Weather interrupts Franklinton and Northlake Christian School contest
Published 11:07 am Friday, June 27, 2014
Franklinton High School and Northlake Christian School attempted to play through the rain, but lightning forced the game to be halted in the bottom of the third, with the Demons up, 3-1, at home.
The game doesn’t count toward either clubs’ record, and both qualified for postseason play in the Northshore Summer Baseball League.
Franklinton was scheduled to host Fontainebleau yesterday, but got rained out. The game is scheduled to be made up today at 6 p.m.
FHS begins the playoffs with a 6-1-1 record.
After a scoreless first, the pitchers were in a tough spot, having to throw a wet baseball and with the rain really starting to pick up, the hitters from both teams did a nice job of showing good patience at the plate.
NCS got on the board first in the second inning. Diego Sanchez began with a walk. Buddy Kyle followed that up with a single to center. The next hitter popped up a bunt, which FHS pitcher Landon Magee, caught and then Magee struck out the next hitter for the second out.
But Justin Estrada and Cole Bilbo both walked, woth Bilbo’s walk coming with the bases loaded for an RBI and a 1-0 advantage for the Wolverines.
Magee was able to end the frame when the following hitter grounded into a force play at third.
Franklinton responded with two in its half of the second. Morgan Angelo began by bunting for a base hit.
Mack McElveen, who went 2-for-2 with an RBI, dropped a single into centerfield. Major McElveen reached on an error to load the bases for Collin Dominguez, who reached on a fielder’s choice RBI with Angelo beating the throw home to tie the game 1-1.
The Demons went in front three hitters later when J.J. Jackson drew a bases loaded walk, plating Major McElveen with the go-ahead run and it was 2-1.
Magee recorded a pair of strikeouts in the third, which were sandwiched around a Maverick Latour double. He swiped third, but was later thrown out trying to steal home, with C.J. Estave tagging him out.
Magee finished Wednesday by allowing the one run on two hits with four strikeouts and four walks in the difficult conditions.
Franklinton coach Nate Murray said Magee responded well and finished some innings for the Demons.
“He really avoided the big inning,” Murray said. “We talked about that defensively, avoiding the big inning, and Landon did a good job. He gave up one run, walked a kid in, but was able to work out of it.”
FHS added another run in the third. Estave walked and courtesy runner Logan Jordan advanced on a wild pitch and then went to third on the throw when Angelo grounded out to third. Jordan then scored when Mack McElveen singled to make it 3-1. Major McElveen walked and both McElveens moved up on a wild pitch. Dominguez was next, with runners at second-and-third. Lightning struck with Dominguez facing a 2-1 count, which brought the game to an end.
Defensively, Estave threw out a would-be base stealer at second with a perfect throw to Angelo to end the opening frame.