Player of the Day Derek Rascher, Palmetto Ridge
3-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 SB
Pitcher of the Day:
Logan Allen, University
5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K
Maclay 10
Harmony 0
The Maclay Marauders flipped the script after a mercy rule loss on Monday, earning a 10-run win of their own over the Harmony Longhorns on Wednesday morning.
The first two innings saw very little offense from either team. Things changed in the bottom of the third when the Marauders' bats woke up. An error, bases loaded walk, and two-RBI single from Cal McCallum helped Maclay hang a five-piece on the board in the inning. In the fifth inning, the MArauders earned a bases loaded walk and hit by pitch to tack on two more, making the lead 7-0. Finally, in the sixth inning, Kyle Karpinski earned an RBI on a fielder's choice, Hal Vanlandingham drove in one on a base hit, and a wild pitch gave MAclay the ten runs needed to secure the win.
JD Gardner was stellar for Maclay on the mound, throwing six innings while allowing only three hits and one walk while striking out two. Nine different Marauders scored a run for Maclay. The Marauders move to 1-1 on the week, while Harmony falls to 1-1 themselves.
Palmetto Ridge 4
Jensen Beach 3
Box Score
A late rally form Palmetto Ridge, coupled with outstanding relief pitching helped the Bears to their first win of the FHSI Showcase on Wednesday.
In the first inning, Ryan Rivera drove in a run with a single and came around to score on a wild pitch to give the Jensen Beach Falcons an early 2-0 lead. They would add another run to the lead in the third inning when Jacob Winger battled during a nine-pitch at bat to drive in Rivera, increasing the lead to 3-0.
Unfortunately for the Falcons, their offense would stop there, while the Bears offense would come alive. They posted one run in the fourth courtesy of an RBI single from Derek Rascher. In the fifth inning, a Stephen Gomez single scored Adrian Soler to make it 3-2. Finally, with two outs in the sixth, Palmetto Ridge rallied to score twice more on a Kenny Geiger double and Cristian Torres bases loaded walk to make the final of 4-3.
Gio Garcia and Austin Quinones were terrific in relief for the Bears, throwing a combined three innings of three-hit, shutout baseball with three strikeouts. Rascher ended his day 3-3 at the plate with a run, RBI and two steals. Ryan Rivera got on base three times for Jensen Beach, scoring twice and driving in one. Both teams now sit at 1-1 on the week.
Barron Collier 4
Montverde 0
For five innings, this ballgame featured a tremendous pitcher's duel. Neither team could score a run, and combined they managed only five hits. The Cougars managed to rally up late however, posting a 4-0 shutout victory over the Eagles.
Barron Collier turned to small ball late to take the lead. After a leadoff hit by pitch to Drew Miller, Dylan Doria followed with a single. A sac bunt from John Long was misplayed, loading the bases with no outs. A well timed suicide squeeze from Nick Denove put the first run across to make it 1-0 in the sixth. They would add two more in the seventh when Drew Miller laced a double with the bases loaded, making it a 3-0 game. A wild pitch made the final score 4-0.
Nick Geller was fantastic on the mound for Barron Collier, allowing no runs on three hits over five innings for the Cougars. He recorded five strikeouts with no walks en route to the win. Miller and Matt Lord each finished with two hits to lead the Barron Collier offense. The Cougars moved to 2-0 and earned a spot in the Championship bracket, while Montverde fell to 0-2.
University 4
East Ridge 0
In front of roughly a dozen or so scouts, the Logan Allen show as on full display Wednesday night in the nightcap, as the stud lefty dominated the East Ridge Knights en route to a 4-0 win for the Titans.
Allen, a senior, showcased an upper 80s fastball that reach as high as 92 on the stadium gun, coupled with a devastating breaking ball that kept the Knights hitters at bay all night long. After they managed two hits off of Allen in the first inning, only three more runners reached base all night. Allen ended his night with a line of five innings, three hits, zero walks and twelve strikeouts.
He helped himself offensively as well, driving in the game's first run in the third inning. The Titans would add another in the fifth on an error, and two in the sixth courtesy of RBI singles from Cam Robinson and Jacob Molle.
Allen took home the win, and Blake Baker took a hard luck loss for the Knights. Baker lasted 5.2 innings, but his defense did not help him out ... three of the four runs he allowed were unearned. Robinson and Jesus Ruiz each had two hits to lead the Titans on offense.
Schedule for Thursday, March 16
#1 Hillcrest vs. Barron Collier at Sanford Stadium 4:30pm
#2 Seabreeze vs. University at Sanford Stadium 2:00pm
#3 Florida High vs. Harmony at Sanford Stadium 9:00am
#4 Palmetto Ridge vs. Maclay at Sanford Stadium 7:00pm
#5 Jensen Beach vs. East Ridge at Seminole HS 10:00am
#6 Lake Minneola vs. Montverde at Seminole HS 12:30pm
#7 Flagler Palm Coast vs. Christian Academy of Knoxville 11:30am Sanford Stadium