Player of the Day:
Frankie Ramirez, Winter Springs
Pitcher of the Day:
Nathan Skinner, Bolles
Winter Springs 11
Suncoast 3
The Winter Springs Bears' offense roared to life as play opened up on Wednesday morning, racking up ten hits in a 11-3 win over the Suncoast Chargers.
Altoon Coleman started things off with an RBI single in the first inning to give the Bears an early lead. They would add to it in the fourth when Brian Grayson earned an RBI on a walk, and Frankie Ramirez drove one in with a single. A fourth run scored in the fifth when Jadiel Martinez walked with the bases loaded as well.
Suncoast jumped on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Nate Brodsky popped a three-run dinger over the left field fence to make it a 5-3 ballgame. Unfortunately for Suncoast, that would end their run scoring for the day. Andy Rodriguez relieved Springs starter Alex Goff, and fired scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh to secure the win. For insurance purposes, the Bears added five more runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to make the final of 11-3.
In addition to the Bears ten hits, they were able to take advantage of sloppy Suncoast pitching that issued a total of twelve walks on the day. Frankie Ramirez led the way for Winter Springs, reaching base four times, scoring thrice, driving in one and adding a steal to his ledger. Both teams now sit at 1-1 for the week.
Vero Beach 3
Seminole 2
Hunter Cooley turned in a strong performance on the mound and helped the Vero Beach Fighting Indians to a 3-2 win over Seminole on Wednesday afternoon.
Vero jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Leadoff man David Luethje singled to left field to start things off, and was brought home instantly on a two-run bomb from shortstop Drake Rodriguez. The Indians would add two more hits in the inning, but fail to score.
Cooley and Seminole starter Matt Allan would settle in and keep things tight until the fifth inning. Vero Beach was able to strike again in the bottom of the frame courtesy of a fielder's choice groundball to third off the bat of Tyler Randolph that scored Luethje.
Seminole got one back in the sixth when Yuri Sabb doubled home Allan, and another in the seventh when Gage Oyler scored on a throwing error. They would ultimately fall short however as Cooley was able to quell the late rally.
The final line for Cooley read seven innings, seven hits, two runs (one earned) with nine strikeouts and zero walks. Luethje got one base twice and scored twice to lead the Fighting Indian offense. Jadin McMahon-Dahn was 2-3 to lead Seminole.
Both teams now sit at 1-1 for the week.
Bolles 3
Olympia 0
Nathan Skinner, Hunter Barco and the Bolles Bulldogs made quick work - literally - of the Olympia Titans on Wednesday afternoon, winning 3-0.
Skinner was dominant all game long, limiting the Titans to four hits and zero runs. Besides putting two men on in the second, Olympia never threatened and were set down in order in five of seven innings.
Bolles scored twice in the first inning. Leadoff man Max Ferguson started things off with a single, and moved to third on another hit from Clemente Inclan. Brendan O'Neil then drove him home with a sac fly. Two batters later, a single from Skinner plated Inclan, making it 2-0.
Innings 2-5 featured some outstanding pitching from Skinner and Olympia starter Jeslyn Whitehead. At one point in the game, a combined 21 straight hitters were retired by the two pitchers. In the sixth inning, sophomore Hunter Barco stroked a longball over the fence for a solo homerun, making the 3-0 final score.
Skinner racked up four strikeouts in his seven innings. Ferguson led all players with two hits. The total run time of the game was an hour and fifteen minutes. Bolles is 2-0 on the week and has clinched a spot in the Championship bracket. Olympia falls to 1-1.
San Gorgonio 2
Atlantic 1
San Gorgonio starter Chris Hardin twirled a gem on the mound for the Spartans, helping them to a 2-1 victory over the Atlantic Community Eagles during Wednesday's nightcap.
Hardin and Eagles starter Cardarius Gaskin kept both offenses in check through two innings, trading zeroes. The Spartans were able to break through in the third when an Angel Ochoa single plated teammate Raul Genera to give them a 1-0 lead. After that, it was back to pitcher domination as the fourth and fifth innings featured zero runs.
In the top of the sixth, Atlantic tied the game up when Shelby Frazier sent a ball over the fence for a solo home run. Atlantic made a pitching change in the sixth, and a costly error would spell doom for the Eagles. With one out, Angel Ochoa launched a ball to the gap, putting him on second base with a double. The next batter was Hardin, who hit a grounder to second. After recording the out at first, the Eagles' first baseman attempted to throw out Ochoa at third. The ball skipped away, allowing Ochoa to score what would be the winning run.
Hardin went the distance for the Spartans, finishing with a line of seven innings, five hits, one run (not earned) and a strikeout. Gaskin threw well in his no decision, lasting five innings while allowing one run on five hits with four strikeouts. Ochoa was the star at the plate, going 2-3 with a double, a run and an RBI. The Spartans are now 1-1, while the Eagles fall to 0-2.
Schedule for Thursday, March 22
Visitor listed first
Home listed second
Sanford Memorial Stadium
9 am: Suncoast vs. Timber Creek
11:30 am: Boone vs. Highland
2 pm: American Heritage vs. Bolles
4:30 pm: Hagerty vs. Royal Palm Beach
7 pm: Olympia vs. University Christian
Seminole High School
10:30: Hillwood vs. Atlantic Community
1 pm: Gainesville vs. Vero Beach
3:30 pm: Orangewood Christian vs. Winter Springs
6 pm: San Gorgonio vs. Seminole