Greenwood’s Ethan King scores the first run of Wednesday’s game against Franklin.
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
Last-minute motivators need not be conjured up in order to add juice to the Franklin-Greenwood rivalry.
Geography took care of that a long time ago.
The longtime county and Mid-State Conference rivals were at it again on Wednesday, the host Woodmen scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in a 6-3 victory.
“Beating Franklin is definitely a good thing,” Woodmen junior center fielder and leadoff hitter Ethan King said. “I’ve known a lot of these guys, and to get a win over a conference team is always good, especially the ones where I know a lot of guys on the team.
“This season has definitely been a roller-coaster ride for us. We’ve had some injuries, miscues and stuff like that, but I think we’re starting to find it a little bit better and are playing better the past couple of games.”
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That certainly applies to Woodmen senior right-hander Logan Connor, who pitched his second consecutive complete game. Against Franklin, he surrendered four hits in the first three frames but settled down to finish with a six-hitter while striking out four.
Asked if he was thinking complete game early on, Connor was as honest as he was effective.
“To be completely honest with you, no,” Connor said. “It was shaky at the start. I mean, I was walking a couple guys, couldn’t find the strike zone. But Franklin is a great team. They hit the ball well, but I’m glad we got through it.”
Trailing 3-2 midway through the sixth, Greenwood (9-10, 7-4) got down to business starting with sophomore Eli Mason’s one-out single. He eventually made it to third on a Franklin error, which put two runners on in time for Nicholas Pruett to load the bases on a perfectly executed bunt.
King walked to bring in the tying run, followed by Jayden Pierce’s sacrifice fly to right field that put the Woodmen on top for good. Senior Cade Kelly’s opposite-field single to left scored the team’s fifth run, while Micah Vessely’s single drove in the sixth.
Greenwood scored the game’s initial run in the bottom of the first inning with King doubling to right field, moving to third on a passed ball, and jogging home on another Pierce sac fly.
The Grizzly Cubs (9-8, 4-5) responded in the top of the second frame, loading the bases and bringing home the tying run when Greenwood’s attempt at a force-out throw to second was late after freshman Jesse Kaster grounded to short.
Franklin put another run on the board the following inning. Trevor Launonen led off with a single to left and sophomore Owen Bullington promptly singled to right to place runners on the corners. Sophomore designated hitter Blake Smythe took it from there with a sacrifice fly to center.
Greenwood knotted the count in its half of the fourth, orchestrating a double steal that brought senior Landen Smith in from third. Smith had led off with a single that stopped just short of the right field grass.
Junior first baseman Braeden Burton doubled to the left-field fence to open the top of the sixth frame, and freshman Carsten Bland, the Cubs’ No. 8 hitter, singled to left to score pinch runner Cade Petty.
Smythe doubled twice to pace the Grizzly Cubs offensively. Bland contributed two singles, the same contribution Vessely supplied the Woodmen with in the win.
Franklin starting pitcher Brooks McNicholas, a sophomore right-hander, worked the first four innings. Freshman Jack Nelson pitched the final two innings.
Greenwood coach Andy Bass, now in his 27th season, has experienced his share of highs and lows playing against Franklin teams. It’s a rivalry that refuses to be watered down by time.
“Any time you beat Franklin … and this goes back, when I started, Noel Heminger was there, and then Jeff Mercer. So many great coaches,” Bass said. “It’s what I would call a baseball school. And the kids there, they don’t just play. They love to play. And they know how to play.
“I think (Grizzly Cubs coach Jeremy McKinney) is doing a great job now. They play the game hard every night out, and they’re going to compete every night out. I would say it’s a big win.”
