Franklin County's Jocilyn DeSmet connects on a pitch during a game Monday at Marion County High School. DeSmet had two hits, including a home run on this swing, two walks, three RBIs and one run scored in the 12-11 loss.
Franklin County's Jocilyn DeSmet connects on a pitch during a game Monday at Marion County High School. DeSmet had two hits, including a home run on this swing, two walks, three RBIs and one run scored in the 12-11 loss.
The Franklin County Rebelettes lost to the Marion County Lady Warriors 12-11 on the road Monday in their first game of the season.
A seven-run fifth inning flipped the scoreboard in Franklin County’s favor, but the Lady Warriors rallied in the final inning and beat the Rebelettes with a walk-off single in the game’s closing moments.
Franklin County head softball coach Kelly Kennedy said it wasn’t the ideal way to start the season, but she said there were still positives to take away from the game.
“We’re a young team this year, so that kind of stuff is probably going to happen, but I was very excited to see some highlights,” she said, citing strong play in particular from senior left fielder Jocilyn DeSmet and freshman shortstop Kyleigh DeCamp. “Next time, we’re hoping to secure the win.”
The Rebelettes put up a run in the top of the first as Jocilyn DeSmet hit an RBI double to bring Emma Owens around to score and quickly make it a 1-0 game.
However, the Lady Warriors took advantage of a few Franklin County errors in the bottom half of the first to score four runs in the frame and put the score at 4-1 early.
The Rebelettes scored one run in each of the next two innings as Kaylee Morris hit an RBI single in the top of the second and Jocilyn DeSmet recorded a solo home run in the top of the third to cut the deficit down to 4-3.
The Lady Warriors found their offensive rhythm again in the bottom of the fourth as they scored three runs in the inning to make it a 7-3 game.
However, the Rebelettes made their big offensive push in the top of the fifth as two-run singles by Alyssa Sherrill and DeCamp tied the score at 7-7.
The Rebelettes weren’t done scoring in the frame as Morris hit a go-ahead RBI single, and Paislie Edge and Jocilyn DeSmet both drew bases-loaded walks to give Franklin County a 10-7 advantage.
The Lady Warriors scored a run off of a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth, but an RBI single from Natalie Hagood in the top of the sixth brought the lead back up to three runs at 11-8 late.
With one out and a runner on second in the bottom of the sixth, first basemen Raelyn Wainwright appeared to catch a line drive for an out before dropping the ball as she turned to relay it over to second base.
However, the officials ruled that Wainwright never fully caught the ball, resulting in the batter reaching base on an error.
“We disagree with that, but that’s part of the game,” Kennedy said regarding the call. “These are two pretty good umpires. I’ve known them for several years, and they can’t see everything. We’ve just got to be resilient and bounce back.”
The Lady Warriors took advantage of their additional opportunity as a two-out, two-run single later in the frame made it an 11-10 game going into the final inning.
The Rebelettes loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh, but a strikeout ended the inning with the lead remaining at one run.
The Lady Warriors didn’t record an out in the bottom of the seventh as two walks and a single loaded the bases before a walk-off, two-run single sealed the loss for Franklin County.
Morris pitched the first six innings for the Rebelettes with four strikeouts, 11 hits, seven walks, five earned runs and six unearned runs allowed.
Miley DeSmet pitched to three batters out of the bullpen and had one walk, two hits and one run allowed for the day.
With the loss, the Rebelettes started the season with a record of 0-1.
They will next play Thursday at home against Shelbyville Central High School. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
