[Stardust]

Franklin-Simpson’s baseball team has its fair share of youth, but senior pitcher Zack Thomas’ experience carried the way Tuesday.
Thomas hurled a complete game for Franklin-Simpson (2-1), leading the Wildcats to a 4-2 win over South Warren at SWHS.
“That’s an example of how we want our pitchers to go about this season,” FSHS coach Craig Delk said. “He wasn’t really on early. We said he had his ‘C’ game, but as the game went on, he got better and got quicker innings. That’s what you want your pitcher to do.”
Thomas gave up a run in the bottom of the first inning, when SWHS senior Cole Dillard hit an RBI single to score junior Andrew Vanthournout.
Thomas allowed one run after that and scattered four hits and three walks over seven innings of work. Two of his four strikeouts were the final batters of the game.
“I started out slow, and I wasn’t throwing my curveball for a strike,” said Thomas, who also added a double at the plate. “I relied on my fastball and got better through the game.”
The Wildcats manufactured their first run in the top of the second, when junior J.T. Arnemann laid down a bunt single that scored senior Jonathan Pedigo.
FSHS sophomore Tyler Knight added an RBI single in the third inning, and senior pinch-runner Ryan Fuller scored later in the frame on a South Warren throwing error.
Sophomore pinch-hitter Austin Johnson drove in the Wildcats’ final run in the sixth inning with a single.
“We lost 11 seniors last year and had a lot of guys come up this year that needed to step up,” Thomas said. “They’re hanging in there and getting opportunities that are going to make them better.”
South Warren (0-2) scored its final run in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by senior Tanner Davidson, plating senior Josh Bartley.
“We competed better at the plate than we did the other night, and Franklin-Simpson’s pitching was very solid,” SWHS coach Chris Gage said. “Right now, base-running mistakes, little things can compound and become big. It’s a learning process.”
Some late miscues cost Franklin-Simpson on Monday night in a 2-1 loss at Bowling Green, including two errors in the final inning.
But the Wildcats handled the fundamentals much better Tuesday, Delk said.
“We have a lot of dynamics to this team, and depending on situations, we’ll put a lot of young guys in there,” he said. “We’ve got a young infield at times, and we’re just trying to get better. Tonight, we didn’t allow extra outs. We didn’t kick it around like we did (Monday).”
Sophomore pitcher Austin Bybee took the loss for the Spartans. He allowed four hits and three runs in four innings of work, walking four batters and hitting another.
Senior Casey Johnson took over in relief for SWHS, scattering two hits and a run over the final three innings with three strikeouts.
“Casey did a good job of getting up there, throwing strikes and hitting his spots,” Gage said. “It was nice to see that improvement. Austin’s got to work at a quicker pace – not necessarily to work faster, but to get in a better rhythm.”
South Warren travels to Barren County at 5 p.m. today. Franklin-Simpson hosts Edmonson County at 6 p.m. Thursday.
FSHS 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 – 4
SWHS 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 – 2http://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wildcats-double-up-south-warren/article_9aab5450-72f6-11e1-8424-001871e3ce6c.html

[Stardust]

[Image: http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews....ew-300.jpg]

[Stardust]

[Image: http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews....ew-300.jpg]