VINTON — The final days of the regular season didn’t go Vinton’s way, but the young Lions have never dwelled on the ups and downs of this season.

After a five-game losing streak, all to teams seeded in the top 10 in the playoffs, No. 9 Vinton got back on track Friday with an 11-1 six-inning win over Franklin in the bi-district round of the nonselect Division IV playoffs.

“These kids don’t harp on losses,” Vinton head coach Dane Clark said. “I think that is the best part about this group.

“They bound back. We lost to Sam Houston, who is a top three, and we lost a tough one to Lacassine on a two-run bomb. It was not like we were playing bad at the end of the season. We just played a tough stretch at the end.”

The Lions (14-12) start as many as five freshmen in any given game, and two of them — Kortlin Kyle and Cobe Durio — accounted for three hits and four RBI Friday. Kyle led the Lions’ offense, going 2 for 2 with three RBI, including a two-RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning.

“We are excited about the future for this group,” Clark said. “When you start five freshmen, you are going to ride those ups and downs sometimes.

“We just ride it out. I think these guys have done a very good job. Last year we lost eight one-run games. This year we have won three of them, so I think that it has been a pretty good year for us. I am not disappointed at all.”

On the mound, junior Zander Paladino and sophomore Gage Guidry have carried the Lions. Against Franklin, they combined to pitch a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts. Paladino got the win after pitching five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Guidry got the final three outs with three strikeouts to bring his season total to 100.

“Zander Paladino and Gage Guidry just to a great job,” Clark said. “Gage Guidry actually just reached 100 strikeouts on the year.

“Zander, we call him Mr. Efficient. He just comes in and throws a lot of strikes. He struggled a little bit today, but he figured it out. He pounds the zone really well. We have Bryce Taylor out of the bullpen and lost one of our better relievers in Cameron Reeves right at the start of district. But Kortlin Kyle came in as a freshman and did a good job.”

Alonzo Alexander scored the Hornets (4-16) lone run after following a sixth inning single with three consecutive stolen bases.

The one thing Clark wants the Lions to work on heading into their regional game at No. 8 Montgomery is hitting. The Lions had just two hits through the first four innings and finished with six.

“Our hitting has been coming around,” Clark said. “We just have to take hitting one step at a time because it is inconsistent and consistent at times.

“We were off for a week. The last time we played was last Friday. I think we just have to hit. Montgomery is a really solid team, but I think we have a very good shot with Guidry on the bump and playing solid defense the way we have. We just have to hit. That is the biggest thing.”