FARMINGTON — The Franklin County 13-15-year-old Babe Ruth team lost to Apple Valley twice in the state tournament. But as host of the New England regional, Franklin jumped on the chance to take a game from their rivals.
Franklin County scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break a tie and take a 5-3 win in the first round of the regional tournament.
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Franklin will play Manchester, N.H., in a winners’ bracket game at 7 tonight. Apple Valley faces Leominster, Mass., in an elimination game at 1 p.m.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Andrew Pratt singled and went to second base on a throwing error. After taking third on a wild pitch, Pratt scored on a wild pitch to give Franklin a 4-3 lead.
Chad Luker scored on a passed ball later in the inning to give Franklin some insurance.
Cam Abbott, who missed the first game against Apple Valley in the state tournament because of a sprained ankle, pitched well for Franklin, working into the sixth inning. Abbott struck out four and walked three before giving way to Ryan Greenman, who struck out four of the five hitters he faced for the save.
Franklin scored a pair of runs in the second inning. After loading the bases on two walks and an infield single, Greenman singled to center to score Zak Kendall. A wild pitch scored Jon Hart to give Franklin a 2-0 lead.
Franklin manufactured a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two out, Scottie Hall singled, took second on a wild pitch, and scored on Greenman’s single to right field.
Apple Valley tied the game with three unearned runs in the top of the fifth. Zach Elwell, who led off the inning with a single, scored on a two-out error. Brady Dion scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-2, and Tyler Hutchinson scored on Levi Morin’s single to tie the game at 3-3.
Apple Valley had chances to score early, but stranded four runners on base through the first four innings.
Essex, Vt. 4, Braintree, Mass. 3, 8 innings: Jacob Benson’s RBI single in the top of the eighth inning scored Brian Godard with the go-ahead run for Essex.
Benson pitched seven innings to earn the win. Joey Robertson had three hits for Essex.
Kevin Howard had two hits and scored a pair of runs for Braintree.
Trumbull, Conn. 6, Cranston, R.I., 2: Sam Jett scored two runs and had three hits to lead Trumbull to the win.
Stan Wolpick earned the complete-game victory, allowing two runs and striking out five.
For Cranston, Frank Prettinato had two hits and drove in a run.
Manchester, N.H. 2, Leominster, Mass. 0: Carmen Giampetruzzi struck out eight to earn the complete-game win for Manchester.
Steven Deane gave Manchester a 1-0 lead in the second inning with an RBI single. Giampetruzzi scored on by Tyler Kelley’s sacrifice fly to left field in the sixth.
Neal O’Connor struck out six in a complete-game effort for Leominster.
Travis Lazarczyk – 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
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