Leesburg Yellow Jackets 5
South Fort Myers Wolfpack 2
The Leesburg Yellow Jackets were able to jump out to an early lead, and a solid effort on the mound from Brendan Perkins would lead Leesburg to a 5-2 victory over South Fort Myers on Tuesday.
In the bottom of the first, things got started quickly for Leesburg. With two outs, Jason Baita struck out, but a dropped third strike allowed him to reach first. A walk to Garrett Vathroder would put two men on, and Turner Long would come through with an RBI double to center field that would score both runners. Long, who had advanced to third on the throw in from the outfield, would then score on a Luis Montalvo single to make it 3-0. After both teams swapped scoreless frames in the second and third innings, the Jackets would sting again in the fourth inning. Wade Pettis sent a base hit to the outfield with one out, and would move all the way to third on an error during Jaden Langley’s at bat. Colten Northcott would score Pettis on an RBI groundout, and move Langley to third base. It would then be Langley’s turn to come across, courtesy of an error on Tucker Smith’s groundball.
The Wolfpack got one run back in the fifth when Ben Hourigan tripled to lead things off. He would be brought in on a single from Alberto Oliveras. Perkins would escape further damage that inning, leaving the score at 5-1. Things got interesting in the seventh inning as South Fort Myers attempted a comeback. Consecutive singles by Jacob Ashby, Ben Hourigan and Kenny D’Vincent loaded the bases with one out for the Wolfpack. Zach Hutchens would then draw a walk to score Ashby and keep the threat alive. Blake Perdue would then step in and shut the rally down, inducing a popout and groundball to earn the save. Pettis was 2-3 with a run and Long was 1-2 with a run and two RBI to lead Leesburg on offense.
Forest Wildcats 9
Clewiston Tigers 2
The Ocala Forest offense strung together a big fourth inning to put their game against Clewiston out of reach, winning by a final score of 9-2.
Forest picked up a run early in the first when Jacob Landry drew a leadoff walk and proceeded to steal second base. After moving to third on an error, he would then come around to score on a wild pitch. Both teams went scoreless in the second and third, and then the Wildcats came hard in the fourth inning. The first nine batters of the inning reached base safely, scoring six runs on six hits and three walks including two-run singles by Landry and David Stromwall, and a two-RBI double by Hagen Samson. The damage could have been worse, but two of the three outs of the inning came on throws from the outfields gunning runners trying to advance.
Each team would add two more runs late in the game, making the final score 9-2. Eight different players scored a run for Forest, led by Landry (1-2, walk, 2 runs, 2 RBI). Alex Reed earned the win, throwing four shutout innings with four strikeouts.
Eustis Panthers 2
Lincoln Park Greyhounds 1
Eustis was able to pull off their second straight one run victory thanks to a clutch sixth inning from their offense.
Following a scoreless first inning, the Greyhounds jumped on the board in the second inning. Ian Claudio walked with one out, and moved to second on a sac bunt. A second sacrifice would put him on third base, and a single from Derek Schwimmer would bring him home. Both starting pitchers would continue to be impressive, allowing no more runs in the game until the bottom of the sixth.
Michael Koenig started things off with an infield single. Matthew Lusignan would follow suit, recording a base hit of his own that allowed Koenig to reach third base. After Grant Tabor replaced Lusignan at first as a pinch runner, a Kerry Carpenter sac fly would bring in Koenig to tie the game. Michael LArgey would then come through lifting a soft liner to the left-center gap. Tabor, who had been running on the play scored all the way from first base to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead. Lincoln Park would avoid further damage, but it was too late as Jared Corbitt was able to come on for a scoreless seventh to earn the save. Largey was 2-3 with the game winning RBI to lead Eustis. Starter Tyler Parry was effective in his no decision, scattering five hits and giving up one unearned run with two strikeouts.
Montverde Eagles 6
Westfield Bulldogs 0
Leo Rodriguez was masterful on the mound on Tuesday, allowing just two hits in a complete game shutout of Westfield.
Montverde supplied Rodriguez plenty of offense over the course of the game. In the second inning, Cash Case led off with a walk, and would come in to score on a Julian Quintana double. Joey Passino would then shoot a ball through the middle of the infield to score Quintana and make it 2-0. In the fourth, a Manuel Lopez double and a Ryan Williams triple would add three more runs to the tally. The scoring would end in the 5th when Quintana scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-0.
Rodriguez was impressive throughout, showcasing a 82-85 MPH fastball and good off speed pitches. In his seven innings of work, he allowed just three base runners: a leadoff single in the first, a walk in the second, and a single in the fifth. He racked up five strikeouts in the game. Quintana and Gabriel Coburn each had two hits for the Eagles.
First Academy Royals 5
Grandview Wolves 1
First Academy took advantage of a few miscues from Grandview, turning a pitcher’s duel into a lopsided victory on Tuesday night.
Grant Schroeder (GHS) and Peyton Hopkins (TFA) swapped three shutout innings to start the ballgame. The Royals were then able to break through in the fourth, starting with a single from Cody Oerther. He would be replaced at first with courtesy runner Stuart McDonald. Peyton Hopkins would draw a walk to put two men on. After a flyout put two outs on the board, it looked like Grandview might escape unscathed. However, Garrett Galloway worked the count from 0-2 to 3-2, and then sent a double to the left center gap that scored both runners. After Hopkins worked another scoreless frame in the top of the 5th, the Royals were ready to pad the lead in the bottom half. A hit by pitch, two singles, an error, two wild pitches and a passed ball put three more runs on the board for TFA. With the big lead, Hopkins allowed an unearned run in the sixth and finished the game, winning 5-1. Hopkins’ final line read 7 innings pitched, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. Oerther was 2-3 to lead the Royals on offense.
Wednesday’s Games
9 am – Eustis vs. Westfield
11:30 am – Grandview vs. Leesburg
2 pm – South Fort Myers vs. The First Academy
4:30 pm – Montverde vs. Clewiston
7 pm – Lincoln Park vs. Forest