FRANKLIN, Mass. - The first inning isn’t always indicative of how the rest of the game is going to go.
It was on Saturday afternoon though.
Ant Chaiton sat down the side in order in the top of the inning and Franklin plated three in the bottom half and the Panthers never looked back in a 10-5 win over Taunton.
“The guys were really locked in and did a really nice job extending innings and making it really tough of them,” Franklin head coach Zach Brown said. “And then Ant did a great job having shut down innings after we scored so we could keep extending on the lead.”
Nick Burgos led off with a single in the bottom half and moved to second when Andrew Parent reached safely. After Taunton starter Sam Moor picked up a strikeout, Chaiton did his part offensively with a single to right that scored Burgos and moved Parent to third. Zane Byrne ripped a hit to left field to plate Parent and then Chaiton scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Tyler Gomes.
Chiatin retired the side in order in the top of the second, including a strikeout to set up the Panthers best offensive inning of the game.
Ben Chaffee singled to start the bottom half and number nine hitter Alex Bissanti followed up with a double. Burgos walked to load the bases, which was the last at-bat for Moor. Tyler Whalon came on in relief and picked up a strikeout for the first out with the bases loaded. Junior Nick Santucci hit a ground ball to first base but it was enough to advance all the runners and score Caffee to make it 4-0. Chaiton continued to produce at the plate, this time connecting on a double that scored Bissanti and Burgos to make it 6-0.
After Chaiton’s hit, Byrne followed up with his second hit of the day, a double, that pushed Chaiton across the plate. Gomes singled to move Byrne over to third and a walk to Kyle Skidmore loaded the basses. Chaffee, the eight hitter, picked up his second hit, this one into shallow center field that landed between the second baseman and centerfielder which allowed Byrne and Gomes to come across to make it 9-0.
“I really like the balance so far in our lineup,” Brown said. “Guys have been working really hard in the offseason and during the preseason and these are the results. We just need to keep it up.”
The Tigers were finally able to get their first hit of the game. With one out, Whalon singled into right field. Taunton couldn’t do anything with it though as Chaiton picked up a strikeout and induced a fly ball to left to get out of the inning.
It wasn’t until the fourth inning that Taunton got their first run. After getting two outs to start the inning, Dylan Poillucci reached when his hit fell between the shortstop and left fielder. Luke Figueira followed that up with a single and a base hit by Brendon Mazerolle plated Poillucci to make it 9-1.
Chaitin got out of the inning with a strikeout and then retired the side in order in the top of the fifth inning. Chaiton picked up the win, throwing five innings, letting up one earned run and allowing just three hits.
“He really just set the tone of us,” Brown said. “He set the tone with the way he pitched. Obviously Taunton is a very good team and he did a really good job pounding the strike zone, being around it all day and letting the defense work, I’m very proud of him.”
Franklin got their final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. After a lead off single by Tyler Gomes, Skidmore hit into a fielder’s choice. Skimmer than moved all the way to third on a wild pitch and scored on a base hit from Chaffee.
Taunton threatened in both the sixth and seventh innings. Senior Denzel Santos drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a two-out single from Figueira. Santos was pushed across when Mazerolle doubled in his second run of the game to make it 10-2. Taunton loaded the bases when Max Bowden drew a walk but Mike Skaza got Billy Emerson to pop up to the catcher.
The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh as Matt Machado, Kevin Griffin and Jose Mercado all took consecutive walks. Santos then took his second walk of the game to bring in Macao. Charles Hearrold connected on a hard hit ball that was bobbled at second base and Griffin came around to score to make it 10-4 with the bases still loaded. Figueira hit a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Mercado for the final run. Kyle Wadrup closed the game, forcing a line drive right at himself and then doubling up Santos at third.
Franklin improves to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in league play. The Panthers will be back in action on Monday with a game against Catholic Memorial at 11:00AM. Taunton drops to 2-1 overall and in league play and will be back in action on Monday when they host Coyle & Cassidy in the City Championship.
Ryan Lanigan can be contacted at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @R_Lanigan.