PREP BASEBALL |
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FC's belated rally overhauls Southport It was almost as if Franklin Central bats had been lying in wait. Having scored in only one of the previous 13 innings during a two-day trek into Perry Township, the Flashes unleashed a somewhat surprising four-run production in the top of the seventh inning to ambush Southport 6-4 in a Conference Indiana confrontation at Holder Field on Wednesday, April 23. Just 24 hours earlier, FC had been failed to locate home plate at all in losing 1-0 to Perry Meridian. Actually, Franklin Central bats got a little help in overhauling Southport as the hosts contributed an error, an intentional walk and two balks to assist a couple of key hits for the Flashes in the decisive uprising. The top of the seventh – with FC trailing 4-2 – unfolded as follows: ** With one out, senior Tommy Winders restored a glimmer of FC hope by stroking a single and junior Sean Winter followed by reaching base on an infield error, with Winders moving on to second base. ** With the tying runners on base, Southport went to relief pitcher Jordan Stenger in hopes of closing out a Cardinals' victory. Both runners advanced a base on a balk and junior Jake Hartley earned a walk to load the bases. ** Junior Zach Sherwood delivered a timely two-run double to plate Winders and Winter, and to stalemate the scoreboard at 4-all. ** Junior Brock Griffin was walked intentionally to once again flood the pond with Flashes' ducks, and senior pinch-hitter Austin Tielking followed with a sacrifice fly to right field that was deep enough for Hartley to tag up at third base and dart home with the go-ahead run. Sherwood alertly moved on to third, with Griffin forced to remain at first. ** Southport's benevolence continued as the second balk of the inning occurred, allowing Sherwood to lope home with what proved to be an insurance run. Senior Kyle Blanck, the second Franklin Central hurler of the game, worked the final four innings to pick up the pitching victory in relief of sophomore starter Ben Kennedy. In the bottom of the seventh stanza, Blanck silenced Southport's bid for a comeback by retiring the side in order on an infield pop up bracketed by two ground ball outs. Franklin Central's two runs in the top of the second inning came on a walk to sophomore Brett Massengale and back-to-back singles by seniors Tyler Presley and Evan Kinney that loaded the bases. Winter rapped a two-out, two-run single to open the game's scoring. Southport followed with a solo run in the third, two more in the fourth and another marker in the sixth inning to head in the top of the seventh inning with its two-run cushion. The victory boosted FC's season log to 8-6, with the Flashes having won six of their last seven outings. The win also upped Coach Chase Huotari's squad to 3-1 in Conference Indiana play. Next action for Franklin Central is scheduled for Monday, April 28, when the Flashes will entertain Greenwood in a non-conference match-up at the East Athletic Fields Complex in a 5 p.m. start.
- FTONEWS.com - |
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