Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 77F. Winds light and variable..
Franklin County's Gus Gardner swings at an incoming pitch in this file photo from earlier in the season. Gardner had two doubles and four RBIs for the Rebels Monday in their 12-2 win at Giles County High School.
Franklin County's Gus Gardner swings at an incoming pitch in this file photo from earlier in the season. Gardner had two doubles and four RBIs for the Rebels Monday in their 12-2 win at Giles County High School.
The Franklin County Rebels beat the Giles County Bobcats 12-2 on the road Monday for their eighth win of the season.
After a close start to the game, the Rebels pulled away with five-run frames in the fourth and fifth innings as the mercy rule brought an early end to the district matchup.
The Rebels loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the first as Braden Jackson reached base on an error, Casen Gilliam drew a walk and Sam Vincent singled. Graysen McNeese then hit into an RBI fielder’s choice to drive in Jackson, and Gilliam later scored on a wild pitch to quickly make it a 2-0 game.
The Bobcats answered back by scoring a run off of an error in the bottom of the first and scored another run in the bottom of the third to briefly tie the score at 2-2.
The Rebels immediately retook the lead in the top of the fourth as Jackson hit an RBI double to score Talon Abraham before being driven in himself by an RBI single from Casen Gilliam.
Vincent then reached base on an error and Brayden Henley and McNeese hit consecutive singles to load the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth before Gus Gardner hit a bases-clearing double to score all three runners and boost the lead up to 7-2.
The Rebels added to their lead by scoring five more runs in the top of the fifth as Taylor Austin, Abraham and Jackson led off the inning with consecutive singles before Austin scored off of an error on a ball hit by Gilliam to get the scoring for the frame started.
Henley drew a bases-loaded walk a few batters later, McNeese hit a two-run single and Gardner contributed an RBI double to provide the other runs for the inning as the deficit hit double digits at 12-2.
The Bobcats were retired in order in the bottom of the fifth to end the contest as the Rebels won by 10.
Vincent pitched a complete game for the Rebels with seven strikeouts, two hits, one walk, one earned run and one unearned run allowed.
With the win, the Rebels improved to 8-11 on the season and 4-1 in district play.
They will next play Tuesday at home against Giles County High School. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
