FC stymied by Woodmen pitching, bats

Franklin Central yielded four runs to visiting Greenwood in the top of the fifth inning that broke up a tight non-conference game on Wednesday, April 30, at the East Athletic Fields Complex. The Woodmen uprising wound up producing a 6-2 victory.

Greenwood opened the scoring in the top of the second inning on a two-out, two-run single by sophomore Zach Shultz. The Woodmen, however, sent four more runners across home plate in the fifth frame on five hits, including two extra-base blows, and with the help of a bases-loaded walk.

Franklin Central had earlier inched to within a run at 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, with senior Tyler Presley rapping a one-out single to plate sophomore Brett Massengale.

Senior Evan Kinney was the lone FC hitter to collect more than one hit. The senior stroked a double and single, driving in the Flashes' only other tally in the sixth inning. Massengale opened the stanza with a two-base blow and scored on a two-bagger by Kinney.

Three pitchers saw work for the Flashes, with starter Ben Kennedy absorbing the loss. The sophomore was followed by senior Kyle Blanck and junior Scott Ernstberger, with the latter hurling the final two innings without surrendering a run.

The loss was the first for Franklin Central in its last three outings, dropping the season log to 9-7.

Next action for FC will come in the opening round of the 2008 Marion County Tournament on Friday, May 2, when the Flashes face Beech Grove at Park Tudor in an approximate 6:45 p.m. start. The winner will advance to a quarterfinal-round match-up at Franklin Central scheduled for the following morning.

Score by innings:
Greenwood	020	040	0	--	6	13	1
Franklin Central	000	101	0	--	2	8	1
Winning pitcher - Aaron Doughty
Losing pitcher - Ben Kennedy

Marion County Baseball Tournament schedule:

Friday, May 2
First Round
Game 1 - Lawrence North vs. Perry Meridian at Holder Field, 5 p.m.
Game 2 - Lutheran vs. Roncalli at Holder Field, 6:45 p.m.
Game 3 - Southport at Park Tudor, 5 p.m.
Game 4 - Beech Grove vs. Franklin Central at Park Tudor, 6:45 p.m.
Game 5 - Brebeuf Jesuit at Decatur Central, 5 p.m.
Game 6 - Speedway vs. Pike at Decatur Central, 6:45 p.m.
Game 7 - North Central at Warren Central, 5 p.m.
Game 8 - Lawrence Central vs. Ben Davis at Warren Central, 6:45 p.m.

Saturday, May 3
Quarterfinals
Game 9 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 at Holder Field, 10 a.m.
Game 10 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 at Franklin Central, 10 a.m.
Game 11 - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 at Decatur Central, 10 a.m
Game 12 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 at Ben Davis, 10 a.m.

Saturday, May 3
Semifinals
Game 13 - Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 at Holder Field, 2 p.m.
Game 14 - Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12 at Decatur Central

Thursday, May 8
Championship
Game 15 - Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14 at Victory Field, 7:30 p.m.

- FTONEWS.com -