The Franklinton Demons baseball team won the first game of their best two of three series, 8-3 with the Rayne Wolves last Thursday in the first round of the class 4A baseball playoffs on the road.
On Saturday the Demons defeated the Wolves 7-6 to push them into the second round of the playoffs against the #3 seed Assumption. The best two of three game series with Assumption will be played this weekend on the road. The first game will be Friday at 4 p.m., the second game will be Saturday at noon, and the third game if needed will be Saturday at 4 p.m.
Against Rayne, the Demons got up early as they scored two runs in the first inning using a single by Rickken Burkhalter to put a runner on base. Burkhalter moved to second and third on separate wild pitches. He scored when Elisha Hart ground out to short. Will Turner then singled, stole second and scored on Cade Philips groundout.
The Wolves took the lead in the second inning, 3-2, as they used a walk, an error, a double and a passed ball to move three runners across home.
The Demons tied the game in the top of the third when Micah Wascom drew a walk, moved to second on a passed ball and was scored on Hart's single.
The Demons recaptured the lead in the fourth when Dillon Pace reached on an error before Tryson Fowler singled. Burkhalter's single plated Pace before Micah Wascom reached on an error allowing Fowler to score for a 5-3 lead after four innings.
The Demons defense turned a beautiful double play in the fifth to end a small uprising from the Wolves and maintain the 5-3 lead.
The Demons stretched their lead in the seventh as Wascom drew his third walk of the game, Hart was hit by a pitch before Will Turner singled in Wascom. Banyan Penton then doubled in JoJo Burkhalter and Amias Tate, courtesy runners for the catcher and pitcher, to give the Demons a commanding 8-3 lead.
Turner then struck out two in the final half inning to keep the Wolves at bay and preserve the win for the Demons.
Turner pitched the complete game allowing four hits, two walks and striking out four.
Offensively for the Demons they were led by Rickken Burkhalter and Will Turner both with two singles in the game. Banyan Penton had a double, Tryson Fowler had a single and Elisha Hart had a single.
