Pitching helps carry Seahawks to two wins

The Franklin County Seahawk varsity baseball team won two of three games last week, their only loss coming by two runs against a highly-ranked Bozeman Bucks squad.

Fighting back after falling down by seven runs in the sixth inning, the Seahawks on March 1 fell just short, in an 8-6 defeat.

The Seahawks scored five runs in the failed comeback on a walk by junior Wyatt Abercrombie, and doubles by seniors Will Varnes and Gage Boone.

Franklin County couldn’t keep up with Bozeman early in the game. Bozeman scored on an error and a walk in the second inning, and then pulled away for good with two runs.

Bozeman scored six runs in the sixth inning. Derrick Hancock earned the win for Bozeman, as the hurler surrendered one run on three hits over five innings, striking out six and walking one. 

Senior Garrison Cook took the loss for the Seahawks . The righthander lasted one inning, allowing two hits and five runs while striking out two and walking one.

Boone started the game for Franklin County; the righthander surrendered two runs on three hits over four innings, striking out five

Franklin County tallied eight hits in the game, with Boone, Varnes, and Cody Abercrombie each with multiple hits. Boone went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the team.

Bozeman was sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Smith had the most chances in the field with 11.

“This was a big game against one of the best teams in the state, a measuring stick game to see where we are at,” said coach Kevin Cox. “Coming into the game Bozeman had outscored opponents 68-0 through three games. I loved the attitude we took into the game and we scored early, putting a run across in the first.

“We played well and the game was 2-1 into the sixth,” he said. “The difference in the game was we put a few on base with walks and made a couple costly mistakes in the field and they did not. We tighten that up next time and we should be in good shape. 

“I loved how we bounced back after the bad inning and got the tying run to the plate in the last inning. Nothing to be ashamed of but we learned what it takes to compete at a high level, said Cox.

The Seahawks beat North Bay Haven Academy 7-2 on Thursday.

They fired up the offense in the first inning, when Boone singled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run.

Franklin County then put up six runs in the fifth inning, thanks to singles by junior Dane Mallon, junior Chase Crum, and senior Blakely Curry and a fielder’s choice by junior Evan Stanley.

Cody Abercrombie took the win, allowing no hits and no runs while striking out nine in six innings of work. Crum threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen, recording the last three outs to earn the save.

The Seahawks tallied nine hits, with Curry and Varnes each collecting two hits to lead the team.

“This was a good bounce back game after the loss to Bozeman,” said Cox. “We pushed a run across early again putting up one in the first but left numerous runners on base through the first four innings. Our pitching carried us tonight as Cody Abercrombie did his thing again until we finally broke through in the fifth. Dane Mallon got the big hit with a two-run single to give us a multiple run lead. 

“I am proud of our pitching so far this season – Boone, Abercrombie, Crum and Mallon,” he said. “Our pitching is what our strength is and we just need to come up with timely hits to get runs. 

Franklin County’s two pitchers didn’t allow a single hit, as the Seahawks defeated Vernon 18-0 on Friday. 

Will Varnes struck out Alex Morales to get the last out of the game.

The Seahawks put up eight runs in the fourth inning, led by singles by Curry and Wyatt Abercrombie, a walk by junior Mason Moses, an error on a ball put in play by Mallon, and a double by Crum.

Mallon earned the win for the Seahawks, as the right-hander allowed no runs on no hits, striking out six and walking one, with Varnes throwing one inning in relief out of the bullpen.

Franklin County Seahawks tallied 11 hits in the game. Curry, Crum, Evan Stanley, and Cody Abercrombie each managed multiple hits to lead the Seahawks. 

Franklin County didn’t commit a single error in the field. Sophomore Chase Millender had the most chances in the field with nine. 

The Seahawks tore up the base paths, as two players stole at least two bases. Curry led the way with two.

“This was a game we broke open in the first with seven runs,” said Cox. “The bats came out swinging and we swung the bats about as well as a team as we can. 

“Our pitching threw strikes as Mallon and Varnes threw well,” he said. “Always nice to go on the road and get a win. Proud that we stayed focused and played well after grinding out a win the night before against North Bay.

Not an easy thing to do, to play back-to-back nights and I was proud of how we handled the transition. Looking forward to playing tonight as we are back in action with a district game in Wewa. Hoping the bats stay hot.”