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After
12 innings, Kristen Stryker crosses the plate for Franklin Monroe
as the Jets moved on to the district final with a 9-8 victory over
rival Tri-Village to win the sectional title. CNO photos by Roger
Collins
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Franklin Monroe
wins sectional title
Patriots bow out
after 12 inning marathon
By George Starks
PLEASANT HILL- If there was one thing Mike Morris (Franklin Monroe) and
Mike Fisherback (Tri-Village) could concur on was the fact that it was
a shame someone had to lose in this game.
The two Cross County Conference rivals took to the field Tuesday at
Newton High School with one thing in mind.
Leaving with a sectional crown.
It took 12 innings to decide who would move on to the district but for
Morris and his Lady Jets, the wait was well worth it.
On a night that seen several ties and lead changes, it was Kristen
Stryker that score the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning to
give the Jets a 9-8 victory, eliminating Tri-Village.
“This game shows that this team does not quit,” said Morris of his
kids. “We were down 7-4 and we’ve been playing like this all year. We
don’t quit.”
On a night when the Patriots took the early 2-0 lead in the second, the
Jets answered with two of their own in the third.
Then things started to get interesting.
Tri-Village broke the tie when senior Liz Collins doubled to right
center, scoring later on a single by junior Krystal Falknor.
Not to be outdone, the Jets plated two in their half of the frame when
Jordon Stickley and Morgan Booher crossed, giving the Jets a 4-3
advantage.
Tri-Village would tie it up in the seventh when Shaye Thomas scored on
a routine groundout.
With the eighth inning passing quietly, the Patriots would strike for
three in the ninth but the Jets would answer once again in the last
half of the frame.
After Stryker reached on a single with one down, Morgan Bingham would
deposit a 0-2 pitch from Rachael Fricker over the leftfield fence,
closing the gap to a 7-6 deficit.
One out later, Corie Jeffers would single and later score on a single
by Emma Baker gaining the 7-7 tie.
T-V would regain that lead in the 10th on a rocket solo shot by Collins
to left.
FM would answer in the 10th as well as Stickly would double, scoring on
a single by Stryker, knotting things at 8-8.
“Both teams had opportunities and the game should have ended a long
time ago,” Morris said. “We got the last word today and made it count.
We’re going to district.”
It was a typical T-V, FM game as it went right down to the wire.
“What a way to lose a game,” said Fisherback. “Both these teams showed
a lot of heart. Neither team wanted to quit. You hate to lose it like
that but it was a great game. My kids played hard and we should have
won the game. We played the game the right way and you hate to see any
team lose but tonight, it was our turn to step aside.”
With the win, the Jets will play Saturday at Brookville against another
CCC foe in Covington.
The Buccs run-ruled Russia in five Tuesday, 12-2.
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Tri-Village and
Franklin Monroe congratulate each other after a hard fought 12 innings
of play.
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