Franklinton blanks East Jefferson to begin the season
Published 11:20 am Friday, February 27, 2015
Franklinton’s 2014 season ended with a 9-8 loss to East Jefferson at home in the bi-district round of the playoffs, as the Demons attempt to comeback from an 8-1 deficit fell short.
On Tuesday, the Demons opened the 2015 campaign against the same opponent and in the same place where the 2014 year ended.
Besides the teams, the only other thing that was the same was that the winning team scored nine runs, only this time, it was FHS.
On a much chillier night than the one on May 2, no comeback was needed. Only the necessary outs had to be recorded, and they were in a 9-0 victory over the Warriors.
Morgan Angelo started on the mound for Franklinton, and he was dominant. Angelo got a lot of swings in Tuesday’s game. Eight of his 10 strikeouts were swings and misses while two of them were called strike threes.
East Jefferson put just three balls in play against Angelo. He allowed just one hit, which was a two-out single to centerfield by Jimmy Prieur.
Angelo, who walked three, retired the game’s first hitter on a groundout to third baseman Mack McElveen, who threw to first baseman Johnathan Crain.
After that, the next seven outs were on strikeouts. The string ended on a groundout to second baseman Collin Dominguez to end the third inning.
Angelo ended his day on the mound by striking out the side in a three-up, three-down fourth. The final strikeout was a called strike three.
“Morgan’s a great athlete,” Franklinton coach Jeff Tageant said. “He threw it well. He threw hard. He had three pitches working. He stayed around the zone all night. He did a great job.”
Angelo said he felt good in the bullpen.
“I was spotting up pretty good,” Angelo said. “I had a good feeling about tonight that I was going to go out there and do good for us.”
Angelo said his slider was working the best.
“I threw it a lot on 0-2s, 1-2s. It was just a chaser pitch. It wasn’t a get me out pitch,” Angelo said.
McElveen followed Angelo and he was tough as well. The first hitter reached on an error against McElveen but the miscue was quickly erased on a 6-4-3 double play, Landon Magee to Dominguez to Crain. The next hitter flied out to centerfielder Josh Magee. McElveen struck out one and allowed one hit in two innings.
Austin Bradford closed out the seventh in order with two strikeouts and a groundout to Crain.
“We didn’t walk many people. We threw a lot of strikes. We had a lot of strikeouts (13), so not many plays,” Tageant said. “We’re excited about this team. We feel like there’s a lot of potential there. We got some big hits when we needed them. We got that first win. We talked to them today (Tuesday). We’re concentrating this year on winning the next one whether it’s the next game, the next pitch or the next inning, so we’re just trying to take it one step at a time.”
In all, Franklinton’s pitching staff recorded 13 strikeouts.
The offense began heating up in the second, as the Demons put up four runs.
McElveen walked but was forced out at second by Landon Magee who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Trevor Jenkins reached on an infield single, sending Magee to third. Dominguez, who posted two runs batted in, hit a grounder up the middle that hit the second-base bag, plating Magee with the season’s first run to make it, 1-0, and moving Jenkins to third.
After Dominguez stole second, Jamarian Crain walked to load the bases. Following a strikeout, Angelo was up next with two outs. He struckout but reached first on a ball in the dirt, allowing Jenkins to score the second run. C.J. Estave drove Dominguez and Crain home with a two-run single and Franklinton led, 4-0.
That was plenty for the pitching staff and defense. The defense committed one meaningless error on a dropped foul ball and the pitch was strong throughout.
Franklinton tacked on another run in the third. McElveen walked and Landon Magee was hit. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and McElveen scored on Dominguez’s RBI groundout to make it 5-0.
The Demons continued to extended the lead with two each in the fourth and fifth.
Angelo began the fourth-inning rally by reaching on a two-base throwing error that went into East Jefferson’s dugout with one out. Angelo moved to third on a groundout to third, as the Demons had the hit-and-run on. Johnathan Crain, who had two RBIs, sent Angelo home with a single to center for a 6-0 lead. McElveen doubled to right centerfield, sending Crain to third. Crain scored on a wild pitch from Landon Magee’s strikeout. Franklinton led, 7-0, after four.
Jamarian Crain opened the fifth with a walk before scoring on Josh Magee’s double to right. Angelo walked. He and Magee moved up on a passed ball to put runners at second and third. Estave was intentionally walked and Johnathan Crain’s sacrifice fly made it a 9-0 contest.
Franklinton began play in the WGNO Classic yesterday against Archbishop Rummel. The tournament continues today against Brother Martin at Zephyr Field at 7 p.m.
Tomorrow, the Demons play at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Chalmette against Jesuit and Archbishop Shaw, respectively.