The North Franklin Rangers held off the Wilton Bears on Sunday afternoon at Academy Hill, with a 5-1 win. The Ranger's Ben Holmes had a hot night on the mound. Above, the Ranger's Alex LaRochelle's (#34) first base stretch allowed him to nab the ball before Wilton got to first. (Heidi Murphy photo) North Franklin Cats, 12 - - Daily Bulldogs, 5

FARMINGTON - - Trailing by the score of 2-0, the Cats of North Franklin brought patience to the plate sending 13 men to the batters box in the second inning. Jamie Marshall and Sol Fast combined for four RBIs in the inning with doubles and Jonny Hart reached beating out an off-line throw for two RBIs. Marshall, Fast and Hart all scored in the frame along with teammates, Matt Beauregard, Cal Dixon, Arthur Ryan, Ian Wilson, Jared Clukey and Gunner Johnson.

In an 8 p.m. start, the developmental division of Franklin County Babe Ruth had two unbeaten teams competing. The Cats left the lights of Hippach Field defeating the Bulldogs in seven innings last Saturday.

The Bulldogs (2-1) won their season opener defeating the Farmington Hannaford Stars (1-1) in a no-hitter. Earlier in the evening the Stars defeated the Wilton Lions (0-3) by the score of 15-10 and traveled to Mt. Abram to take on the Cats (2-0) last Sunday. That game was postponed with both teams on the field while continued thunderstorms came rolling in.

Hart took the hill for the Cats tossing three innings behind solid defense. Dixon and Marshall combined for a 6-3 put-out. Clukey pulled down a fly-ball at second and Johnson tracked down a fly ball in center for a putout. Hart scooped a blistering shot up the middle and Fast threw out a runner at second from behind the plate. Cats pitching fanned four in the first three innings.

Marshall hurled for the next two innings fanning three along the way. Ryan made the long throw from the corner for a defensive assist and Marshall helped his own cause while pitching including fielding two grounders, one of which was an unassisted out at first base.

Bulldog Cam Abbott closed out the final two innings fanning five along the way. The hard thrower was not able to retire the Cats' Gavin Flagg who doubled in the sixth frame.

Dixon closed the game in the final two frames which included two of four of the Cats pick plays in the game resulting in well executed run-downs. Dixon sent two down by way of the K and allowed only one run to seal the deal.

Under the regular schedule, the Cats will host the Wilton Lions this Saturday night June 6 at Mt. Abram and again face the Bulldogs this time at home in Salem on Sunday. The first pitch is scheduled for a 5:30 start in both games.

On Sunday, the older division of the North Franklin program traveled to Academy Hill to take on the Wilton Bears. The North Franklin Rangers were able to capture its second win of the season in a 5-1 triumph.

In their second game, second win of the season, the Rangers sent Ben Holmes to the hill who tossed a complete game and shut down much of the Lion offense.

The Rangers (2-0) hit the road this weekend taking on the Farmington Falcons (1-1) on Saturday, June 6 and will face the Farmington Merchants (1-1) on Sunday. Both games start at 5:30 p.m. at Hippach Field.