Brian Hagberg
MEADVILLE, Pa. — Warren had chances in both the sixth and seventh innings, but couldn’t get the tying run across as the Dragons fell to Franklin, 5-4, in their District 10 Class 4A quarterfinal.
Trailing 5-3 and with two outs in the sixth, Katie Madigan singled, then Rylie Yeager followed with a double to plate Madigan and make it 5-4. Kelsey Stuart reached on an error, but Yeager was thrown out at the plate trying to score on the play to end the inning.
Alix Lytle reached on an error to start the seventh, then moved to second on Alex Neureiter’s sac bunt. Franklin pitcher Trinity Edge induced consecutive strikeouts to end the game.
Edge came up big, offensively and in the circle, when Franklin needed her most. With the game tied at 3-3 in the fifth, Edge powered a 1-1 pitch over the centerfield wall for a 2-run homer that proved to be the deciding run. In the circle, Edge gave up four runs, three earned, on six hits and four walks. She struck out 10.
Sydni Hoobler led off the game with a bunt single and moved to second on an error. Erin Janidlo followed with an RBI single to put the Knights ahead, 1-0.
Warren answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning. Madigan put down a bunt single and moved to second on the throw to first. She came home on a passed ball with Yeager at the plate. Yeager walked, then went to second on Stuart’s single. One out later, Neureiter drew a walk to load the bases.
Edge got Lexi Hoffman and Carly Beers to strike out to end the threat.
Hoobler got things going for the Knights again in the third. She led off with an infield single, then moved to second on Janidlo’s sac bunt. Kaylyn Fry’s sac fly to right brought in Hoobler to put Franklin ahead 2-1.
The Dragons responded with a pair in their half of the inning. Yeager reached on an error to start the frame and Stuart walked. The runners moved to third and second on Lytle’s sac bunt, then came home on Neureiter’s single to right to put Warren ahead, 3-2. Hoffman followed with a single, but Edge was able to get Beers on a foul tip strikeout and Ellee Irwin to ground out to limit the damage.
Hoobler doubled to start the fifth, then moved to third on an error. Fry’s 1-out single brought in Hoobler to tie it at 3-3. Edge followed with a 2-run homer to center to put the Knights back on top, 5-3.
Franklin threatened again in the seventh when Edge ripped a 2-out triple to right. Stuart was able to get Brandy Atwell looking to keep it a 5-4 game.
Madigan had two of Warren’s six hits and scored twice. Neureiter drove in a pair and Yeager had a run scored and an RBI.
Stuart took the loss, as she allowed five earned runs on 10 hits. She didn’t walk a batter and struck out 12.
Edge and Hoobler both went 3-4 at the plate. Edge had two RBI and a run scored, while Hoobler scored three times. Fry also drove in a pair for the Knights.
In the circle, Edge gave up four runs, three earned, on six hits and four walks. She struck out 10.
Warren ends the year with a 14-4 overall record.
Franklin will face Hickory in the semifinals on Thursday at a time and location TBD.
