SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (EYT) — Connor Rakow’s two-run walk-off single in the bottom of seventh sent the Franklin fans into a frenzy and sent the Knights into the second round of the PIAA Class 3A baseball playoffs.

(Photo of Franklin’s Connor Rakow. Photo by Christie Datko)

The odds were stacked against the Knights as they trailed Freeport 2-1 entering the final stanza with their seven, eight and nine hitters due up.

But as they have all season as they showed their heart and rallied to win their 21st straight game.

“I give these guys all the credit in the world,” Franklin manager Brian Schmidt said. “They came through when they needed to in the seventh. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Kolton Banfi kicked things off in the seventh with a one-out single. Carson Wible grounded out to second base but moved pinch runner Dale Kinch in the process. Zachary Taylor then drew a free pass.

Taylor’s walk was the final pitch for Freeport starter Jarrett Heilman, who had reached the PIAA 105-pitch limit for a playoff game. Shortstop Joe Hotalski then came into the game to pitch.

Down to his final strike, Tyus Wood hit a soft ground ball to shortstop where Hotalski’s replacement Bradyn Clark elected to try and get the force out at third, but Kinch beat the throw setting the stage Rakow who made no mistake on a 2-1 delivery.

“Our game plan was not to strike out and put the ball in play,” Schmidt. “I thought we set the tone in the first inning when Kaden (Keely) had an 11-pitch at bat. We scrapped together today as a team for this win.”

For Rakow, the pressure of that moment seemed like deja vu whereas just a half inning before he was called upon to take over on the mound for starter Ian Haynes.

Rakow faced runners at second and third with two outs as Freeport looked for some insurance. But the Knights senior wasn’t having any of that and got Austin Kepes to groundout to second.

“Ian pitched way too well for us to lose this game,” said Rakow. “I felt bad in the sixth inning because I got picked off and then Kaden Keely hit a triple that would’ve tied the game up. I kept my composure on the mound to get that last out. Then coach Schmidt talked to me and told me not to try and do too much. So I was able to take one the other way and help my team win.”

Watch Rakow’s postgame interview.

“He’s so calm out there, he is built for those situations,” said Schmidt of Rakow. “Nothing gets to him, he’s loose and it was great to see him come through for us today.”

Haynes gave Franklin a solid 6 ⅔ innings giving up seven hits, two runs, walking only one and striking out nine.

“Ian pitched well all game,” said Schmidt. “I think they hit three balls hard on him all game. He had a decent amount of strikeouts and came up with that clutch hit too.”

Hayne’s RBI single in the fourth inning tied the game at a run apiece. Haynes was 1-for-3 on the day, while Rakow had a monster game going 3-4 with two RBIs.

Freeport took the 2-1 lead in the fifth as Kepes had a two-out single that scored Alec Asti. The Yellowjackets first run was scored by pinch runner Brayden King who came in to run after Heilman doubled. King scored on a past ball after a throwing error by catcher Cole Harmon.

Franklin moves on to the quarterfinals where it will face District 6 runner-up Philipsburg-Osceola, who was a 3-1 winner over WPIAL Champion Steel Valley.

“I told the guys to win like this it builds upon you and will make us stronger as a team,” said Schmidt. “We’re just taking it one game at a time. We know we’re going to see better teams as we go.”

FRANKLIN 3, FREEPORT 2

Score by Innings

Freeport — 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 — 2
Franklin — 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 — 3

Freeport — 2

Austin Kepes lf 4011, Joe Hotalski ss 3010, Zach Allen 3b 3000, Matt Mitchell 1b 1000, Dominic Kum 1b 2000, Matt Grove dh 3000, Jarrett Heilman p 3020, Garrett Ben c 3020, Bradyn Clark 3000, Coulton Stewart cf 2000, Josh Tirdel cf 1010, Evan McCrea rf 0000, Brayden King pr 0100, Alec Asti 0100. Totals: 28-2-7-1.

Franklin — 3

Zach Taylor lf 4100, Tyus Wood 2b 4000, Connor Rakow 4032, Austin Rhoads 1b 3100, Kaden Keely cf 3020, Ian Haynes p 3011, Marc Knox dh 3000, Kolton Banfi 3b 3010, Carson Wible 3000, Cole c Harmon c 0000, Dale Kinch pr 0100, Joey Hedglin 0000. Totals: 30-3-7-3.

LOB: Freeport 5 Franklin 5 Errors: Freeport 2 Franklin 1 3B: Kaden Keely 2B: Jarrett Heilman, CS: Connor Rakow SB: Coulton Stewart.

PITCHING

Freeport

Jarrett Heilman 6 ⅔ IP 6 H 3 R 3 ER 2 BB 4 K
Joe Hotalski 0/3 IP 1 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 0 K

Franklin

Ian Haynes 6 ⅔ IP 7 H 2 R 2 ER 1 BB 9 K
Connor Rakow ⅓ IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 0 K

Winning pitcher: Connor Rakow
Losing pitcher: Jarrett Heilman