Rummel thumps Westminster Christian in WGNO Baseball Classic, 10-0

METAIRIE – As a senior with experience, Ron Franklin is being counted on at the plate, in the field and on the mound for Rummel this season.

Franklin delivered in excellent fashion Thursday night, pitching three shutout innings and going 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI as the Raiders drilled Westminster Christian 10-0 in the WGNO Baseball Classic at Mike Miley Stadium in a game shortened to five innings by the mercy rule.

Rummel got all of the scoring it needed in the bottom of the second inning. Kolbe Fields and Aidan Champagne singled before Franklin singled both home to make it 2-0.

The Raiders added a run in the bottom of the third inning on a walk to Logan Bertucci, a single by Tyler Cook and an error, scoring Bertucci to make it 3-0.

Rummel (2-0) broke it open in the bottom of the fourth, scoring six runs. Fields and Cook each delivered an RBI doubles and Champagne singled in a run with the other three runs scoring on errors by the Crusaders, who committed five errors in the game.

The Raiders finished it off in the bottom of the fifth on a walk to Franklin and an RBI single by Bertucci.

Fields and Cook each had a single, double and RBI for the Raiders while Champagne had two hits and an RBI. Rummel played without sophomore star shortstop Kyle Walker, who has a sprained ankle.

Westminster Christian had their chances, stranding 10 runners on base in five innings.

Franklin was in trouble in all three of his innings pitched, using 71 pitches. He was able to make big pitches when he needed them, pitching out of bases loaded jams in the top of the first and third innings. In the third, the Crusaders loaded the bases with no outs but Franklin struck out the side to end the threat.

“We had to pull through because I was struggling on the mound,” Franklin said. “My teammates started hitting the ball and got me some comfort and extended the lead. I knew I had to step up with the bases loaded and nobody out. We’ve only got four seniors but we have a lot experience.”

In his three innings pitched, Franklin allowed two hits, walked five and struck out six to pick up the victory.
Sophomore Kaine Casady came on and pitched two shutout innings in relief, allowing three hits.

Raiders coach Nick Monica was pleased with the way Franklin and Casady battled.

“I didn’t think Ron or Kaine were very sharp but their best pitches came with guys in scoring position,” Monica said. “Ron was able to pitch out of a bases loaded jam with no outs and struck out the side. That was big and then we came back and answered with six runs.”

Holden Broussard took the loss for Westminster Christian (0-2). He went 3 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs (six earned) on eight hits. He walked five and struck out two.

The Crusaders return to action in the tournament Friday at 4:30 pm against Ruston at Noel Suarez Stadium in Chalmette while the Raiders will play twice Saturday at the Urban Youth Academy/RBI Field against Franklinton at 9 a.m. and Ponchatoula at 2 p.m.

“We’re extremely young, still, but we do have a lot of experience because kids have been playing the last two years and we have only four seniors,” Monica said. “I think we started six sophomores tonight but five of them started last year.”

Final
WCA 000 00 0 5 5, 10 LOB
RUM 021 61 10 10 1, 8 LOB
WP—Ron Franklin (1-0)
LP—Holden Broussard (0-1)
Time of Game: 2:06
2B—Kolbe Fields, Tyler Cook
SB—Caleb Barras, Jacob LeJeune, Zach Bacilla, Ron Franklin