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The first inning was a snap.
Charged up and seemingly ready for anything, the Barnstable High Red Raiders and starting pitcher Dan Holzman roared into the first round of the MIAA Division 1 South Sectionals and never looked back, defeating guest Franklin 10-1.
Seeded 8th in Division 1 South, Barnstable rode the red-hot bats of leadoff man Chris Fowler, Danny Walsh, Dylan Morris and Terrence Mudie on, of all afternoons, Barnstable High Senior Prom Night.
Holzman - known to teammates as "Holzy" - gave up one hit in the first inning and seven overall but it mattered little as he cruised through six frames while striking out five and walking just one. He allowed one earned run in a slightly erratic fifth inning, but it mattered little as his hard-hitting teammates bolstered his appearance with seven runs. Junk-throwing junior righty Joe Antosca came on in the seventh and finished through the ninth, allowing no runs, struck out two and gave up just one harmless double in the top of the ninth frame.
The Red Raiders bats gave the Barnstable moundsmen all they would need for the day, with Fowler leading the way. The lanky, red-haired, agile first baseman finished a perfect 3-3 with four runs scored, was hit by a pitch, belted a leadoff double in the third, scored four runs and stole three bases.
Morris - headed to play at UMass-Amherst on a baseball scholarship this fall - went 2-4 with three runs scored and an RBI but it was junior backstop Jack Harrington who went 2-4 with three RBI and a double in addition to calling a solid game behind the dish.
The Red Raiders, now 13-6 on the season, will face top-seeded Walpole on the road Monday afternoon at 4:00 pm. Walpole defeated 17th-seeded North Attleboro this afternoon, 7-4.
