YSE File Photo
With its second win over Todd County Central in a 24-hour period, the Franklin-Simpson High School baseball team secured the regular-season sweep and took a stronghold of the 13th District standings Tuesday with a 9-5 win over the Rebels.
After defeating Todd Central by a count of 6-2 the night prior, the Wildcats (5-15) took a 2-1 lead on back-to-back, two-out RBI singles by Colton Wilson and Brady Delk in the bottom of the second inning. Then, during the bottom of the fifth, the ‘Cats scored five of their six runs on two errors and two wild pitches to go ahead for good.
Peyton Ortiz (3-for-3, double, run) and Gavyn Nolan (2-for-4, three RBI) kept the Rebels in the fight until the end. Nolan’s RBI single scored Nate Reding to give TCCHS a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Nolan struck again in the fifth, driving in a pair with a single to put his squad up 3-2, but the lead wouldn’t last long.
Gavin Link, who had been on the losing side of his first five starts of the year, struck out six and allowed nine hits during the complete-game victory. Link (1-5) walked none and allowed five runs — three of which were earned. Delk finished 2-for-2 with two runs, three stolen bases, two walks and an RBI atop the Franklin-Simpson order to lead the way offensively.
Jase Hampton struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings but suffered his first loss in three starts. He walked two, gave up six hits and allowed eight runs (three earned) on the road. Nolan had two strikeouts and three walks during his 1 2/3 innings of relief.
Todd County Central (8-9) will try to pull back to .500 for the season when it hosts Clarksville (TN) Kenwood at 6 p.m. Thursday. The Rebels will also play in this weekend’s Kelly Russell Classic in Russellville, taking on Edmonson County at 10 a.m. Saturday.
