Player of the Day:
Cody Melton, University Christian
Pitcher of the Day:
Timmy Stephan, Highland
Royal Palm Beach 2
Timber Creek 1
Tarik Latchmansingh played the role of hero on Tuesday morning for the Royal Palm Beach Wildcats, popping a two-run home run over the opposite field wall in the sixth inning to give them a 2-1 win over the Timber Creek Wolves.
Timber Creek was the first team on the board when Paxson Chambers scored on a RBI single from Nick Ruhl. Unfortunately for Timber Creek, that would be all the offense they could muster on the day.
After allowing three hits in the first, RPB starter Sean Houck allowed only three more over the next six innings. In his complete game effort, he struck out six and walked one. The combo of Kyle Sarrisian and Preston Schumacher was equally impressive, allowing nothing until the fateful sixth. After an errant throw from the third baseman allowed David Rodriguez to get one base to leadoff the inning, the table was set for a big moment. On a 2-2 pitch, the right-handed Latchmansingh sent a laser over the right field wall to give the Wildcats the lead.
Latchmansingh finished a perfect 2-2 on the day with a walk and both RBI. Zak Sousa had two hits and a steal for the Wolves. Royal Palm now sits at 2-0, while Timber Creek falls to 1-1.
University Christian 4
Boone 1
A pitcher's duel got blown open late with one big inning from University Christian, as they defeated the Boone Braves 4-1 on Tuesday morning.
UC broke through in the top of the third inning against Boone starter Ethan White on a Darien Smith sac fly that scored Cody Melton. Boone would get the run back in the fifth when relief pitcher Cody Melton hit Christian Amlong with a pitch with the bases loaded. Melton would settle down however, and strike out the next three batters in order to escape an further damage.
In the top of the sixth, Melton was set up perfectly for redemption. With the bases loaded and two outs, a wild pitch allowed Garrison James to score, giving UC a 2-1 lead. Melton would then deliver a single on the next pitch, scoring two more runs to make the final of 4-1.
In three innings of relief work, Melton allowed one hit, one walk, zero runs and struck out seven. He was also 2-3 with a run, two RBI and a walk at the plate. Jose Visaez, who started the game for UC, looked strong on the mound, recording six punchouts in four innings of work. Chris Jones reached base three times, scored once and had a steal to lead the Boone offense.
Both teams now stand at 1-1 for the week.
Hagerty 11
Gainesville 7
The Husky offense was on full display on Tuesday afternoon, scoring eleven runs on ten hits as they defeated the Gainesville Hurricanes 11-7.
The first three innings of the game featured a barrage on pitching from both teams. Gainesville scored two in the top half of the first on RBI from Kyler Marquis and Sean Wiggs. Hagerty was quick to answer with three runs of their own, courtesy of a Cameron Alba double and a two-RBI single from Vincent Phillips. Gainesville jumped back into the lead in the second on a two run single from Joseph Strong, making it 4-3. The third inning saw more fireworks with an RBI from Zeb Marquis for the Canes, and a two run hit from Vaughn Grissom for Hagerty, knotting everything up at 5-5.
After a rare scoreless fourth inning, Gainesville scored again int he fifth and the sixth, to take a two-run lead. In the bottom of the sixth, Hagerty busted the game open, scoring six runs to make the final score of 11-7.
Phillips ended his day 3-4 at the plate with a run and three RBI. Britt Crawford scored three times and drove in two himself as well for the Huskies. Zeb Marquis reached base safely four times for Gainesville, scoring two runs and driving in one. Hagerty moves to 2-0 in tournament play, while Gainesville now sits at 1-1.
American Heritage 13
Orangewood Christian 1
The American Heritage Stallions rebounded from a tough loss on Monday by thumping the Orangewood Rams 13-1 in a six-inning mercy rule game on Tuesday evening.
The Stallions managed to score multiple runs in the first, third, fourth and sixth innings. Thought hey only recorded eight hits, Heritage took advantage of four Orangewood errors and five walks from the Rams pitchers. The highlight of the night was a grand slam off the bat of second baseman Jacob Lojewski in the third inning. Shortstop Troy Hamilton also went yard, with a two-run bomb in the fourth inning.
The Stallions had multiple strong performances on offense:
Mike Malinchak was 2-4 with three runs and three RBI
Troy Hamilton was 1-2 with three runs, two RBI and a walk
Jacob Swinarski was 1-4 with two runs and an RBI
Jacob Lojewski was 1-4 with the grand slam.
American Heritage moves to 1-1, while Orangewood is now 0-2 for the week.
Highland 8
Hillwood 0
Box Score
The Highland Hawks received a tremendous start from pitcher Timmy Stephan, as well as a strong offensive showing up and down the lineup to defeat the Hillwood Hilltoppers 8-0 in Tuesday's nightcap.
Stephan could not be touched early on as he gave up only one hit and zero runs over his 4.1 innings of work. Most impressive was his strikeout rate ... of the thirteen outs he recorded, eleven of them came via strikeout.
With such a dominating presence on the mound, the Hawks did not need much offense; however, they decided to keep the bats warm all game long, scoring in the first, third, fourth and seventh innings. Leadoff man Noah Lerman was 2-4 with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Teammate Jacob Zoller went 3-3 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI. In all, eight different Hawks recorded at least one hit. Luke Burner and Nick Davis combined to throw 2.2 innings of no-hit baseball to close out the game for Highland, who moves to 1-1 on the week. Hillwood is now 0-2.
SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY MARCH 22
All games at Sanford Memorial Stadium
10 am: Winter Springs vs. Suncoast
12:30 pm: Seminole vs. Vero Beach
3:00 pm: Olympia vs. Bolles
5:30 pm: Atlantic vs. San Gorgonio