Player of the Day:
Austin Knight, Bolles
Pitcher of the Day:
Tyler Lavery, Suncoast
Boone 3
American Heritage 1
The Boone Braves opened up the 2017 FHSI Classic with a quick 3-1 victory over the American Heritage Stallions on Monday morning.
The two teams moved at a great pace, finishing seven full innings in an hour and a half. Both starting pitchers (Jacob Shumsky - Boone, Ben Vespi - American Heritage) pounded the strike zone, and kept hitters at bay ... for the most part.
The scoring opened up in the third inning when Boone plated two runs thanks to an RBI double from Edgar Alvarez, and an error by AHS that allowed Alvarez to come around to score one batter later. The score remained 2-0 until the seventh when Boone scored another run thanks to an error, making it 3-0. The Stallions got one back in the bottom of the seventh on a Chris Ferara RBI single, but the rally would fall short.
Shumsky went all seven innings for Boone, allowing one run on four hits. He threw 67% of his pitches for strikes, and had three strikeouts. Vespi took the loss for American Heritage, lasting five innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with five strikeouts.
Olympia 4
San Gorgonio 2
The Olympia Titans jumped to an early lead and didn't look back, defeating the San Gorgonio Spartans 4-2 on Monday morning.
A two out error by San Gorgonio would prove to be costly, as it loaded the bases for Kenial DeLeon. With a full count, DeLeon poked a single into the outfield, scoring Jax Bambei and Jeslyn Whitehead. San Gorgonio threatened in the next half inning, but they would leave the bases loaded as starter Jacob Drury escaped the jam.
The Titans would score twice more in the third inning thanks again to multiple errors by the Spartans, making the score 4-0. San Gorgonio got one back in the fourth and one in the seventh, but it wasn't enough as Whitehead was able to shut the door for the save.
Whitehead was also 2-2 with two runs and a walk at the plate. Chris Hardin reached base twice and drove in a run to lead the Spartan offense.
Hagerty 3
University Christian 1
Angelo Garcia twirled a gem for the Hagerty Huskies in their opening round game against the University Christian Christians on Monday morning, leading them to a 3-1 victory.
Garcia went the distance for Hagerty, firing all seven innings and allowing only one run on six hits. Though he only struck out one batter, the UC offense failed to make hard contact for most of the day, allowing him to control the game. Another key to the win was the team defense of the Huskies ... they had one error on the day while their counterparts had five.
The Huskies got on the board in the fourth inning when Britt Crawford scored on a wild pitch. UC would answer in the fifth with a Dylan Richman RBI. Brian Ellis then led off the top of the sixth with a solo home run to give Hagerty the lead. They would also add another run in the inning on a wild pitch to make the final score of 3-1.
Ellis finished 2-4 on the day with a run and RBI to lead the Huskies. Darien Smith had two hits for the Christians.
Suncoast 5
Atlantic 1
Tyler Lavery turned in a masterful performance for the Suncoast Chargers on Monday afternoon, throwing every pitch of a nine inning game, and helping Suncoast to a 5-1 win over the Atlantic Community Eagles.
The Chargers jumped out to an early lead when Jack Gallagher delivered a two-out RBI double to score Juan Alvarado. The game would then hit a lull as Lavery and Atlantic starter Shelby Frazier traded zeroes until the 5th inning. After Frazier was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of inning, he was sacrificed to second by Justin Varisco. Matt Sheridan would then come through with a base hit, scoring Frazier and tying the game.
The two teams would battle into extra innings, until Suncoast blew the game open in the ninth. After a pair of walks to open the inning, Michael Meehan, Nathan Brodsky and Lavery all recorded RBI.
Aside from his complete game, Lavery also went 2-4 with a double and two RBI. Teammate Jack Virden picked up three hits himself. Frazier lasted seven innings, allowing one run on six hits with four strikeouts for the Eagles.
Timber Creek 6
Highland 5
The third pitching gem of the day goes to Brett Nielan of the TImber Creek Wolves, who held on for a 6-5 win over the Highland Hawks on Monday afternoon.
After being spotted a two-run lead thanks to an error and catcher's interference in the top of the first, Nielan went to work. Over the course of six innings, he gave up one hit and two runs, though neither were earned. He also struck out nine batters against one walk.
The Wolves added one in the third, one in the sixth and two in the seventh to stake a 6-0 lead. The Hawks refused to go quietly into the night as they rallied in their last frame. A hit by pitch and an error forced Nielan from the game. Luke Burner would then walk to load the bases. The Hawks then scored on an error, a bases loaded walk, and a three-run double off the bat of Noah Lerman. With the score sitting at 6-5, Preston Schumacher induced a ground ball to leave the tying run on base.
Parker Rook reached base three times and had two RBI to lead the Wolves. Lerman's three RBI made him the leader for the Hawks offense.
Royal Palm Beach 5
Vero Beach 1
A pair of big innings from the Royal Palm Beach Wildcats gave them the advantage over the Vero Beach Fighting Indians, 5-1, on Monday evening.
Vero Beach jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI groundout from Peter Holden. The Wildcats were quick to respond, plating two runners in the bottom half of the inning on an error and a single from Adrian Abreu. The game would remain 2-1 until the fifth inning when RPB scored three more times. RBIs were turned in by Tarik Latchmansingh, Nick Toney and JB Santiago. Vero Beach nearly completed an impressive comeback, loading the bases and bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs in the final inning, but Logan Wood coaxed a fly ball out to end the game.
Dylan Lloyd earned the win for the Wildcats, tossing six innings of four hit baseball. Christian Adams and Nick Toney had two hits apiece to lead the Royal Palm offense.
Bolles 15
Winter Springs 0
Florida State commit Clemente Inclan had no problem with the Winter Springs Bears, shutting them out over seven innings in a 15-0 blowout win on Monday night.
The game opened up with three runs for Bolles in the first inning, followed by two in the second, three in the fifth, one in the sixth and six in the seventh inning. Twelve different Bulldogs recorded hits on the day, led by shortstop Austin Knight, who was 2-5 with five RBI. Even more impressive was that thirteen Bulldogs scored at least one run.
While the offense was the story of the game, Inclan quietly dominated the Bears offense. After allowing two hits in the first two innings, Inclan retired twelve straight hitters before one reached on an error in the sixth. He walked one and struck out three in his outing.
Seminole 2
Hillwood 1
Starting pitching was the name of the game in the nightcap at Seminole High School on Monday, as Noah Doreste (Seminole) and Rolley Hunt (Hillwood) battled it out. Eventualy, Seminole was able to pull away late, winning 2-1 on a walkoff.
Through five innings of play, neither team was able to put a runner past second base. Both pitchers were in complete control. Hillwood broke through first with a round of small ball. After a walk, Trevon Wade steal second, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. A groundball to the right side off the bat of Hunt put the Hilltoppers on the board.
Scott Fickas did his best to match Wade in the bottom half. He singled, stole second, stole third, and scored on a groundball to third from Yuri Sabb. Brandon Seekamp, who came on to pitch in the sixth after the walk to Wade, kept the Toppers from scoring in the seventh. With the bases loaded, Chris Soto was hit with a pitch, scoring the walk off run for Seminole.
Doreste finished with a line of five innings, one hit, one run, two walks and nine strikeouts. Seekamp, who earned the win, was good for two innings, one walk and two strikeouts. Hunt tossed six innings, allowing one run with six strikeouts. Scott Fickas had two hits to lead all hitters.
Gainesville 10
Orangewood 7
The Gainesville Hurricanes made their FHSI debut with a bang, putting up ten runs against the Orangewood Christian Rams.
Offense for both teams was on full display in the first as the Rams scored twice while Gainesville plated four, highlighted by a Joseph Strong homerun. In the second, Orangewood scored once again, but the Canes bested them by scoring twice. In the third, Gainesville tacked on four more, taking advantage of three rams errors in the inning. For the game, Orangewood had six defensive blunders.
The Rams made the game close by scoring in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but it was too little, too late.
Kyler Marquis reached base four times on two hits, a walk and a hit by pitch. He scored twice and also recorded the save by pitching a scoreless seventh inning. Bobby Minotti picked up three hits, two runs, an RBI and three steals to lead the Rams.
SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 21
All games at Sanford Memorial Stadium
9 am: Royal Palm Beach vs. Timber Creek
11:30 am: University Christian vs. Boone
2:00 pm: Gainesville vs. Hagerty
4:30 pm: American Heritage vs. Orangewood
7:00 pm: Highland vs. Hillcrest