MANDEVILLE — Franklinton got down 4-0 early in Tuesday’s District 8-4A game, but patience at the plate, clutch hits, good pitching and throwing out two would-be basestealers in the seventh led to a 6-5 victory over Lakeshore on the road.
Things went about as rough as they could in the first inning for Franklinton. The Demons were retired in order in the first and then Lakeshore sent nine hitters to the plate and put up four runs on four hits and took advantage of two errors.
Jacob Bergeron, who also walked and got hit, led things off with a double down the right field line and advanced to third on Brent Christoffer’s fly out to right field before scoring the game’s first run on an RBI single to center by Preston Bohn. He was balked to second before moving to third on Clark Rush’s groundout. J.T. Singletary reached on an error, plating Bohn, before going to second on a wild pitch. Christian Westcott singled home Singletary and got to second on the throw home. He tallied on an RBI single by Cameron Bucy.
Lakeshore led 4-0 after one.
The Demons turned things around 180 degrees in the game’s final six innings.
Franklinton gave up just one run after and committed no errors.
Pitcher Collin Dominguez went the distance, allowing two earned runs on 12 hits with four strikeouts, three walks and two hit batters.
Catcher J.P. Magee threw out three would-be basestealers, including two in the seventh.
“It was big of Collin to just eat that four run inning,” Franklinton coach Jeff Tageant said. “They squared some balls up, but we made some plays. But when he came back in the second scoreless, it was a positive thing. We thought he was weakening through the middle of the third, fourth inning, but come out in the fifth, sixth, he was throwing a little harder. So we were thinking about getting him out of there, but we felt ok (leaving him in).”
Tageant said he’s been preaching about the players competing.
“I thought we competed today. I think we’ve had some games in the past where the kids didn’t really get after it and didn’t play the game hard, but I thought today, we did,” Tageant said.
The offense began to get going in the second inning, as the Demons cut the lead in half during the frame.
Trent Varnado, who singled, doubled and drove in two runs, was hit to lead off. After the first out, Jared Jenkins got hit, J.P. Magee walked to load the bases. Mike Martin picked up an RBI when he was hit by a pitch, plating Varnado. J.J. Jackson singled home Jenkins and the Demons trailed by just two at 4-2 after two innings.
Franklinton added one more in the third. Dominguez singled, stole second, but a throwing error allowed him to reach third. He scored on Varnado’s RBI double and Lakeshore’s lead was down to 4-3.
The Titans got the run right back in the bottom of the frame though. Singletary doubled and later scored on Brent Rappold’s single to make it a 5-3 contest.
But Franklinton took the lead in the fourth with three runs. Jackson, who had two hits and an RBI singled to right field and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jamarian Crain. Wyatt Verret drove home Crain with an RBI single. Dominguez, who had two hits, including a double an RBI and a run scored, helped himself with a double down the left-field line. Verret raced all of the way home from first and the game was tied, 5-5. Courtesy runner Trequan Charles went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Varnado’s RBI single to left. Franklinton led 6-5 through four.
Down the stretch, Dominguez and the Demons’ defense was solid.
Magee threw out three base runners, which was a huge help for the Demons in the seventh, as Lakeshore had four base runners that inning on two walks and two singles.
“I told him pregame, ‘they’re going to try you because they’ve got some guys that can run,’” Tageant said. “I told him, ‘they’re going to run on you,’ and we have to give Collin (Dominguez) a little credit there because he got the ball to the plate quick. Many times they steal off the pitcher, but he was quick to the plate, J.P. (Magee) made good throws and we had two good tags there where (second baseman) Connor (Dominguez) made one and (shortstop) Wyatt (Verret) made the other, which was big for us.”
Verrett had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Martin singled and recorded an RBI.
Magee had one hit.
Jenkins scored a run.
Lakeshore’s Bohn posted three hits, including a double, an RBI and a run scored. Rappold also had three hits and he drove in one run.
Bucy tallied two hits and an RBI.
Rush, Singletary and Westcott all had a hit. Singletary doubled and scored two runs and Westcott had an RBI and a run scored.