Six-Run Third Propels Panthers Past Stoughton High Baseball Team

Franklin only scored in one inning of Tuesday’s game at Stoughton, but it was enough to down the .

A six-run third inning led Franklin past Stoughton, 6-3, with the Black Knights falling to 1-2 on the young season. Franklin, meanwhile, improves to 1-1.

Stoughton jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Mike Gallagher brought Pat Jackman home on a sacrifice fly to center field and Pat Raeke singled to drive in Zach Gibb.

Franklin’s offense was shutdown over the course of the first two innings, but in the third the Panthers put six runs on the board, but just three were earned.

Mike Dixon entered the game in relief of starter Brian Kaplan, got the last out of the third on one pitch, and then pitched the rest of the game, keeping Franklin off the board and giving Stoughton a chance to come back.

Stoughton’s best chance to put a dent in Franklin’s lead came in the bottom of the fifth inning when Mike Connelly (walk), Gibb (walk) and Will McGrath (single) all reached with one out to load the bases. Franklin was able to get out of the jam, however, and end the inning unscathed.

“We had our chances there with guys on base and couldn’t come up with the big hit,” Stoughton coach Mike Armour said.

But, there were still plenty of positives to take away from this loss, starting with Dixon’s 4 and 1/3 innings of shutout relief. Armour credited Dixon for his confidence and presence on the mound.

“Mike Dixon was phenomenal,” Armour said. “I think Mike Dixon is going to win us a lot of games this year with his off speed stuff …he’s just all business.”

Jamie Connors also came up with a heads-up play to score Stoughton’s third run in the bottom of the six, cutting the deficit to 6-3.

Connors drove a pitch to deep right field, over the right fielder’s head, and legged out a triple. He then scored on Jackman’s sacrifice pop up to the third base side of the pitchers’ mound.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sac fly caught at the pitchers’ mound to drive in a run,” Armour said. “For whatever reason the catcher ran all the way out to grab it. Jamie Connors being heads up saw that no one was covering the plate. It was definitely one of the positives for us.”

Stoughton looks to bounce back when the team travels to 2-0 Oliver Ames Thursday afternoon.