Plum pulls away from Franklin Regional to stay atop section
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Monday, April 28, 2025 | 9:38 PM
Plum’s Timmy Ruggiero celebrates after driving in the go-ahead run with a double during the sixth inning against Franklin Regional on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Plum’s Enzo Mele drives in 2 runs with a base hit during the seventh inning against Franklin Regional on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Plum’s Jake Donkowski celebrates his 2-run homer as he crosses home plate against Franklin Regional on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Plum’s Daniel Macioce scores under Franklin Regional catcher Ryan Catello during their game on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Plum’s Jake Donkowski (7) celebrates his 2-run homer with Max Vollmer during their game against Franklin Regional on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Franklin Regional’s Chase lemke scores past Plum catcher Anthony Jump during their game on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Plum head coach Carl Vollmer talks with Max Vollmer at third base during their game against Franklin Regional on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Plum pitcher Braden Kemmerer throws against Franklin Regional on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Franklin Regional’s Luke Williams drives in 2 runs against Plum on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Franklin Regional pitcher N.J. Ramchandran throws against Plum on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Franklin Regional’s N.J. Ramchandran talks with head coach Bobby Saddler before an at-bat against Plum on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Franklin Regional’s N.J. Ramchandran rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Plum on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Franklin Regional’s N.J. Ramchandran (6) is met by Luke Williams at home plate after hitting a home run against Plum on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Plum’s Jake Donkowski rounds the bases after hitting a 2-run homer against Franklin Regional on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Franklin Regional’s N.J. Ramchandran rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Plum on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Franklin Regional pitcher N.J. Ramchandran throws against Plum on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Murrysville.
Plum did not have a big celebration after its 12-5 baseball victory against Franklin Regional on Monday.
Why would the Mustangs? All it did was help them maintain a one-game lead atop Section 1-5A in front of Penn-Trafford (11-5, 7-2) and Latrobe (12-4, 7-2).
There are still two weeks to the regular season.
Plum (13-2, 8-1) has won six consecutive games since dropping a 5-2 decision to Penn-Trafford on April 9.
The Mustangs had a chance to take the series against Penn-Trafford three weeks ago and did not. They have that same scenario against Franklin Regional when the teams play again at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Plum.
“For sure we’d like to take the series,” Plum coach Carl Vollmer said. “That’s a good baseball team. We just talked about it. We must come out and do it again.
“We clearly did not execute as well early. It was a tight game, then we opened things up. We were facing a good arm, but we finally broke through.”
Franklin Regional (10-4, 6-3) fell two games behind the Mustangs. The Panthers had their three-game winning streak snapped.
On Monday, the Mustangs showed their resilience by rallying from deficits of 1-0 and 3-2.
Pitcher Braden Kemmerer worked out of trouble twice, including a bases-loaded, one-out scenario in the fifth inning to keep the score tied 3-3.
Plum then took the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a two-run double by Timmy Ruggiero and an RBI hit by Jake Domkowski for a 6-3 lead.
A two-run single by Enzo Mele and a two-run homer by Domkowski highlighted a six-run sixth inning that extended the lead to 12-3.
Franklin Regional did not go quietly in the bottom of the seventh inning as N.J. Ramchandran homered, and Ethan Raver singled home Luke Williams, who had three RBIs.
Franklin Regional coach Bobby Saddler was pleased with his team’s performance to the end.
“We are never going to quit,” Saddler said “We just got to think about what we can do to be better, reflect on the game (Monday). Tuesday comes quickly. We just must turn the page, and we have to play better. Tuesday is a big for us.”
Kemmerer worked six innings, allowed three runs, walked two and struck out six.
Ramchandran took the loss. He walked five and struck out six.
“We have to have short-term memory and come back stronger (Tuesday),” Saddler said. “We had opportunities early and did not capitalize. We must find ways to cash in.”
Vollmer said Kemmerer was masterful in the fifth inning.
“If they score there, it may have been a different outcome,” Vollmer said. “Once we were able to get into their pen, we were able to do some damage.”
Domkowski, Connor Wilson and Danial Macioce had two hits each for the Mustangs. Ryan Catello had two hits for the Panthers.
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
Tags: Franklin Regional, Plum
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