Dawgs bury Bears, Indians

Franklin County High School’s varsity baseball team saw its overall season mark improve to 7-4 following a trio of wins last week — including a double-header victory over Hazlehurst on Friday, March 10 and a 16-6 thumping of West Lincoln on Tuesday, March 7.

FC 19, HAZLEHURST 0

It took the Diamond Dawgs only two innings to dispatch the Hazlehurst Indians, 19-0, in the first of a two-game set as Franklin County collected all of its runs in the first inning on six hits and nine walks in the dominant decision.

The Indians, who committed six errors in the game, mustered a walk and saw a batter hit by a pitch in the top of the first before FC began its offensive onslaught in the latter half of the frame.

Dalton Meadows went 1-of-1 for the Bulldogs with a two-run homer, three runs scored, two RBI and two walks, and Larry Pernell was 2-of-3 in recording two singles with three runs, one RBI and a strike out.

Donovan Moore was also 1-of-1 in stroking a double while scoring three runs, collecting two RBI and drawing two walks.

Dakota Chisholm and Terrance Fields were both 1-of-2 in the game for the Bulldogs as the duo had a single with two RBI apiece.

Fields, who also reached on an error, scored twice while Chisholm crossed home plate once.

Quez Rancifer was 0-for-2 after reaching twice on Hazlehurst errors and being issued one walk. He scored twice in the outing.

Peyton Hebert and Carter Spring went 0-of-0, but drew two walks each with the former coming home twice and the latter once.

Noah McCormick was 0-of-3 with a run scored and an RBI along with reaching on an error and two strike outs.

Dawson Halford — as a courtesy runner for Spring — scored a run.

Fields paced the FC effort in terms of stolen bases with five as Halford and Hebert collected three swipes apiece, Moore and Spring recorded two each with Chisholm and Rancifer gained one apiece.

As pitcher, Fields worked two innings and three only 33 pitches in striking out five Indians’ batters and walking one. His pitches-to-strikes ratio was 33-21 (63.6 percent).

FC 12, HAZLEHURST 2

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Hazlehurst had few answers as Franklin County scored 12 runs — eight in the bottom of the first and four more in the second – to claim the second set in Friday’s double-header.

Despite committing two errors, FC made the most of its chances offensively with three hits and in drawing eight walks.

At the plate, Moore was 1-of-1 with a triple, one run scored, two RBI and two walks, and Spring went 1-of-1 with a single, two runs plated, two RBI and a walk.

Rancifer went 1-of-2 thanks to a single. He scored one and picked up an RBI.

Pernell and Meadows were both 0-of-0 in at-bats with both scoring a run and one RBI each.

Pernell had two walks and Meadows walked once while also being hit by a pitch.

McCormick was also 0-of-0 after being hit by a pitch twice and scored two times.

Trent Brumfield, Fields and Chisholm were all 0-of-1 with Brumfield being hit by a pitch and striking out with a run scored.

Fields reached on an error and scored twice while Chisholm scored one run, had a walk and struck out once.

Moore had two stolen bags while Pernell, Chisholm and McCormick each had one.

Brumfield pitched two innings for Franklin County and threw a total of 34 pitches.

He gave up two runs on no hits, struck out four and walked one. His pitches-to-strikes ratio was 34-21 (61.7 percent).

FC 16, WEST LINCOLN 6

Franklin County claimed its second win of the season over the West Lincoln Bears, 16-6, on Tuesday, March 7.

FC pounded out 15 hits and committed only two errors in the contest while the Bears recorded nine hits and had four errors.

The Diamond Dawgs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning before West Lincoln scored twice in the top of the second and again in the top of the third to hold a one run advantage.

FC answered in the bottom of the third with five runs and added three in latter half of the fourth, one in the fifth and five in the sixth.

West Lincoln was able to score two in the top of the fifth and one in the top of the sixth.

Rancifer paced the Dawgs’ effort with a team-leading 4-of-5 plate performance that included a single, two doubles and a triple. He also had four runs scored and one RBI.

Meadows also excelled at the plate thanks to a 3-of-5 showing with a double, triple and home run while striking out once. He also scored three times and accounted for four RBI.

McCormick and Chisholm were both 2-of-3 with the former connecting on a single and double and scored once while the latter clubbed two singles and scored twice.

McCormick finished with three RBI and Chisholm had one.

Arnold was 2-of-4 with a single and double, two RBI and a strike out.

Halford finished 1-of-2 with a single, a run and a walk.

FC’s Hebert was 1-of-1 in the hitting department with a single and a run scored.

Pernell and Fields did not get a hit for the Bulldogs, but contributed to the win with Pernell scoring and walking twice and Fields scoring once, collecting a RBI and striking out twice.

Moore drew two walks in the contest and Dedrick Starks scored a run.

Three pitchers faced the Bears with McCormick working two frames, Pernell on the hill for three and Hebert tossing one inning.

McCormick threw 57 pitches and gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits while walking five.

Pernell handed out 44 pitches en route to surrendering four runs (two earned) on two Bears’ hits. He also struck out two.

With 22 pitches to his credit, Hebert was tagged for two runs (one earned) on one hit with two strike outs and one walk.