FRANKLIN LEADS LADY BEARCATS TO CONFERENCE WIN IN CHARLESTON

Lexi Franklin threw a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts and had a three hit, four RBI day at the plate as the Lady Bearcats took earned automatic regional qualification with an 11-0 road win.

Coming into the game Charleston was unbeaten in Conference 3A-4 play and the Lady Bearcats had a single loss in league play. Charleston has a game against league unbeaten Hackett today.

The Lady Bearcats (10-7) are the two-seed in the Conference 3A-4 tournament to be held at Cossatot River beginning April 24 but have a game at winless Two Rivers on Friday. The top two seeds have byes to the tournament semifinals and are already qualified for the Class 3A Region 1 tournament.

Charleston got a baserunner due to an error in their first but could not take advantage.

By then it was already 3-0 with Franklin driving in both Lyddia Franklin, running for Roni Tillery, who had singled, and Layla Byrum, who had walked.

Ellie Smith tripled Lexi Franklin home but was out at the plate.

Lexi Franklin came up with the bases loaded in the third – Tillery walked, Byrum was hit with a pitch, and Leigh Swint singled – and drove in two more with a single.

After Smith singled on the infield Bella Crabtree hit a fly ball that scored and run and Karmen Kent double home two to make it 8-0. A Cameron Parish double scored Kent for a 9-0 lead.

Parish’s second double scored Smith, aboard on her third hit, in the fifth and Parish would score on a passed ball to make it 11-0.

The Lady Bearcats are at home today taking on Mansfield.