Franklin boasted two of the region’s top players on the diamond this spring. Recently, the Asheville Citizen Times polled readers on WNC’s best athletes, including 20 of the area’s brightest baseball and softball stars. There, Will Rauers (left) was voted Baseball Player of the Year, earning 39% of the poll’s more than 1,400 votes. At the plate the rising junior slashed a .412 average for the year, knocking 28 hits including three home runs and 30 RBIs. On the mound he produced a miniscule .91 earned runs average, dealing 18 strikeouts to just six hits in 15 and one-third innings. In the softball poll Kendall Rumans also gained recognition, placing fifth in the regionwide vote. The rising senior and Appalachian State commit batted .478, and tied for sixth place across N.C. with 11 home runs. She earned one of just two March Performance of the Month awards from the NCSHAA, and broke school records in both career home runs (30) and RBIs (119).