It was a must win for Cranberry Thurday night, and boy did they take that seriously. Three out of their first four batters reached base and they plated one to take an early lead. It was only a nifty heads up double play by Carter Barrett that got Franklin out of the inning with minimal damage.
Not knowing it at the time, but that was all that Cranberry would need to force the if necessary game for the District 25 championship. Franklin, who reached the championships with solid defense and good bats, just never seemed to be able to mount an offensive charge Thursday.
 | They got runners on base, but just couldn't push them around or punch them in. They left two in scoring position in both the first and fourth innings. Meanwhile Cranberry's pitcher Bryce Marchinke pitched lights out. He got himself into a little trouble in the first, giving up a two out grounder by Korbyn Sires that found its way into left center. He then drilled Jake Saragian in the shoulder to put two runners on. But Marchinke wasn't fazed and struck out the final batter to keep the 1-0 lead. |
Sires also seemed to settle down on the mound for Franklin and with solid defense behind him, Cranberry couldn't muster much either until the fifth inning when a Matt Antrilli bases loaded single scored two. They added another before the end of the inning and one more in the sixth.
The 5-0 Cranberry win forced the if necessary game tonight at 6 p.m. up at Hasson Heights in Oil City at 6 p.m. for all the marbles.
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