FRANKLIN — Franklin Post 75 continued its dominant summer Monday night, defeating Needham Post 14, 5-0, in the opening round of the Massachusetts American Legion Baseball State Tournament.
With the victory, Franklin improved to a perfect 17-0 on the season and advanced to the next round behind another outstanding pitching performance and an 11-hit offensive attack.
Ethan Edmunds was brilliant on the mound, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing just one hit, striking out nine, and walking four. Brady Short worked a perfect seventh inning in relief to complete the combined one-hit shutout.
Franklin wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, plating a run in the second inning before adding single runs in the fourth and fifth. Post 75 put the game away with a pair of insurance runs in the sixth to secure the 5-0 victory.
The offense was paced by Sean Kryzak, who finished 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. Zach Winer also drove in two runs while collecting two hits, and Henry George added an RBI.
Franklin’s lineup produced hits throughout the order. Gavin Heneghan went 2-for-2 with two walks and scored a run, while Jack Sullivan collected two hits. Ethan Edmunds, Owen Miller, Joe Goguen, and Henry George each added a hit as Franklin totaled 11 hits on the night.
Needham managed just one hit against Franklin’s pitching staff and struck out 10 times. Cassidy took the loss after allowing five runs, four earned, over 5.1 innings.
Now 17-0, Franklin continues to roll into the state tournament as one of Massachusetts’ hottest teams. With a district championship already secured and an unbeaten record still intact, Post 75 will look to keep its remarkable season alive as the tournament continues.
