Flashes break open scoreless game in 10th

There was nothing wrong with the scoreboard at Holder Field in Perry Township on Tuesday, April 22. The goose eggs remained prominent for nine innings since neither Franklin Central nor Southport advanced a runner all the way around the bases.

However, in the top of frame No. 10, the visiting Flashes rocked the scoreboard boat by plating a trio of runs to register a 3-0 Conference Indiana victory over the Cardinals.

Junior Kayla Knight led off the third bonus inning for the Flashes with a single to left-center field. Freshman Leah Hall followed with an infield "dribbler" that would up advancing Knight to second and Hall reaching on a fielder's choice when the throw to force Knight was tardy. Southport then turned freshman Elenie Prewitt's grounder into a force out at second on Hall, with Knight moving to third.

Elenie Prewitt subsequently stole second base to set the stage for junior Jennifer DeMotte's two-base blow dispatched both Knight and Prewitt across home plate. Senior Leah Prewitt then singled in pinch-runner Haley Bruce with what proved to be an insurance run before the Cardinals finally retired the side.

A masterful pitching performance by Chanda Bell continued on seemingly endless as the right-hander mowed down 19 Southport batters via the strikeout route. The senior scattered seven hits while posting the shutout victory without issuing a free pass.

FC's DeMotte finished the contest with a pair of hits, while second baseman Mandy Leming contributed three base raps.

The victory boosted the Franklin Central season log to 12-3 and its conference mark to 3-1. The Flashes also have moved up in the Class 4A statewide rankings into a tie with Carmel for the No. 7 spot.

The next action for Coach Kathy Stricker's squad is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, when Bloomington North will come calling on the Flashes at the East Side Athletic Fields Complex in a 5 p.m. start.

In the junior varsity match-up between Franklin Central and Southport , the Flashes prevailed 9-2 in upping their record to 8-1. Skylar Chocklett picked up the pitching victory, going the distance in yielding three hits and one walk while whiffing four Cardinals' batters. Darcy Duncan contributed to the FC offensive fireworks with two hits and a pair of runs scored.

- FTONEWS.com -