Franklin Monroe baseball team beats Twin Valley South for its 1st win

0

PITSBURG – The Franklin Monroe baseball team earned its first win of the 2018 season on Thursday, defeating Cross County Conference foe Twin Valley South 4-3.

“These guys needed it, especially with our tough schedule,” Franklin Monroe coach Edward Meyers said. “And we’ve only got 13 guys so that makes a big difference being able to come out and get a win. And they’re a good, quality program. They’re well coached. I know the Basslers real well. So that’s a good program over there. To get a win against them, that’s good for our program.”

Franklin Monroe managed to get the win despite only having three hits on Thursday. The Jets had some timely hits, though, and took advantage of South’s mistakes.

Two of Franklin Monroe’s hits came in the bottom of the sixth when the Jets scored the game-winning run.

Noah Koffer got the Jets started with a one-out single. After Trevor Collins walked, both runners advanced on a wild pitch.

Twin Valley South’s Ryan Bassler got a strikeout for the second out of the inning, but then Larkin Ressler singled into left to drive in Koffer for the go-ahead run.

“We had a bunch of key hits there,” Meyers said. “Noah Koffer in the seventh and then Larkin driving him in there in the seventh.”

Along with scoring the winning run, Koffer had a nice night on the mound for Franklin Monroe. He limited South to three runs – two of which were earned – on seven hits, four walks, one hit batter and six strikeouts. He also picked off a base runner at first.

“He threw one of the best games he’s thrown here at FM,” Meyers said. “I give him props for that. Bulldog on the mound today for sure.”

Twin Valley South was able to get players on base early in Thursday’s game but couldn’t get them across the plate, stranding three runners in the first two innings.

The Panthers finally scored the game’s first run in the top of the third. Buddy Henderson singled then Bassler reached on an error. Travis Lovely and Josh Wysong then got back-to-back singles to bring in Henderson and put the Panthers up 1-0.

Twin Valley South didn’t hold the lead for long, however. Franklin Monroe’s Timothy Lawson led off the bottom half of the inning with a double, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ressler and scored on a sac fly by Bryce Filbrun to knot the score at 1-1.

South regained the lead in the fourth inning when Bassler drove in Bryant Marker, who led off the inning with a walk.

But once again Franklin Monroe quickly responded. Jeremy Bridenbaugh reached on an error to start the rally in the bottom of the fourth then Zach Cable, Koffer and Collins all drew walks to bring in a run and tie the score at 2-2. The Jets then took their first lead of the day with a sacrifice fly by Lawson.

“That’s one thing that we’ve been preaching is find a way to get them on and then get them in,” said Meyers, whose team took a 3-2 lead despite not having a hit in the two-run fourth inning.

Twin Valley South was able to tie the game in the top of the sixth. Ryan Johnson was hit by a pitch, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Henderson.

However, Franklin Monroe regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth with Ressler’s go-ahead hit then got a 1-2-3 inning from Koffer in the seventh to close out the 4-3 league victory.

Lawson had Franklin Monroe’s only extra-base hit of the day with a double, had a sacrifice fly and also scored a run. Levi Altic singled, walked and scored a run. Ressler singled, reached on an error and had a sacrifice bunt.

Bridenbaugh reached on an error and scored a run. Cable walked and scored a run. Collins was on base twice with two walks.

Franklin Monroe improved to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the CCC with Thursday’s win. The Jets are scheduled to travel to Milton-Union on Friday and play host to Tri-County North on Saturday.

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_IMGP5695-2.jpgKyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_IMGP5697-2.jpgKyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_IMGP5704-2.jpgKyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_IMGP5707-4.jpgKyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_IMGP5710-4.jpgKyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_IMGP5712-2.jpgKyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_IMGP5713-2.jpgKyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_IMGP5715-2.jpgKyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_IMGP5716.jpgKyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_IMGP5719-4.jpgKyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_IMGP5748-4.jpgKyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_IMGP5751-2.jpgKyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

Franklin Monroe’s Noah Koffer pitches during a Cross County Conference baseball game against Twin Valley South on Thursday in Pitsburg.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Noah-Koffer-WEB-8.jpgFranklin Monroe’s Noah Koffer pitches during a Cross County Conference baseball game against Twin Valley South on Thursday in Pitsburg. Kyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

By Kyle Shaner

[email protected]

Kyle Shaner may be reached at 937-569-4316. Follow me on Twitter @KShanerAdvocate or get updates on Facebook by searching Darke County Sports or Advocate 360. For more features online go to dailyadvocate.com.

No posts to display