FRANSEN 2-HOME RUN INNING HIGHLIGHTS PHOENIX THREE-GAME SWEEP
Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy swept a home softball triangular in Marion Saturday, April 20 thanks to an impressive effort highlighted by a 2-home run, 7-RBI game by Freeman senior Cami Fransen in the team’s 21-5 win over Arlington.
Earlier in the day, the Phoenix defeated Winner 16-12 and Alcester-Hudson 5-2.
F/M/FA — which is one of 20 Class B teams playing in the second season of SDHSAA-sanctioned softball — improved to 4-2 and was third in the state in seed points heading into Monday’s game at Wagner (2-6 in Class A).
Here’s a recap of last weekend’s games.
Phoenix 5, A-H 2
The Phoenix opened Saturday’s triangular by claiming a 5-2 win over Alcester-Hudson in a game in which they never trailed. F/M/FA picked up two runs in the first inning when Elizabeth Piehl scored on a Cubs error and Cami Fransen came around on an Avary Thomas groundout. The Phoenix picked up another in the third on an RBI double by Claire Loofbourrow that scored Fransen and then two more in the fifth on another Loofbourrow double that scored Piehl and a single by Thomas that scored Loofbourrow.
Loofbourrow and Thomas both went 2-for-3 at the plate, with Loofbourrow knocking in 3 runs and Thomas two. Sonia Deckert, Fransen and Cadence Hofer also singled for the Phoenix.
Hofer earned the win, allowing just three hits and one earned run over four innings, while striking out five and walking none.
Harli Ross pitched one perfect inning in relief.
Phoenix 16, Winner 12
F/M/FA used an eight-run third inning to open up a 10-3 lead and hung on for a 16-12 win over Winner in the second game of Saturday’s triangular. The contest featured plenty of action, with the Warriors leading 3-2 after the first inning, the Phoenix lead 10-7 after three and 13-7 after four. Winner mounted a comeback in the fifth and final frame by scoring five runs, but F/M/FA staved off the rally to hang on for the victory.
The Phoenix collected 17 hits, with Sonia Deckert reaching base five times; she went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI and three runs scored. Cadance Hofer also went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored, and Elizabeth Piehl, Avary Thomes and Harli Ross all had two hits.
Piehl, Thomas and Sam Fransen all had two RBI.
F/M/FA’s offense was good enough to survive 12 runs posted by the Warriors, which included a grand slam in the fifth that made it a 16-12 game. Ross and Thomas combined for 4 1/3 innings with Thomas picking up the win. Hofer threw 2/3 inning to close out the game.
Phoenix 21, Arlington 5
F/M/FA scored 21 runs on 15 hits and committed just one error in the field in a big win over Arlington in the final game of Saturday’s Triangular. The offensive effort was led by Cami Fransen, who hit a two-run home run and grand slam in the same inning to give the Phoenix a 16-3 lead in the fourth. The Phoenix tacked on another five runs in the fifth to put the game out of reach. Fransen finish going 3-for-5 at the plate with seven RBI. Sonia Deckert went 3-4 with three RBI and three runs scored, and Elizabeth Piehl and Savanna Timmerman both knocked in a pair of runs. Thomas and Claire Loofbourrow each had two hits.
Cadence Hofer led the pitching effort, allowing five hits and five earned runs over 3 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out four. Isabel Waltner came in to get the final four outs and gave up a hit and a walk and struck out four
Up Next
F/M/FA will travel to Wagner on Monday and play two games in Freeman Friday, April 26; the Phoenix will face Hanson at 4:30 p.m. followed by Mt. Vernon/Plankinton. The team then travels to Gayville for a tournament on Saturday.
