FC varsity baseball banishes Bears, 15-13

In a contest that lasted but four innings, Franklin County’s varsity baseball team not only beat the expected rainfall but also jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first two innings of last Friday’s home contest against West Lincoln.

From there, the Bulldogs scored five more runs late despite a trio of mostly cosmetic runs by West Lincoln down the stretch to claim a 15-3 victory over the visiting Bears.

West Lincoln failed to score in the top of the first, but Franklin’s bats were hot coming out of the gate in the latter half of the frame.

FC’s Donovan Moore led things off with a single to left and wound up scoring on a follow-up triple by Ridge Clanton.

Facing a full count, Dalton Meadows launched a two-run homer over the center field fence to put the Bulldogs on top, 3-0.

Quez Rancifer drew a one-out walk and advanced to scoring position on a West Lincoln error.

From third, Rancifer scored his team’s fourth run after Larry Pernell sent a pop single to right before the side was retired.

Despite an early out, Franklin County extended its lead in the bottom of the second as Moore reached after being hit by a pitch.

He would steal second and made his way to third and ultimately home on another Bears’ error.

Clanton clubbed a single to center and Noah McCormick stroked a line drive and reached on an error to keep the drive alive.

Clanton would score on yet another West Lincoln error and McCormick crossed home plate thanks to a single line drive by Rancifer to give FC a 7-0 advantage.

From there, Terrance Fields singled to center and Pernell drew a walk to load the bases.

Dakota Chisholm singled to right and that hit green-lighted Rancifer, Fields and Pernell to score.

JaMarlin Green — Chisholm’s courtesy runner — stole second and third bases before Jamari Tolliver picked up a walk.

Moore was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Franklin again before West Lincoln struck out Clanton to end the scoring threat.

In the top of the third, the Bears scored a run to cut FC’s advantage to nine, 10-1, but the Dawgs went right back to work offensively.

Meadows and McCormick popped and grounded out, respectively, to start the bottom of the third.

Rancifer got things rolling though with a single to center before advancing to second on a passed ball. A follow-up single by Fields put runners on the corners for Franklin.

Rancifer plated his team’s 11th run and Fields made his way to second on a West Lincoln error. Fields reached third on a passed ball and came home when Pernell singled to left.

The Bears scored twice to start the fourth inning, and Franklin baserunners crossed home three times late to set the final margin of victory at 15-3.

In the bottom of the fourth, Moore led off with a single to center and Clanton sent a shot to center on a screaming fly ball.

With runners on first and second, Meadows singled to center and that allowed Moore to tally FC’s 13th run of the night.

McCormick then came on to single and scored Clanton and Meadows to end the contest.

In terms of overall hitting, seven of Franklin’s nine batters made contact more than one time against West Lincoln.

Moore, Rancifer and Pernell were all 2-for-2 with Moore and Rancifer scoring three runs each and Pernell scoring one.

Pernell had two RBIs while Rancifer was credited with one.

Clanton turned in a 3-for-4 performance with three runs, an RBI and a strikeout.

In addition, Fields was 2-for-3 with two runs and Chisholm went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

Meadows was a solid 2-for-4 with two runs and a trio of RBIs and McCormick finished 1-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.

Moore and Green each had two stolen bases for Franklin County with Tolliver credited with one.

In all, FC left six baserunners stranded in the outing and committed no errors.

On the hitting side, Tolliver was 0-for-2 at the plate with a walk and a strikeout.

On the mound, he threw a total of 53 pitches and scattered three runs (two of those earned) while limiting West Lincoln to three hits.

He ultimately struck out five Bears’ batters and walked one while maintaining a 71.7 percent strike-to-pitch ratio (53-38).

West Lincoln ended their night by committing five errors in the game.

FC improved to 5-2-1 on the season with the win.

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ON DECK

The Diamond Dawgs are scheduled to return to action at the Swamp at 5 and 7 p.m., on Monday, March 21 against Natchez.

The following day, FC will play host to Port Gibson’s Blue Waves in a district showdown at 5 and 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs will play the rubber match in the series at 5 and 7 p.m., on Friday, March 25 in Claiborne County.

At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., on Saturday, March 26, Franklin County will host Enterprise and will travel to face Natchez at 5 and 7 p.m., Monday, March 28 to wrap up the month.