The Franklinton Demons baseball team won a huge district game last Friday evening at Demon Diamond against the Pearl River Rebels. The Demons now hold an 11-5 overall record and are 3-0 in district action. The Demons will play Salmen on March 27 on the road before hosting the Spartans on the 28th. The Demons will then Loranger on April 1st on the road.
Each team scored a run in the first inning as the Rebels used consecutive hit batters and a single to push one across and the Demons used a TJ Bailey walk and an Elisha Hart fielders choice to put runners on the corners. A well timed double steal with the Rebels trying to get the out at second allowed Bailey to score to tie the game.
The Rebels regained the lead in the second on three singles and a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 score.
The Demons put two in scoring position in the third and loaded the bases in the fourth but couldn't score any runs. They did tie the game in the fifth when Bailey led off with a single and a throwing error allowed him to make it to third. Rickken Burkhalter then singled him in to tie the game at 2-2.
The Rebels again retook the lead in the sixth with a lead off triple, a bunt, a walk to load the bases before a sac fly allowed a run to score for a 3-2 Rebel lead.
The Demons could not manage any in the sixth and it came down to the bottom of the seventh for the Demons. After the first two batters struck out, Rickken Burkhalter again singled before Micah Wascom tripled him in to tie the game at 3-3. With Wascom on third, Elisha Hart was intentionally walked before Daron Sinceno laid down a bunt. The Pearl River pitcher decided to throw the ball to home as Wascom was charging in and the throw was late. Wascom was safe giving the Demons the walkoff win over the Rebels.
Rickken Burkhalter was four of four with a double and three singles, Wascom had a triple, Kaedyn Jenkins had a double and TJ Bailey had a single.
JoJo Burkhalter started the game on the mound and lasted an inning and a third striking out one and giving up four hits. Jenkins pitched four and two thirds striking out two, allowing three hits and walking three. Jordy Thomassen pitched one inning striking out two and walking one.
Franklinton head coach Clay Tageant said he was pleased with how his team has shaped up. "I am really pleased with the growth of my guys so far this season. We have faced our fair share of adversity as a team and as individuals but our focus when we have failed has been to respond. I believe our focus to respond played a big role in our three victories this week to start district play. We were down in all three games and we were able to find a way to win. I'm really proud of how our guys competed and embraced the stage in all three high intensity, playoff like games against two very solid teams. I'm excited to see our team continue to grow."
