Lady Cats into semifinals

May 25, 2021 at 8:26 p.m.

By Will Fehlinger-

CONNERSVILLE – A big second inning and 4 1/3 perfect frames thrown by junior Michaela Ferman Monday night propelled the Franklin County Lady Wildcats (17-13) past Lawrenceburg and into Thursday night’s sectional semifinal against Greensburg.

Despite late rallies by the Tigers, the 5-run second held up in an 8-4 1st-round win for FC.

Ferman retired the first 13 batters she faced and didn’t give up a base hit until there was one out in the bottom of the sixth. No. 9 hitter Samantha Heiert tapped an infield single and later scored LHS’ first run on a wild pitch. Another ball to the backstop plated leadoff hitter Meghan Heinsman, who had singled to right field. A bunt single by Aubrie Hutcherson followed and Meghan Lawrence placed a ball just over the shortstop’s head for an RBI single. FC still led 8-3.

In the last of the seventh, LHS’ Taylor Lawrence reached with two outs and Payton Beard lined an RBI double to left center. Ferman got Heiert on a routine grounder to third to end the game.

After Ferman struck out the side in the bottom of one – three of her dozen strikeouts – FC got going when No. 5 hitter Bree Bischoff doubled to center and moved to third on a wild pitch. Wildness became a theme for starter Haylee Palmer as she plunked three batters in the inning and walked another two.

Kloe Bolos was hit and stole second. An out later, Anne Becker earned a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Senior Camryn Brewer then laced a 2-run single down the third-base line and went to second on the throw home. Leadoff Maci Lake walked, and Kassidy Schell’s base-on-balls scored courtesy runner Emma Stadtmiller. Josie Rolfes earned an RBI when she was hit by a pitch, scoring Brewer. Ferman’s sacrifice fly to left plated Lake with the fifth run.
The Cats made it 6-0 in the next inning, Kiersten Schell putting together a good at-bat that resulted in a single to center. One out later, it was Brewer again with the RBI single to left; she advanced a base when the throw went home.

Despite five baserunners over the next two stanzas, FC did not score again until the top of six off reliever Rylee Held. With one down, Rolfes drew a walk and Ferman belted an RBI double to left. Courtesy Kylie Lea came around to score on Bolos’ base hit to center.

Ki. Schell had a 3-of-4 night while sister Kassidy added 2 hits and Brewer a pair.

Thursday’s game against the Pirates is set for 6 p.m.

4 straight games close regular season
FC had a busy run-up to sectional, playing games on May 18, 19, 20 and 21. The Wildcats split the four after falling Tuesday at East Central (8-0), defeating Cambridge City Lincoln on Senior Night Wednesday, losing at Greensburg Thursday and shutting out visiting South Dearborn 3-0 Friday.
EC scored in five of its six at-bats off Ferman and freshman Lexi Hatmaker (W, 10 Ks) and Kiley Anthon teamed up for the shutout for the Trojans. Bolos doubled and Ferman singled as FC’s only hits. Hatmaker and Lindsay Henson had 2 hits each for the hosts and Natalie Schnell knocked in 2. Ka. Schell stole a base and Ferman struck out 8 in a complete-game loss.
Against CCL, Bischoff tossed a 6-inning no-hitter as the Cats won 10-0. The FC hurler fanned 7 while walking just 1 and hitting one batter. Eight of the nine starters had at least one hit for the home team. Rolfes led with 3 (RBI, triple) and Bischoff also had 2, including a round tripper and 2 RBI. The Schells, Ferman, Becker and Bolos each had an RBI and Lake swiped three bags.

Thursday in Decatur County, the Pirates scored in six of seven frames to win 7-6. FC had battled back to tie the game at six, but Greensburg walked off with the win in the final at-bat. Ferman had 2 hits and an RBI as Ka. Schell (double) and Bolos had 1 RBI apiece. Bischoff and Becker added doubles and Lake added 2 SBs. Bischoff went the distance for the loss.

The regular season concluded with the shutout win over the Knights. Two runs in the first and one more in the sixth were enough as Ferman pitched a 2-hitter. Ka. Schell (RBI, SB), Lake (RBI, SB) and Bolos tallied 2 hits each, with Ferman knocking one in.

The Cats were fourth in the conference with an 8-6 mark.

CONNERSVILLE – A big second inning and 4 1/3 perfect frames thrown by junior Michaela Ferman Monday night propelled the Franklin County Lady Wildcats (17-13) past Lawrenceburg and into Thursday night’s sectional semifinal against Greensburg.

Despite late rallies by the Tigers, the 5-run second held up in an 8-4 1st-round win for FC.

Ferman retired the first 13 batters she faced and didn’t give up a base hit until there was one out in the bottom of the sixth. No. 9 hitter Samantha Heiert tapped an infield single and later scored LHS’ first run on a wild pitch. Another ball to the backstop plated leadoff hitter Meghan Heinsman, who had singled to right field. A bunt single by Aubrie Hutcherson followed and Meghan Lawrence placed a ball just over the shortstop’s head for an RBI single. FC still led 8-3.

In the last of the seventh, LHS’ Taylor Lawrence reached with two outs and Payton Beard lined an RBI double to left center. Ferman got Heiert on a routine grounder to third to end the game.

After Ferman struck out the side in the bottom of one – three of her dozen strikeouts – FC got going when No. 5 hitter Bree Bischoff doubled to center and moved to third on a wild pitch. Wildness became a theme for starter Haylee Palmer as she plunked three batters in the inning and walked another two.

Kloe Bolos was hit and stole second. An out later, Anne Becker earned a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Senior Camryn Brewer then laced a 2-run single down the third-base line and went to second on the throw home. Leadoff Maci Lake walked, and Kassidy Schell’s base-on-balls scored courtesy runner Emma Stadtmiller. Josie Rolfes earned an RBI when she was hit by a pitch, scoring Brewer. Ferman’s sacrifice fly to left plated Lake with the fifth run.
The Cats made it 6-0 in the next inning, Kiersten Schell putting together a good at-bat that resulted in a single to center. One out later, it was Brewer again with the RBI single to left; she advanced a base when the throw went home.

Despite five baserunners over the next two stanzas, FC did not score again until the top of six off reliever Rylee Held. With one down, Rolfes drew a walk and Ferman belted an RBI double to left. Courtesy Kylie Lea came around to score on Bolos’ base hit to center.

Ki. Schell had a 3-of-4 night while sister Kassidy added 2 hits and Brewer a pair.

Thursday’s game against the Pirates is set for 6 p.m.

4 straight games close regular season
FC had a busy run-up to sectional, playing games on May 18, 19, 20 and 21. The Wildcats split the four after falling Tuesday at East Central (8-0), defeating Cambridge City Lincoln on Senior Night Wednesday, losing at Greensburg Thursday and shutting out visiting South Dearborn 3-0 Friday.
EC scored in five of its six at-bats off Ferman and freshman Lexi Hatmaker (W, 10 Ks) and Kiley Anthon teamed up for the shutout for the Trojans. Bolos doubled and Ferman singled as FC’s only hits. Hatmaker and Lindsay Henson had 2 hits each for the hosts and Natalie Schnell knocked in 2. Ka. Schell stole a base and Ferman struck out 8 in a complete-game loss.
Against CCL, Bischoff tossed a 6-inning no-hitter as the Cats won 10-0. The FC hurler fanned 7 while walking just 1 and hitting one batter. Eight of the nine starters had at least one hit for the home team. Rolfes led with 3 (RBI, triple) and Bischoff also had 2, including a round tripper and 2 RBI. The Schells, Ferman, Becker and Bolos each had an RBI and Lake swiped three bags.

Thursday in Decatur County, the Pirates scored in six of seven frames to win 7-6. FC had battled back to tie the game at six, but Greensburg walked off with the win in the final at-bat. Ferman had 2 hits and an RBI as Ka. Schell (double) and Bolos had 1 RBI apiece. Bischoff and Becker added doubles and Lake added 2 SBs. Bischoff went the distance for the loss.

The regular season concluded with the shutout win over the Knights. Two runs in the first and one more in the sixth were enough as Ferman pitched a 2-hitter. Ka. Schell (RBI, SB), Lake (RBI, SB) and Bolos tallied 2 hits each, with Ferman knocking one in.

The Cats were fourth in the conference with an 8-6 mark.
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