The cold temperatures didn’t seem to affect Franklin County much as they came out of the gate in the first game of the Blackford Invitational about as hot as you possibly could on Saturday afternoon; however, it wasn’t enough as the Eastern Hancock Royals came back to defeat the Wildcats by a final score of 16-15.
One bad defensive inning doomed the Wildcats as they committed 4 errors in the bottom of the 4th inning to allow the Royals to comeback from an 11-0 deficit to tie the game at 11. From there on out it was a back and forth competitive matchup as the teams exchanged the lead multiple times in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings until the Royals ended the game in the bottom of the seventh on a walk-off RBI single by Kaylee Stewart.
Michaela Ferman pitched the complete game for the Wildcats and unfortunately got stuck with the loss in this one after pitching well throughout. Ferman went 6 1/3 innings, scattering 12 hits, while giving up 16 runs (5 earned) and striking out 8 batters.
In the game, the Wildcats out hit the Royals 15 to 12 in one of their best offensive efforts of the season. Here are some of our offensive leaders statistics from the contest:
Michaela Ferman: 4-5 (3 Singles, 1 HR); 1 RBI, 1 Run Scored
Camryn Brewer: 3-5 (2 Singles, 1 Grand Slam); 5 RBIs, 1 Run Scored
Abby Orschell: 3-5 (3 Singles); 1 RBI, 2 Runs Scored
Bree Bischoff: 2-4 (2 Singles); 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored
Kloe Bolos: 2-5 (1 Single, 1 Triple); 2 Runs Scored
Makaylee Woods: 1-4 (Double); 1 HBP, 4 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored
Karlie Hahn: 2 HBP, 1 RBI, 2 Runs Scored
Morgan Bare: 1 HBP, 1 Walk, 2 Runs Scored
With the loss, Franklin County fell to the consolation game of the Blackford Invitational to play the host school, Blackford. The Wildcats took the consolation game by a final score of 17-4 to go an even 1-1 in the invitational. To see the recap for that game, go to franklincountyathletics.com to read that, and get anything you need for Franklin County athletics.
Despite the cold, windy, and wet conditions in Hartford City by the time the consolation game started around 5pm, the Wildcats offense had stayed hot after a one game break to erupt for 10 runs in the top of the first inning against Blackford. Franklin County never looked back as they went on the defeat the Bruins by a final score of 17-4. Game temperature was around 50 degrees at first pitch, but as the game continued the rains steadily got harder and the wind gusts continued to blow, it felt more like late season football weather rather than softball weather.
The Wildcats didn’t let the cold temperatures and rain affect their offense as they had 16 hits in the game and scored 17 runs in the victory. The only blemish on this game for the Wildcats were a few defensive lapses throughout the contest resulting in 3 errors.
Camryn Brewer pitched excellent for the Wildcats in the circle to earn the victory. She threw all 5 innings for FC, only giving up 3 hits, 4 runs (1 earned), and 3 strikeouts. Brewer was also very pitch efficient in the game, only throwing 67 pitches total.
Offensive leaders for the game were as follows:
Karlie Hahn: 3-3 (3 Singles); 3 RBIs, 3 Runs Scored
Camryn Brewer: 2-3 (1 Single, 1 Grand Slam); 4 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored
Kloe Bolos: 2-4 (1 Single, 1 Double); 1 Run Scored
Michaela Ferman: 2-3 (1 Single, 1 Double); 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored
Abby Orschell: 2-3 (2 Singles); 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored
Makaylee Woods: 1-2 (1 Single); 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored, 2 Walks
Franklin County will be back in action on Monday evening as they host Cambridge City Lincoln in the Wildcats final home game of the season. It will be senior night tomorrow so we’ll be honoring our two seniors (Abby Orschell & Morgan Bare) prior to the game. First pitch is scheduled for 5 pm. Come out and support the seniors and the rest of your Wildcats in their final home game of the season!