BY CHRISSY SMITH
The Daily News
 DAILY NEWS PHOTO/Chrissy Smith Aaron Maples pitched a complete game in Franklinton's win against St. Michael, 7-5, on Friday at home. Advertisement |
"I was thinking if I do my job, we'll be all right," Maples said.
He certainly did his job as he struckout six, walked one and did not give up any runs until the sixth inning.
"It's normal to get nervous, but you can't let it get to you," the senior pitcher said.
The Demons started scoring in the first inning of the game against St. Michael's starting pitcher Clay Plouche. FHS' Alex Billings was the hot offensive man in Friday's game. He had one RBI in the first inning, a solo home run in the third, a single in the fifth, and an RBI single in the sixth.
The Demons were up 2-0 going into the bottom of the fourth inning. BJ Martin led off for FHS and got on with a single. Then David Hofstetter singled and Hunter Thomas knocked both runs in with a double. He advanced on an error by St. Michael's right-fielder and eventually scored on Bryan Breland's single.
With the score 5-0 at the top of the sixth, St. Michael finally put some runs on the board. John Roberts led off with a single and then Louie Armaini did the same. Maples got SMHS' next batter to pop out, but he walked Greg Kelly to load the bases.
St. Michael's Ryan Bruno then hit a hard single to centerfield, which scored three runs. He reached second base on an error by the CF and went on to score off a passed ball and wild pitch.
The score was 5-4 going into the bottom of the sixth.
Franklinton knew it needed to respond by scoring some insurance runs and the team did just that.
Thomas was the second batter up in the bottom of the inning and he got on by a walk. Joey Hutchinson came in to pinch run and stole second base. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored thanks to Nick Giordano's single. The lead-off hitter Giordano stole second base as Billings came through again with an RBI single to add two more runs to the scoreboard.
The score was 7-4 with Maples needing three out to win the game.
He let the first three St. Michael batters on base, scoring one, but then got out the next three batters for the victory.
Franklinton head coach Jeff Tageant said he did not question leaving Maples in for the entire game.
"He's pretty resilient. We have confident in him," Tageant said. "We felt this was his game to win."
Offensively for the Demons, BJ Martin went 1-for-2 with a single and walk; Hofstetter had a single and Thomas doubled and walked.
"I was glad to see Billings come up to bat in the end. We were fortunate to get a win," Tageant said.
Franklinton is scheduled to play West Ouachita on Tuesday on the road. The game time has not been set as of press time for the Daily News.
In Tuesday's game, Maples is scheduled to pitch again. He is going to ice his arm and rest it for the next three days and then take the mound again.
"His (Maples) pitch count was in the 80s, so we are going to go with him again," Tageanst said.
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