FHS beats Bulldogs in extra innings
Published 11:01 am Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Franklinton’s Mack McElveen hung tough on the mound and delivered a big hit in extra innings, and the Demons took a 5-2 eight-inning road victory over Fontainebleau Friday.
McElveen navigated his way through seven innings and got through some tough jams with his pitching and the help of the Demon defense, which recorded three double plays.
McElveen threw seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and five walks.
The Bulldogs (7-8) got the leadoff man on in the first six innings and had at least two men reach in those frames. The Bulldogs had at least one base runner in every inning.
“I’ve got a good group of infielders and outfielders and catcher behind me,” he said. “It’s just throwing strikes, hitting your spots, hitting location, trusting your coach with location and having your infield backing you up. It’s a huge part of the game.”
Franklinton coach Jeff Tageant said it was tough to see Fontainebleau’s leadoff man reach every time.
“They had some big hits, but Mack (McElveen) and our defense did a really good job today of stopping those runs from scoring,” Tageant said. “We had double play balls, and we had some good plays in the outfield.”
The game went to the eighth tied 2-2, and the Demons’ bats came alive.
Donovan Alonzo walked before Josh Magee singled to right on a hit and run. The Demons attempted a double steal, but Alonzo was thrown out at third while Magee went to second.
Landon Magee advanced Josh Magee to third with a fly out to right, C.J. Estave walked, putting runners at the corners. Morgan Angelo then hit a grounder, but the ball was booted, and Josh Magee scored the go-ahead run to give Franklinton a 3-2 lead.
McElveen went the opposite way and doubled down the left field line, sending courtesy runner Justin Alford and Angelo home. McElveen was thrown out trying to advance to third, but the damage was done, as FHS (10-3 at press time) was in front 5-2.
“I had two strikes on me,” he said. “I widened my stance and changed my approach, saw a pitch outside, a hanging curveball, and I drove it the other way.”
Austin Bradford pitched a scoreless eighth for the Demons, allowing one hit with two strikeouts to earn the save.
It was the second game of a home-and-home series, and each team won on the road. Fontainebleau won Thursday’s game at FHS, 7-4.
Angelo said his team was more focused after Thursday’s loss.
“Everybody thought about the little things we did wrong last night and fixed them,” he said. “We came out to play tonight.”
Franklinton took a 1-0 lead in the second. Angelo singled and advanced to second on McElveen’s sacrifice bunt before scoring on two wild pitches.
The Demons added to their lead in the fourth with Estave leading off with a single and courtesy runner Alford later scoring on Johnathan Crain’s sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
Fontainebleau responded in the home half of the fourth. Jason Tullier began with a walk before Keith Hunter doubled him to third and Brennan Kent sent him home with an RBI single.
Runners were on the corners with nobody out, but McElveen struck Beau Turner out and got Alec Barreiro to ground into a double play.
Fontainebleau threatened to tie things in the fifth, putting runners at second and third and one out, but McElveen coaxed a liner and groundout to end the inning.
Fontainebleau had runners at second and third and one out in the sixth when Barreiro produced an RBI single to tie it 2-2.
Thomas Savino then hit a blooper to center, but Josh Magee came in, made a diving catch, and then threw to third baseman Landon Magee to double Kent off of third.
Franklinton’s defense came to the forefront once again in the seventh. Kyle Simeon walked with one out before Luis Hernandez hit a rope down the third-base line, but Landon Magee made a diving catch and then threw to Crain to double off pinch runner Cody Marshall.