Baseball/Greenwood 5, Franklin-Simpson 4
Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 11, 2002
Clinton Lewis/Daily News
There were two ways to look at Wednesdays baseball game between Franklin-Simpson and Greenwood. For Wildcat fans, the game was a frustrating night with Franklin-Simpson stranding 12 base runners. For Gators fans, it was an edge-of-your-seat high-wire act, in which three Gator pitchers walked 10 batters and hit another Wildcat, yet were able to come up with the big pitch when needed. Either way, the result remained the same Greenwood 5-4 in eight innings. Winning takes care of a lot of ills, especially against an outstanding club like Franklin, Greenwood coach Chris Decker said. I feel like a burden has been lifted because weve been close a couple of games against some good teams. As far as our pitching, we left a small village on base. Franklin-Simpsons frustrations began early as they scored one run in the first, but had an opportunity to score more. With one out in the first, Greenwood starter Bryan Lewis walked the bases loaded in the top of the first. The Wildcats scored the only run on a fielders choice. The Gators squandered an opportunity to tie the score in the bottom of the inning. Greenwood had runners second and third with one out, but Wildcat starter Travis Perkins pitched his way out of the jam, getting two groundouts. An error by Wildcat second baseman Matt Marsh opened the door for a three-run inning for Greenwood in the bottom of the third. After the error, center fielder Phillip Walden walked, putting runners at first and second with one out. Right fielder Chris Lockwood hit an RBI single up the middle to tie the score 1-all. Two batters later, designated hitter Chris Brown roped a two-RBI single down the third base line, giving the Gators a 3-1 lead. Greenwoods Lewis battled control problems in the top of the fourth, walking three batters and hitting one. But again the Wildcats were unable to deliver the knockout hit and had to settle for a single run, making the score 3-2 Greenwood. The Gators made it a 4-2 game with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Left fielder Daniel Tubbs doubled to lead off the inning and scored three batters later on a groundout by catcher Terry Parrish. The Wildcats tied the score 4-all in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Michael Wilhite and a grounder by third basemen Chandler Shepherd that scored center fielder Nick LaMastus. Franklin-Simpson had a chance to score the go-ahead run in the top of seventh, when the Wildcats had two runners thrown out on the base paths. Courtesy runner Alex Brown was nailed at home trying to score on a wild pitch and left fielder Tye Burklow was nailed trying to steal second base. Despite a two-out single by Walden, the Gators didnt threaten in the bottom of seventh, forcing extra innings. The game should have been over on the wild pitch, Franklin-Simpson head coach Greg Shelton said. He has no jump (at third base). Hes not thinking wild pitch and therefore he gets thrown out with the short back stop here. But that wouldnt be the case in the bottom of the eighth. Greenwood reliever Terry Parrish singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. After first baseman Alex McDougal struck out, third baseman Nate Murrie drilled a single to left allowing Parrish to score the winning run. Nate deserves that hit, because he works hard, Decker said. Im just as proud of him as I can be. Parrish was the winning pitcher, throwing two and one-third scoreless innings. Wilhite took the loss in relief for the Wildcats. Shelton said the Wildcats had their chances, but failed to convert. When you dont take advantage of your scoring opportunities, you are going to get beat, Shelton said. All we did today was leave runners stranded. We wouldnt have anyone walk to the plate and make a big hit for us. Franklin-Simpson drops to 4-4. Greenwood, who will host Breckinridge County on Friday, improves to 2-4.Franklin-Simpson 100 102 00 – 4 6 1Greenwood 003 010 01 – 5 8 3