University Christian Christians 2
Palm Beach Gardens Gators 1
The final game of the tournament ended in dramatic fashion for University Christian and Palm Beach Gardens.
The low scoring affair saw the two starting pitchers, Chris Gardere (PBG) and Jeremy Peel (UC), dominate the offenses of both teams, throwing four scoreless innings apiece to start the game. Fortunes would change for the Christians in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dylan Pate led things off with a single for University. After a wild pitch moved Pate to second base, Gage Bishop hit a sharp ball to third base. He beat the throw, and the ball got away from the first baseman which allowed Pate to score. The lead would not last long for University though. In the top of the sixth, Sendle Jean showed off his speed to tie the game. He smoked a single to right field, and hustled out of the box. A bobble by the right fielder allowed him to reach 2nd base. A wild pitch would send him to third, and he would eventually score on a Hunter Holland single.
Gage Bishop helped his team again in the final frame. He drew a leadoff walk, and moved to second when Conner Johnson walked himself. Chris Gau’s single to left field would load the bases, setting the stage for Zach Miller. With the infield in, Miller stung a groundball to the second baseman who fielded it cleanly, but fired the ball wide of the catcher, allowing Bishop to score the walk off run. Peel and Johnson pitched terrifically for University, combining to allow just one run on five hits with five strikeouts.
Tampa Prep Terrapins 9
Gibbs Eagles 4
A strong effort from Jonny Corning, Matt Hodges and Zach Brodsky helped Tampa Prep close out their 2015 FHSI with a decisive win over Gibbs on Friday.
Corning got things started in the top of the first with a leadoff double. A single off the bat of Chase Sanguinetti would bring him in two batters later for a 1-0 lead. Gibbs was quick to strike back in their half though, when Peyton Sawyer scored on a two out double off the bat of Trey Carpenter. The Terps would blow the game open in the second inning. With two outs, Aaron Muench singled, and would advance to third on a base hit from Gerardo Miranda. After Miranda stole second to put two men in scoring position, Corning would deliver again, scoring both runners on a single. A Matt Hodges triple would plate Corning, to make the score 5-1.
Tampa Prep would put the game out of reach in the fourth with their second four-run inning. Gerardo Miranda would walk and steal second to start things off. Hodges second single of the game would score him to extend the lead. Two batters later, Sanguinetti ripped a ball over the fence for a two-run homerun. They would add one more run in the inning when Zach Brodsky’s single brought in Cameron Carlson. Brodsky, who was the starting pitcher for Tampa Prep, threw four innings, allowing just one run on four hits. He was also 2-3 at the plate with an RBI. Corning finished 2-5 with two runs and two RBI, and Sanguinetti was 2-4 with a run and two RBI.
William T. Dwyer Panthers 6
Ponte Vedra Sharks 3
A big inning late in the game turned the tide in favor of the Dwyer Panthers as they were able to hold on for a 6-3 win over Ponte Vedra.
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, the Sharks were able to take advantage of control issues from Dwyer to spark a rally. A total of six walks were issued in the inning along with two wild pitches and a passed ball which would lead to three runs for Ponte Vedra. The third and fourth innings were scoreless for both teams, but Dwyer would change things up in the top of the fifth inning.
Following the theme of the game, a leadoff walk to Danny Lynch allowed him to reach first base. Connor Webb was then hit by a pitch, putting two runners on. Rudy Chacon would single, and a throwing error would score Lynch and advance Webb and Chacon. A pitching change did not help things, as Colton Rendon took a 1-0 offering over the left field wall to give the Panthers a 4-0 lead. They would add two more runs in the inning thanks to a Myles Colangelo RBI single and an error from the Ponte Vedra catcher. Sean Malezke and Shane Roberts would close out the final two innings, helping Dwyer to their third win of the tournament. Rendon would finish 2-3 with a walk, one run, and three RBI.
American Heritage Stallions 3
Lake Brantley Patriots 1
Zach Schneider led the American Heritage Stallions to a big win for the second time this week, this time with a complete game victory over Lake Brantley.
The scoring began in the bottom of the third inning. Tyler Frank led things off with a single, and would score two batters later thanks to Jonathan India’s double. India would then steal third, but was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice during Hunter Bowling’s at bat. Schneider would then help himself by singling to right field, where a miscue from the rightfielder would allow Bowling to come around to score. Schneider, who had advanced on the error, would then score off of a Nathan Zuckerman single to make the score 3-0.
Those three runs would be more than enough for Schneider, who turned in an impressive outing on the mound. He would end up going the distance, pitching seven innings. He allowed just five hits and one unearned run late in the game. Most impressive was his control, as he was able to strike out nine batters while walking none. The Stallions finished the tournament with a 3-1 record.
Palm Beach Central Broncos 6
Chiles Timberwolves 2
Brad Zippin and the Palm Beach Central Broncos struck early and often, scoring in each of the first four innings to earn a win over the Chiles Timberwolves on Friday.
American Heritage started things off when Zippin wore a pitch to earn a free trip to first. He would steal second and then move to third on a single from Anthony Gallicchio. A wild pitch would score Zippin and also move Gallicchio to third. Hunter Gunn would then send a sac fly to right field to plate Gallicchio. Joseph Romano would single in the next at bat, and Brett Hobermann, who had reached on a walk, would come around to score on an error to give the Broncos a 3-0 lead. Chiles would get one run back in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI single from Tate Hagan. The Broncos would add three more runs in the game, and the pitching efforts of Hunter Gunn, Jacob Shue and Cameron Lauer would secure the win for Central. Zippin ended the game 4-4 at the plate with a run, an RBI and two steals.
Lake Mary Rams 13
Trinity Prep Saints 0
A combination of powerful offense and superb pitching from started Todd Peterson gave the Lake Mary Rams a victory on Friday.
After failing to put a run across the board in the first, the Rams exploded for seven in the bottom of the second inning. Doubles from Brendan Rodgers and Braden Rollins, along with RBIs from John Benevolent, Joe Pesce, and Jared Batista put the game out of reach early. The Rams weren’t done though. They put four more runs on the board in the third inning, highlighted by a Rodgers home run, as well as two more in the fourth to make the score 13-0. Todd Peterson was lights out on the mound for Lake Mary, allowing just two hits over five frames, walking none and striking out five. Batista and Rodgers each had three hits and two runs scored for the Rams.
Seminole Seminoles 4
Royal Palm Beach Wildcats 1
Seminole jumped out to an early lead, and Cooper Skat kept the Royal Palm Beach Wildcats in check to earn the win on Friday.
Zach Wattman started things off in the first with a leadoff double. He would move to third on a groundball, and then come around to score on Alec Diemer’s RBI single. After Diemer stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, he would end up scoring on a double steal. The final run of the inning would come when Yuri Sabb singled to score Marshall Stallings. Seminole would add one more run in the bottom of the 5th when Marshall Stallings scored Alec Diemer with a single.
Skat was able to navigate his way through a tough Wildcat lineup, allowing just two hits through five innings. He ran into a spot of trouble in the sixth when Zach Odell and Sean Houck each singled, but only one run was scored for Royal Palm in the inning. He would then close out the game by firing a scorless seventh inning, giving himself the win. Skat ended up with seven innings pitched, scattering five hits and one earned run while striking out four.
Championship Game
Edmond Santa Fe Wolves 4
Barron Collier Cougars 2
The Edmond Santa Fe Wolves traveled the furthest distance to play in the 2015 Florida League High School Invitational. After their performance during the week, the trip was certainly worth it. Cameron Kay’s strong effort on the mound, coupled with a couple of clutch hits from Ryan Sanderson and Ryan Huber helped the Wolves to the 2015 Classic championship.
Neither team was able to manage more than a single in the first inning. Enrique Ferrer led off the top of the second with a single for the Cougars, and moved to second base with a steal. Kay would escape the jam by inducing a strikeout and two groundballs to end the inning. Barron Collier did enjoy the same luck in the bottom half. Tanner Kliewer reached first base on an error, and was quickly brought in to score when Ryan Sanderson smoked a double to the left center gap. Sanderson would then come in to score himself two batters later when a wild pitch went to the backstop, giving the Wolves a 2-0 lead.
An uneventful third inning was followed by Barron Collier getting on the board. Ferrer was able to reach base again, this time with a double. A Joey Dalton groundball would put Ferrer on third base with one out. Left fielder Casey Santos-Ocampo would then deliver for the Cougars, sending a base hit to the outfield that would plate Ferrer. After a Logan Langham reached on a single of his own, the Cougars threatened with runners on the corners. However, Kay was able to escape again, coaxing Jesse Ferreira into a groundout to third to quell the rally and keep the score at 2-1. Edmond would respond in the bottom half, with Sanderson leading the charge once more. Mirroring his previous at bat, the third baseman sent a rocket to the left center wall, putting him on second base with no outs. After a strikeout, Ryan Huber roped a double of his own that scored Sanderson. Ryan Goad then joined the extra base hit club, launching a triple to right field that would score Huber to make the score 4-1.
Both teams went three up, three down in the fifth inning. In the top of the sixth, the Cougars were able to push a run across the board with two outs. Joey Dalton singled, and moved to second when Santos-Ocampo was hit by a pitch. Emilio Valdivia stepped up and delivered a single in the next at bat, scoring Dalton and making the score 4-2. For the second time in the game, Kay was able to keep two runners on base, inducing another groundball out to end the inning. Zak Jurko would enter the game to pitch the Edmond 7th inning. The closer was perfect in his effort, forcing a groundball, strikeout and groundball to end the game.
Kay’s final pitching line was 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 BB and 4 K. Sanderson was 2-3 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI to lead the Wolves offensively.