The season opener couldn't have gone much better for Franklin County's softball team - five innings, 10 runs, 13 strikeouts for pitcher Ally Johnson.
The Lady Flyers defeated Spencer County 10-0 at Sally Gaines Field Tuesday in a game that was called after five innings on the mercy rule.
"The first inning we put three runs across," FCHS assistant coach Ted Marlette said. "We had three or four hits in a row. That got it started and we rolled from there."
Franklin County led 3-0 after the first inning. Madelyn Brown hit a triple and scored when Johnson reached on an error. Emily Hampton followed with a double to score Johnson, and Hampton came home with the third run on a base hit by Katie Bauer.
The Lady Flyers went down in order in the second inning but broke through for six runs in thee third inning to take a 9-0 lead.
Kelly Hogan led off by reaching on an error, and Brown followed with a base hit. A single by Johnson scored Hogan and put Brown at third base. A walk to Hampton loaded the bases, and Bauer cleared the bases with a double.
Alison Hamilton hit a triple to score Bauer, and Hamilton scored when Mollie Stephens grounded out to first base.
That made the score 9-0 after three innings, and while the FCHS offense was hitting its stride, Johnson was keeping the Spencer County bats quiet.
The senior pitcher struck out the side in four of the game's five innings and faced just three batters in two of those innings.
"All came out and threw 13 strikeouts," Marlette said. "That's pretty strong."
The Lady Flyers graduated five seniors off last year's 17-19 team.
"We're really young," Marlette said. "We have 22 kids out, and 14 of the 22 are freshmen or younger. Most of the kids have been around for a couple of years. Lacinda Hack has come out for the first time. She's a hard worker, and she's coming along strong.
"Most of the kids have been out two or three years," he added. "They know what we expect, they stay focused, they follow instructions. If they keep that up they'll really come along this year."
Franklin County had six hits Tuesday with four going for extra bases. Brown hit a triple and single, Bauer hit a double and single, Hampton doubled, and Hamilton tripled.
FCHS plays at Henry Clay today. FCHS head coach Tracy Spickard missed Tuesday's game because of a death in her family.