New Franklin picked up two wins Saturday in the Mid-Buchanan Round Robin Tournament in Faucett, Missouri. The Bulldogs outscored their opponents 22-3, shutting out South Harrison 15-0 in five innings, before defeating host team Mid-Buchanan 7-3.

All in all, it was great to see us limit our strikeouts, put the ball in play, and play great defense all day,” said New Franklin coach Erich Gerding. “It was a fun day for the Bulldogs. Everyone contributed.”

Game 1

South Harrison 0

New Franklin 15

Despite the lopsided final score, things started off slow for New Franklin in game one against South Harrison. The Bulldogs picked up an early run in the top of the first. With a runner on first, the South Harrison pitcher was called for a balk, allowing Clayton Wilmsmeyer to score from third.

It wasn’t until the third inning that the New Franklin bats began to heat up. The Bulldogs led off with a double by Clayton Wilmsmeyer and a single by Jake Marshall. Wilmsmeyer scored on a line-drive single by Drew Rhorer. In the next at-bat, Marshall was driven home on a double by Connor Wilmsmeyer.

Rhorer then came home on a sacrifice grounder from Owen Armentrout to put New Franklin in front 4-0. But the Bulldogs weren’t done. Connor Wilmsmeyer added the fourth run of the inning when he came home on an RBI single by Keaton Eads.

Leading 5-0, New Franklin exploded for nine runs on five runs in the top of the fourth, including back-to-back doubles by Connor Wilmsmeyer and Armentrout.

Another run in the top of the fifth allowed the game to end after just five innings.

Tanner Bishop earned the win on the mound. He gave up just one hit while striking out seven batters. He issued no walks in three innings pitched. Eads cleaned up with two innings pitched. He allowed no runs or hits, walked one batter, and retired one on strikes.

“Tanner, Keaton, and our defense did a great job,” Gerding said.

New Franklin scored 15 runs on 12 hits with 11 RBI and nine walks. Connor Wilmsmeyer hit two doubles and drove in a team-high three runs. Clayton Wilmsmeyer and Armentrout each hit one double.

“Everyone chipped in on this one,” said Gerding. It was good to see. Not very many strikeouts. We did a great job of putting the ball in play and making things happen.”

Game 2

Mid-Buchanan 3

New Franklin 7

New Franklin had another solid outing at the plate, driving in six of seven runs on nine hits in a 7-3 decision over the Mid-Buchanan Dragons in Saturday’s finale.

The Bulldogs picked up three runs in the bottom of the first inning on an error by Dragons’ right fielder Will Archer. With two outs, Armentrout singles on a ground ball to right. Marshall, Bishop, and Caden Schlotzhauer all scored on the error to give the Bulldogs an early 3-0 lead.

“Owen had a heck of a day,” Gerding said. “With two strikes and the bases loaded in the first, he singled to right, and with some aggressive base running by Caden Schlotzhauer, we were able to clear the bases and get on top early.”

Mid-Buchanan reclaimed one run in the top of the second after Bulldogs pitcher Jake Marshall loaded the bases with two walks and a single given up. A third walk allowed the Dragons’ leadoff hitter to score.

Mid-Buchanan tied the game at 3-3 with a two-run homer by senior Denton Biller in the top of the third inning.

The Bulldogs fought back in the bottom of the third, taking the lead when Lane Hackman drove in the go-ahead run on a single. Armentrout crossed the plate to put New Franklin back on top, 4-3.

Hackman’s line drive to left was New Franklin’s third straight single of the inning.

“Lane had a big two-out hit in the 3rd to give us the lead back, and we didn’t look back from there,” Gerding said.

Marshall bared down in the top of the fourth. He struck out the leadoff batter in four pitches, then allowed a double on a fly ball to left. The runner made it to third on a sacrifice double before Marshall induced a ground ball for the third out.

Leading by one, the Bulldogs broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on singles by Marshall, Armentrout, and Hackman. Bishop and Clayton Wilmsmeyer both reached base after they were hit by pitches.

Marshall earned his fourth win in as many starts on the mound. He allowed three earned runs on four hits in four innings, gave up one home run, and walked three batters. He retired four batters on strikes.

Clayton Wilmsmeyer earned four of the last six outs by way of strikeouts, pitching the game’s final two innings. He allowed just one baserunner on a walk.

“Jake and Clayton combined for a good game on the bump for us,” said Gerding.

New Franklin, now 15-5 overall, was seeded second in the Class 2 District 7 tournament that opens May 12 in New Franklin. The Bulldogs earned a first-round bye in the six-team district and will face the winner of the game between third-seeded Fayette and sixth-seeded Slater at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 15.