The Franklin County High School baseball team has been on a winning role as of late.

Currently the Bulldogs are on a 13 game winning streak and are tied for second place in the district along with North Pike, only two games back from first place Columbia. The Bulldogs, at 14-6, lost two games to Columbia in late February at the beginning of the season.

“They are a top 10 team in the state,” Franklin head coach Jeremy Loy said. “If we are going to see them again, it’s going to be in the playoffs.”

Since those losses, the Bulldogs have hardly lost, and with their winning streak at 11, they are chasing school history. Loy said his team is only four games shy of tying the current mark of 15 games, set 1986. He said that team lost in the state championship.

Loy said the key to the current winning streak has been the Bulldogs playing tough defense. His team is averaging around one error per game on defense.

“We’ve played real good defense all year. The pitching has been good, but our defense has helped make it good,” he said.

His pitching staff of Blaine Abernathey, Ryan Ratcliff, Colton Laird and Ben McDowell have all been big contributors on the mound this season.

“Being deep in pitching has helped us a lot,” Loy said.

Things have not been bad at the plate for the Bulldogs either. Franklin’s one through nine batters are collectively averaging .360 at the plate. Ryan Ratcliff is batting .456 on the year, while teammate Jordan Hunt is batting .436. Cable McMinn leads the team with two home runs and is batting .380.

The Bulldogs are also getting help from senior leadership on the field and experience in the dugout.

Loy said senior centerfielder Dane Hodges has stepped up as a leader for the team this season.

“He has stepped up, and helped us a lot. He has made big plays in the field and has been a leader all season,” he said.

Loy also said his assistant coaches, Brad Mullins and Brent Calcote, have been an integral part of Franklin County’s recent success.

Franklin will have a chance to take sole possession of second place in the district when they take on North Pike on Tuesday.

“If we do well on Tuesday, we will have a shot at the playoffs,” Loy said.