Seahawks open with wins over Bay, Liberty

The Franklin County Seahawks opened the 2022 varsity season last week with a pair of wins, a 2-1 win at home Tuesday over Bay and then a 10-2 drubbing of Liberty County in Bristol Thursday.

The Seahawks took the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a ground ball by sophomore Cody Abercrombie against the Class 4A Bay Tornadoes. Junior reliever Dane Mallon held on to secure the victory.

“The pitching was strong on both sides,” said Seahawks coach Kevin Cox. “Franklin County Seahawks pitchers struck out 16, while Bay pitchers sat down eight.”

Bay got things moving in the first inning, when senior Noah Nelson singled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run. The Seahawks knotted the game up at one-all in the bottom of the fifth inning, as senior Gage Boone drew a walk, scoring one run.

As the starting pitcher, Boone threw five innings, striking out 11 and only giving up two hits and one run. Mallon, a right hander, went two innings out of the bullpen, allowing zero runs on zero hits, striking out five and walking one. 

Nelson, who took the loss for Bay, allowed one hit and one run over one-and-one-third innings, striking out one and walking zero.

“This was a game where we struggled to hit well consistently,” said Cox. “We had a few balls hit well, but overall we were just not consistent with the bat. We took a few too many pitches I believe. but we did find a way in the end to grind out the win, which I was proud of. 

“Our pitching of Boone and Mallon was outstanding, it really was the reason we won this game,” he said. “It’s always good to open the season with a win.”

Juniors Wyatt Abercrombie and Chase Crum and Mallon each had a hit.

On Thursday in Bristol, the Seahawks had no trouble on offense, downing Liberty County 10-2

In the first inning, Franklin County got their offense started when senior Desoto Hood’s wild pitch allowed one run to score..

Cody Abercrombie got the win for Franklin County, as the lefthander surrendered two runs on two hits over six innings, striking out 10. Crum threw one inning in relief.

Hood took the loss for Liberty County. allowing seven runs on eight hits over five innings, striking out eight and walking one.

The Seahawks collected 12 hits on the day, with multiple hits by senior Will Varnes, Cody Abercrombie, Mallon and Boone. Cody Abercrombie went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the team.

“What a difference two days makes,” said Cox. “We got off to a hot start by scoring four runs in the first against a really tough pitcher. All four runs came with two outs so that was good to see. 

“We were really a lot more aggressive at the plate which is what we want,” he said. “Getting those runs early allowed our pitching to be aggressive as well. Cody Abercrombie was terrific on the mound and after the third inning he was about as good as it gets.

“A lot of guys chipped in at the plate,” said Cox. “We had 12 hits so that was nice to see.”

Sophomore Will Luberto was a bright spot for the Seahawks, coming off the bench after senior Blakely Curry was hit by a pitch in the first inning, to go 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.

Cody Abercrombie had three hits and a double, Varnes two hits, Boone two hits and a RBI, Mallon two hits, a double and three RBI, junior Evan Stanley a single and two RBIs, and senior Garrison Cook a single.