The FCHS Baseball Redbirds have endured some awfully bumpy roads in its last week of play, and the most obvious problem is created by first-inning pitching woes. Giving up five runs in each initial frame in losses against Benton and Harrisburg last week, the strain was even more pronounced when the Murphysboro Red Devils plated twelve runs on ten walks and three hits in their first turn at bat to take a commanding lead, en route to a 15-1 road win at Frankfort city park.
“We have to figure that it’s a combination of limited off-season routines, some pre-season arm issues, and just a lack of focus and command of the strike zone,” Redbird Coach Dustin Hopkins lamented. “We also have some pitchers with eligibility problems this week, so an already stressed pitching staff has to pick up the slack, but we intend to head out there every day with the intention of turning things around.”
At Benton, the ‘Birds had only a few things to cheer about. Kyle Weeks drilled a home run to lead off the game and tripled in the fourth frame. Brad Bozic also homered, while Dalton Woolard and Addison Eggertsen had two hits and one hit, respectively.
In Harrisburg, Kaleb Gardner led Frankfort with two hits, while Weeks added a single in the 16-0 loss.
The only Redbird excitement against Murphysboro occurred in the fourth inning when pinch-hitter Koty Rains reached on an error. Brady Melvin and Preston Filkins each lined singles to load the bases. After Keelen Garza hit into a force out, Gardner drew a walk to score Melvin for Frankfort’s only run of the afternoon. Weeks pitched three solid innings in relief, and Colten Gass pitched a perfect last inning.
The Frankfort coach points out that there’s still time in the season to make some good things happen.
“One of our pitchers is going to go out there and have a great first inning, and then we will build on that, one inning at a time,” Hopkins predicted. “This is an opportunity to build some character, and I think our guys are up to the test. We have a very challenging schedule, but we’re not going to back down.”
The Redbirds travel to Massac County on Tuesday before hosting South-Seven foe Marion Wildcats on Wednesday.
