Sarah Franco was perfect again.

The St. Aloysius senior pitcher fired a seven-inning, perfect game Monday evening as the Lady Flashes smashed Pelahatchie 9-0 at Bazinsky Park.

Franco retired all 21 Lady Chiefs she faced, striking out 17. It was the second career perfect game for the reigning Vicksburg Post Player of the Year.

“I threw one against Puckett last year, so this is the second one. It makes me kind of sad, though, because my dad (Tony) wasn’t here to see it. He missed the Puckett one, too,” Franco said.

Tony Franco, who usually does the announcing for all of St. Al’s home games, was away in Florida on business.

Pelahatchie was overmatched from the start, but even then, Franco said she needed a game like this one to regain some confidence. The win improves her to 7-3 on the year. As a team, St. Al improves to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in division play.

The Lady Flashes had just four plays to make in the field. Three were infield ground balls and only one ball was hit to the outfield, that coming in the first inning.

St. Al took control at the plate with seven runs in the first inning. Pelahatchie pitcher Haley Simpson retired her first batter but then walked five of the next six. The only non-walk was Franco, who was hit by a pitch.

Sara Howington’s walk brought in the first run. A bases-loaded walk to Kay Kay DeRossette and two wild pitches chased home three more runs. Brittany Pittman was brought in to pitch for the Lady Chiefs. She induced a ground ball to third but no play was made and Katie Koestler scored on Hannah Barrett’s fielder’s choice. After another walk, Haley Heggins capped the rally with a two-run single to right to make it 7-0.

Franco mowed through the Lady Chiefs lineup, striking out nine batters in a row at one point. Pittman managed to keep St. Al from scoring over its next five at-bats, allowing just a single by Franco and a double by Catelyn Park.

In the sixth, St. Al coach Gene Rogillio began sending up pinch-hitters. Brittany Turner responded with a two-run triple to score Madison Heggins and Grace Franco for a 9-0 lead.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com.