Franklin Square's rally falls short in Junior League Baseball World Series

This time, the deficit was just too big for the Franklin Square Little League team to overcome.

The East division champs, known for their dramatic come-from-behind victories, fell behind by 10 runs but managed to get the tying run to the plate before their comeback attempt came up short as Franklin Square lost, 12-8, to Central division champs, North Canton, Ohio, in the Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor, Mich., Tuesday night.

"We were a little sloppy in the field early on and they got a big jump on us,'' Franklin Square coach Jimmy O'Connell said. "But the kids never got down and fought back. It shows that they never give up.''

Michael Catanese went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and Robert Kelley, Robert Weissheier and Michael Castel each drove in a run for Franklin Square.

Run-scoring singles by Catanese and Kelley in the top of the fifth cut the deficit to 10-3 but North Canton responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Franklin Square drew 11 walks in the game, including five in a one-hit, five-run sixth inning. After two runs scored on wild pitches, Weissheier and Castel each drew bases- loaded walks to make it 12-8 and bring the tying run to the plate. But North Canton pitcher Tyler Drabick induced a hard-hit grounder to the mound and got the force at home to end the inning.

Franklin Square used six pitchers in the game. Matthew Cosme tossed 11/3 scoreless innings in relief before giving way to Kurt Rissland, who recorded the final two outs of the sixth, as the two helped keep the team within striking distance.

Franklin Square falls to 1-1 and is in a three-way tie for second place with two games remaining. It will play the Oil Belt All-Stars (Texas) Wednesday at 2 p.m. and currently unbeaten Rockledge, Fla., on Thursday. With the top two teams in the division advancing to the United States championship on Saturday, Franklin Square likely will have to win both games to qualify.

"They were disappointed that they lost but I explained to them that they showed a lot of guts and kept coming back after this team til the very end,'' O'Connell said. "Tomorrow is a must-win so it's all hands on deck.''