Salado Eagles took second place among a field of 32 teams in the Sixth Annual Franklin Ranch Baseball Invitational tournament.

Salado 1

Gateway 4

Salado outhit Gateway Prep but left 11 runners on base as the Eagles lost in the final round of the Franklin Tournament 1-4 on March 10.

The Eagles scored one run in the first. Dalton Hawes singled with one out. After the second out was recorded, he advanced on a walk to Rustin Hale and scored on a single by Drew Dobbins to left field. Salado left two runners on base in the first.

The Eagles left two runners in scoring position in the second. Gateway scored two runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead.

Salado left two more runners in scoring position in the third and a runner in scoring position in both the fourth and seventh innings.

Belton Farr went the distance on the mound, striking out eight, giving up six hits and two earned runs. He walked two batters.

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Cameron 8

Salado 9

Cameron Yoe and Salado combined for 20 hits in their slug-fest of a fourth round game in the Franklin Tournament March 10. Salado got the edge in both hits and runs, winning 9-8 with 11 hits.

The Eagles scored in the bottom of the first when Dalton Hawes singled and scored on a double to left by Jacob Wilk.

Cameron scored two runs in the second, both on passed balls to take a brief lead in the game.

Salado tallied three runs in the third. Kade Maedgen walked, advanced on a single by Garrett Knight and scored on a bunt by B Farr. Wilk doubled to score Knight and Farr.

In the third, Salado added two more runs. Dustin Heath walked and courtesy runner Caleb Self came in. Self went to third on a double by Kade Maedgen to left field. Garrett Knight hit a flyball to right field and an error allowed Knight to reach, Maedgen to advance and Self to score. Farr walked to load the bases and Ryan Oaks hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Maedgen.

Salado led 6-2 at the end of three.

After a scoreless fourth, Cameron scored three runs in the fifth to narrow the lead to 5-6.

In the sixth, Maedgen and Garrett Knight singled and two walks pushed Maedgen across home plate. Rustin Hale hit a fly ball to left field that resulted in a double play (catching the runner trying to get back to first), Knight and Oaks tagged up and scored to give Salado a 5-9 lead.

Cuero scored three runs in the sixth.

Oaks got the win with three innings of work on the mound. He allowed four hits and two runs and struck out two. Ethan Scott and Konnor Baird pitched in relief. Scott struck out two and Baird struck out one.

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Salado 4

Cuero 2

Salado Eagles scored two runs in the fifth to beat Cuero 4-2 in the third round of the Franklin Tournament March 10.

Jacob Wilk singled to left and advanced to third on a passed ball, scoring on an errant throw to third.

Mac Miller walked and Dustin Heath doubled to score Miller.

Dalton Hawes singled in the top of the first and advanced to third on a single by Drew Dobbins. Miller singled to score Hawes.

Cuero scored two runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 lead.

Salado tied the lead in the third. Hawes reached on an error, scoring on a single by Dobbins to centerfield.

Max Marin got the win for Salado, pitching four innings. He allowed five hits, struck out three and walked one. Dobbins pitched in relief, striking out four and allowing no hits or runs.

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Hondo 5

Eagles 6

Rustin Hale hit a three-run homer to left in the bottom of the fifth to give the Salado Eagles a narrow 6-5 edge over Hondo in the second round of the Franklin Tournament. It was enough for the win as Salado held Hondo scoreless over the next two frames.

J Hernandez hit a three-run homer in the top of the first for Hondo to take the early lead, but Salado answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame.

Ryan Oakes was hit by the pitcher to lead off the bottom of the first. He went to second on a passed ball and Dalton Hawes walked.    Jacob Wilk singled on a hard grounder to center, scoring Oakes and advancing Hawes. Rustin Hale hit into a fielder’s choice to advance the runners to scoring positions. Mac  Miller singled to score Hawes for the second run. Salado left a runner on third.

Hondo added two more runs in the top of the second to go up 5-2.

With two outs, Oaks walked with two out in the bottom of the second. He stole second base. Dalton Hawes singled to deep center and advanced on the throw. Oakes turned the corner to score.

Salado held Hondo scoreless for the rest of the game to win.

Garrett Knight pitched the entire game, earning the win. He allowed nine hits. He threw 91 pitches, 63 strikes. He struck out eight batters and walked two.

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Emery/Weiner 2

Eagles 7

Salado Eagles scored five runs in the third inning in the first round of the Franklin Tournament, enough to beat Emery/Weiner, a private school from Houston, 7-2 on March 9.

B Farr led off the frame with a single followed by a walk to Ryan Oaks. Dalton Hawes was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jacob Wilk singled, driving in a run and keeping the bases loaded. Rustin Hale doubled to on a line drive to left field, scoring the three base runners. Hale went to third on the throw to home. He scored when Drew Dobbins grounded out for the first out of the inning. Mac Miller singled before Emery/Weiner turned a double play to end the inning.

Emery/Weiner added a meaningless run in the top of the sixth.

Emery/Weiner led the game briefly, scoring in the top of the first. Salado tied the game in the bottom of the frame. Ryan Oaks tripled to deep centerfield. Emery/Weiner kept him at third on a pop-up and a groundout before Hale singled to left scoring Oaks.

Dobbins earned the win on the mound, striking out six batters as he pitched five innings. He gave up two hits. Emery/Weiner scored one run against him.

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