Salem second baseman Scott Devine (right) tagged out Franklin's Steve Wells to end the top of the seventh inning. (photo by Ed Wright)

RESILIENT ROCKS
Salem prevails over Franklin with dramatic seventh-inning rally

BY ED WRIGHT
April  26, 2010, 6:50 p.m.

  Monday's Salem-Livonia Franklin baseball game may not be the prettiest game played this season, but it was definitely one of the most dramatic.

  On an afternoon when the wind blew the baseball around like a ping pong ball, the Rocks dropped the Patriots, 6-5, with a two-run seventh-inning rally.

  Tate Theisen delivered the game-winning hit, a bloop no-out, bases-loaded single that dropped over the heads of Franklin's drawn-in infield, bringing home Scott Devine.

  One batter earlier, senior Chris Kordick tied the game with a 320-foot rocket single that sailed over the right-fielder's head, scoring Nick Leventis, who led off the inning with a walk.

  After Leventis led off the inning with a walk, Devine reached on pitcher Brent Marzion's throwing error, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Marzion intentionally walked Devin Price, loading the sacks for Kordick and Theisen.

  Franklin had taken a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh with an unearned run when Anthony Crechiolo led off the frame with a sharp single and scored on a Salem throwing error while advancing from first to third on a sacrifice bunt.

  Kordick earned the win on the mound, throwing a complete-game five-hitter. The only hit Kordick yielded after the third was Crechiolo's single.

  Kordick struck out five and walked two.

  After the Patriots struck for two runs in the first, Salem countered with a three-spot in its half of inning. Leventis scored on a Price single and Devine and Price scored on a Patriot error.

  Pinch runner Eric Lorber was thrown out at the plate to end the inning -- the first of four Rocks gunned down at the dish -- on a perfect throw from Patriot center fielder Daniel Muller.

  A pair of solo home runs in the second and third innings -- off the bats of Crechiolo and Joel Trudell, respectively --  gave Franklin a 4-3 lead until the fourth when Salem's Brad Trublowski tied it by leading off with a triple and scoring on a Patriot error.

  Like Kordick, Marzion went the distance, yielding eight hits and two walks. He struck out two. The Patriots committed six errors.

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.

Salem's Nick Leventis is tagged out at the plate in the fourth inning by Franklin pitcher Brent Marzion. (photo by Ed Wright)