SLIDELL — Franklinton scored seven runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 15-0 victory over Salmen in a District 8-4A road contest held Thursday.
Franklinton had a very aggressive approach at the plate.
“Some of them want to sit back and see that first strike, but most of the starting nine are pretty aggressive on the first pitch,” Franklinton coach Leslie McGhee said. “Whatever they’re going to give us, we’re going to take it.”
The opening frame began when Ashlyn Welch, who had two hits and a run scored, singled to left field, but a throwing error allowed her to reach second and she moved to third on a wild pitch. Brylie Fowler, who singled twice and had an RBI, tallied twice and drove in a run, then singled Welch home for the game’s opening run. Bailey Spears, who singled and had two runs scored, recorded an infield single on a hit between home plate and first base. Ashlyn Ard, who had two runs scored and two RBIs to go with three hits and only missed hitting for the cycle by a homer, then plated Fowler on an RBI single to center.
Missouri Varnado, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, reached on an error. Spears and Ard crossed the plate and it was 4-0. Bailey Brooks reached on an error that sent Varnado home with the fifth run. Brooks scored on an RBI single by Laynea Stafford for a 6-0 lead. Later in the inning, Welch tallied a run-scoring single, sending Stafford home and it was 7-0 through the first inning. Stafford recorded a hit, an RBI and two runs scored.
That was plenty for pitcher Aleigha Fussell, who was solid throughout.
Fussell pitched five inning of one-hit shutout ball. She struck out five, walked nobody and hit a batter.
Franklinton added a run to its lead in the second inning. Ard tripled to the left centerfield gap with one out and scored when the next batter Varnado reached on an infield single to the shortstop to make it 8-0.
The lead went to 12-0 after the Lady Demons scored four runs in the fourth. Ard singled and stole second before Varnado’s RBI double sent her home. Later, with two outs, Stafford reached on an error and Varnado scored for a 10-0 lead. That brought up Sadie Stafford. Stafford launched a pitch high and deep to right and gone for a home run. Her homer made it a 12-0 game.
It was the freshman’s first career varsity home run.
“I didn’t think I could do it. It was like pretty exciting. I didn’t even think I hit it over,” Stafford said.
Stafford talked about the trip around the bases after the home run.
“I didn’t even jog. I was so excited, I just like ran. I was pretty excited,” Stafford said.
McGhee talked about Sadie Stafford.
“We have two big bats out with the flu in the starting lineup. They’ve been out all week, so we had to put two other players in and decided to DP (designated player) her,” McGhee said. “I knew she had a strong bat and I just felt like she’s going to come through for us. She’s a great kid, works hard and gives me 100 percent all of the time.”
Stafford also had a double.
The final three runs came in the fifth. Fowler singled to left and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Spears reached on an error that allowed Fowler to score. Ard doubled off of the left field wall to send Spears home and Ard scored on an RBI single to left for the 15-0 final.