Clutch outing from pitcher Carson Franc delivers section title to Avonworth
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Wednesday, April 30, 2025 | 10:59 PM
Avonworth pitcher Carson Franc celebrates after getting a strikeout to end a South Park threat on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Jack Dolan hits a 2-run homer against South Park on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Jack Dolan celebrates with teammates after hitting a 2-run homer against South Park on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Mason Metz celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against South Park on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Mason Metz watches his home run against South Park on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth pitcher Carson Franc delivers against South Park on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Carson Franc celebrates on second base against South Park on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Jack Dolan watches his home run leave the park against South Park on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Mason Metz is greeted by teammates after hitting a home run against South Park on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
An 0.68 ERA is proof that Avonworth pitcher Carson Franc has had other great outings, but his coach called this one his best yet.
“Under the circumstances, you have to,” Antelopes coach Jeff Bywalski said.
In a battle for the section title, Franc tempted batters to chase high fastballs while throwing a clutch four-hitter with 12 strikeouts as host Avonworth defeated South Park, 6-1, in the Section 2-3A finale Wednesday.
The right-handed junior, whose fastball reaches the mid-80s, struck out five in a row in one stretch.
Twice he struck out the side.
“Everything on the line, playing on your home field against the team that beat you the other day,” Bywalski said setting the scene. “There was probably a lot of pressure on him, and he handled it. He stepped up.”
South Park had rallied from a five-run deficit Monday to win Game 1 of the series, but the Eagles couldn’t muster much offense against Franc. He allowed just four singles, and the one run scored came on a wild pitch.
He completed the game in 98 pitches.
“Everything was working,” said Franc, who walked only one batter. “The fastball, I was throwing high and they were swinging. My slider, I’d tunnel off the fastball and they wouldn’t swing.”
Franc now has 37 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings.
The win gave the section title to Avonworth (15-3, 9-1), the defending WPIAL champion and the top-ranked team in Class 3A this season. Fourth-ranked South Park (11-4, 8-2) finished a game back in the standings.
“We needed to show better discipline and lay off the chest-high fastballs,” South Park coach Corey Fischer said. “I told the guys, when you’re facing a guy who’s throwing over 80 miles per hour, unless you’re guessing dead-red, letter-high fastball, it’s really hard to get your hands to it.”
The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday before being delayed for a day.
Avonworth collected 11 hits including a pair of home runs by junior Jack Dolan and senior Mason Metz, increasing the team total to 17. Metz, a Seton Hill-bound catcher, leads with eight.
Franc helped himself with two hits, and his courtesy runner Nick Blackson scored twice. Patrick Bykowski doubled twice for Avonworth, and Metz reached base four times.
“We went away from the last game thinking it was our worst game we’d played,” Franc said of Monday’s 8-7 loss. “But we came back to practice with our heads high. We made sure we were ready.”
Dolan launched a tie-breaking two-run homer in the third inning to lead 3-1. Metz added his solo blast in the fifth for a 5-1 lead. Both home runs cleared the right field fence.
“We’ve got guys that can put the ball out of the park,” Bywalski said. “My first year we hit a lot of home runs. I think we had 13 or 14. These guys are already over that.”
South Park took a 1-0 lead in the second inning without getting a hit. Bryce Berzansky drew a one-out walk and advanced on an error and a sacrifice bunt before scoring from third on a wild pitch.
Avonworth answered later in the inning. Franc and Michael Libbon hit consecutive singles, and Blackson scored for Franc on an RBI groundout by Bykowski for a 1-1 tie.
In the third, Metz singled and Dolan followed with a two-run homer to break the tie.
In the fourth, Franc hit a leadoff single, Bykowski doubled and Blackson later scored on an RBI groundout by Declan Ehrin for a 4-1 lead.
Metz’ homer in the fifth extended the lead.
In the sixth, Libbon hit a leadoff single, stole second and scored on Bykowski’s double to lead 6-1.
“The last game was a little uncharacteristic, having a 5-0 lead and giving it up,” Bywalski said. “That wasn’t our baseball team the other day. Today you saw our baseball team. It was a good bounceback.”
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Avonworth, South Park
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