Franklin bats shoot down Rockets

Third time was the chilly charm for the Franklin girls softball home game against Titusville. The squads were supposed to play Tuesday, then Wednesday and finally the weather allowed them to get it in on Thursday. 

Titusville started out with a very good at-bat by Hannah Peterson that resulted in a walk. But then a solid grounder grab by third base Abby Boland, who turned to throw a dart to second for the force in a double play attempt. After a Jordan Wynn hit put two on, freshman starting pitcher Jersey Swartz settled down.

 She would give up only three hits in five and a half innings of work in the 10-0 win.

When it came their time to bat they wasted no time. Jillian Ewing got on bringing up senior captain Kirsten Hicks, who was playing with a heavy heart, losing her grandfather earlier in the day. 

Hicks at-bat was one to remember. She drilled a foul off her left leg. After a short recovery time, she got back in the box only to do it again. The hobbled catcher got right back in the box and proceeded to foul off three more to the left side before finally connecting on one that dropped a few feet from the left foul line. The hit was good enough to score Ewing for the first run of the game.

The Knights weren't finished, a courtesy runner in place gave Hicks a chance to rest her bruised leg while Rylie Hanna and Boland both reached loading the bases for Gabby Lederer who knocked in two. All in all, they scored seven first-inning runs to set the tone.

"Our bats have been good," said Franklin head coach Mike Hanna. "If they keep hitting the way they have been (in the first two games,) I stay out of the way and step back and watch."

Hanna said they also hit well in their first game against Rocky Grove where the Knights scored 11 runs on 16 hits. In that game, Swartz gave up two runs on seven hits.

Hanna said the loss of two key seniors, Sydney Hoobler and Trinity Edge last year, are tough shoes to fill, but he's so far pleased with how everyone is playing. "It's a little different dynamics with the two new freshmen and they are going to have to figure out their identities are going to be and move forward," he said. "We're progressing each game and it looks pretty good to this point and I hope it continues."

In the second inning, they started right back at it with Boland walking and then scoring on Lederer's triple. Autumn Fitzgerald then plated Lederer on a single. At the end of two, the Knights were up 9-0

Titusville switched pitchers bringing Wynn in to relieve starter Sky Bierce. Franklin added only one more run in the third before being shutdown in the fourth.

Titusville struggled to get anything going. Head coach Megan Green said the team hasn't been able to get much outdoor practice so far this season and is still trying to figure out player positions in this still very young season. "There are a lot of girls (who) are eager (to play), but it is finding that right blend and that chemistry we just haven't found yet," she said. "But it's only the first game."

Several solid multiple sport athletes return for Titusville with Dani Fonzo, Rylie McGarvie, Abbie Collie, Gabby Peterson, Kasey Frepps and Hannah Peterson joining Wynn. "They have so much softball experience," said Green. "They just have to believe in themselves and that's when we'll see the shining stars."

Titusville will play Oil City on April 2 in their home opener.

Franklin will also play on April 2, but on the road against Grove City.