For the second year in a row, the New Franklin Bulldogs come up just short of a district title. Last year it was to eventual state runners-up Salisbury at home. On Thursday, they surrendered a two-run lead and lost 6-3 to end the season 16-7 overall.

The second-seeded Bulldogs blanked Northwest (Hughesville) in the semifinals after earning a first-round bye.

New Franklin now bids farewell to six seniors who have racked up 60 wins against 25 losses over the last four years.

“I am very proud of this group and the season we had this year,” said New Franklin coach Erich Gerding. “We went on quite a run to end the year. I had a lot of fun, and I hope these guys did, too. This group of seniors definitely left their mark. They won a lot of games and three conference titles. They will be sorely missed.”

New Franklin took an early lead in the top of the second when the bottom half of the lineup manufactured two runs on a single, a Sacred Heart error, an RBI groundout, and a sacrifice bunt.

The top-seeded Gremlins answered with a breakout inning in the bottom of the third, scoring six runs on three hits, including a three-run inside-the-park home run by Marcel Walton and three walks.

“We got off to a good start in the second when we got some guys on and manufactured some runs using some small ball at the bottom of our lineup,” Gerding said. “But we didn’t get enough two-out hits, and it’s tough to win when you only get four hits in the game.”

Down four runs in the top of the seventh with the season on the line, the Bulldogs cut the lead in half on a hard fly ball to center field for an RBI double by senior Drew Rhorer to score Sawyer Felten. But a final strikeout ended the inning and the season.

Senior Tanner Bishop took the loss on the mound in his final game in a Bulldogs jersey. He allowed six runs (5 earned) on five hits and issued four walks with three strikeouts in three innings.

Sophomore Lane Hackman pitched three shutout innings of relief, allowing just two hits, a walk, and four strikeouts.

Sacred Heart pitcher Gavin Caldwell earned the win with a complete seven-inning performance. He surrendered three runs (none earned) on three hits with four walks and a game-high 11 strikeouts. 

“Just not enough production, and we could never get into their bullpen,” Gerding said. “Credit to Caldwell. He did a heck of a job. Their lineup just did more than ours.”

Rhorer finished with two of New Franklin’s four hits. He went 3-for-4 with a single and an RBI double, the team’s only extra-bases hit. Senior Luke Paulsen and junior Brandon Phillips each picked up singles, and both scored.

Felten and Nolan McGowan each drove in one run. Felton scored one run.

Walton led the Gremlins with a 2-for-3 performance, including the three-run home run, and led the game with three RBI.

Prior to Thursday’s district championship loss, the Bulldogs were riding a nine-game winning streak.