball hard, including in his final at-bat when he scorched a liner to left field. “Today I was seeing the ball right out of the glove,” Franzen said. “As soon as I saw it coming, I felt locked in.” Williamsport stayed locked in following Mazzante’s three-run double. Freshman Lucas Naughton followed with a double to deep left-center and scored when Cayden Robertson hit an RBI single. Robertson (2 for 4) was one of eight players who produced hits and drove in three runs. Cole Shuler also collected three RBIs and delivered a clutch two-out, two-run ground-rule double in the fourth inning which tied the game, 3-3. It was just the breakout performance Williamsport needed entering the district semifinals, likely next Thursday at Logue Field. The Millionaires have some excellent wins this year and know their potential. Finding it again in the regular-season finale certainly provides a needed boost. “We turned it around at the end. We need that going into playoff week,” Schneider said. “We needed that energy. I was a little worried to start the game, but we got it turned around and started playing the way we should.” Milton 030 003 1-7 7 1 Williamsport 100 255 x-13 11 1 Brayden Gower, Avery Reiff (5), Kaiden Haines (5) and Haines, Aiden Keiser (5). Indigo Koch, Ethan Eckard (2), Chais Shief (6) and Caiden Helmrich. W-Eckard. L-Gower. SV-Shief. Top Milton hitters: Ethan Rhodes 3-4, RBI, R; Keiser 1-3, 3 RBIs; Gower 2-3, RBI; Isaiah Day 2-4, 2B, R; Blaik Hadcock 1-3, 2B, R. Top Williamsport hitters: Cayden Robertson 2-4, 3 RBIs; Griffin Vollman 2-4, 3R; Christian Franzen 2-4, RBI, R; Quentin Mazzante 1-1, 2B, 3 RBIs, R; Tre Brown 1-1, R; Cole Shuler 1-2, 2B, 3 RBIs, R; Lucas Naughton 1-2, 2B, RBI, R; Kellen Jackson 1-4. R