Good Hitting, Franklin Mistakes Help Herd

The wind was blowing out at Wackman Field at Elk Grove High School Monday and it might have made a bit of a difference with balls hit up in the air, but Franklin's defense made anything in the outfield an adventure as the Herd ran away with a comfortable 10-4 win.

Rowdy Tellez was three-for-three but two balls really should have been caught. One was a major league high popup in the infield that plopped to the ground between three Wildcat infielders. In the first inning, Tellez was gifted an RBI double when a high fly to deep center ended up five feet behind the Franklin center fielder who thought he had it.

In the third inning Matt Aday had a line-drive single that could have been caught, but it bounced over the outfielder's head and rolled to the fence for a two-base error. Andrew Horne scored on that play. Cameron Childs stroked a double to left to score Aday for a 6-1 lead.

Franklin starter Brandon Keup had control problems that hurt him in the second inning. He walked two and hit one batter only to then give up a bases-clearing triple to Dom Nunez.

Another outfield gaffe on Jacob Heingardner's line drive to center in the fifth inning, that put the junior DH on third, gave the Herd another run when Childs hit another RBI single.

"I'm not worried. It was just one of those days," Franklin head coach Bryan Kilby said of his team's lackluster performance. The Wildcats had three errors but at least four other balls should have been caught that led to E.G. runs.

David Smith picked up the win for the Herd pitching six innings. He allowed three runs on two hits. The two clubs play again Wednesday at Franklin.



Other baseball scores of local interest:

Davis 12, Laguna Creek 1 (5 inns.) - Ben Eckels threw a one-hitter for the Blue Devils. They remain tied with the Herd for first place in the DVC.
Grant 9, Monterey Trail 6
Pleasant Grove 4, Folsom 0 - Zack Stilwell threw a one-hitter as the Eagles remain atop the DRL.
Oak Ridge 14, Sheldon 0 - Trojans need to sweep this week's series with the Huskies to stay in the race for the playoffs.
Jesuit 6, Ponderosa 0