South Fork 1 Christian Academy of Knoxville 0 Box Score
Day four of the 2018 FHSI Challenge started with a tremendous pitching matchup between South Fork’s Jett Thomson and Eli Wilder of CAK. A dramatic finish gave the Bulldogs their second win of the tournament, 1-0.
The Warriors threatened early on with base hits from Garrett Breeden and Jacob Tate in the bottom of the first. With those two on and two outs, Thomson was able to settle down and induce a groundball to quell the early threat.
From there it was a battle between the two starting pitchers as the second, third, fourth and fifth innings came and went without a base hit. Thomson was especially effective, as he retired the final 15 batters that he faced in the game. Wilder was equally impressive, as he did not allow a hit in his outing, which lasted five innings. He was replaced by Connor Jurek, who shut down the Bulldogs in the sixth to head to the seventh inning tied up at zero.
After Thomson mowed down the Warriors in the top half, it was time for drama. With one out, Jacob Travis reached on a walk. After a flyout it looked like the game might be heading to extras. Hunter Wentworth had other ideas though, slapping a single down the left field line to put runners on the corners. Andrew Mitchell then delivered with a single to right center, scoring Travis and ending the game.
Jett Thomson’s final pitching line read seven innings, two hits, zero runs, one walk and five strikeouts. Wilder (5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K) took a tough no-decision. This was the second straight game that CAK fell by a score of 1-0.
South Fork will play against Tampa Prep on Friday at 2:00 pm. CAK will face off versus Deltona at 11:30 am.
University 6 Florida High 1 Box Score
The University Titans kept their perfect record in tact for the week with a 6-1 win over the Florida High Seminoles on Thursday afternoon.
The Seminole took advantage of sloppy defense from University in the first. What should have been a double play ended up with one out and Trevor Hanselman on second. A groundout then moved him to third. One batter later, an error by the third baseman allowed Hanselman to score. The lead was short lived however when University answered back in the bottom of the inning thanks to an error from Florida High that allowed Jesus Ruiz to score.
University blew the game open in the second inning. Brendan Whaley started it off with a double and would score on an error, the third of the game, by Florida High. After two straight outs, Jesus Ruiz singled to men on the corners. A wild pitch scored another run and moved Ruiz, who had stolen second, to third base. After Jackson Roberts drew a walk, a single from Will Quinones plated Ruiz. Ian Sanmoogan capped off the inning with an RBI single that scored Roberts, making it 5-1. The Titans then added one more run in the fifth thanks to a fourth Florida High error.
Johnny Jackson was strong on the mound for University, earning the win with a line of four innings, two hits, zero earned runs and four strikeouts. Matthew Kashmere followed with two scoreless, and Ethan Spinner locked things up with a scoreless frame of his own. Roberts reached base four times (one hit, three walks) and stole three bases.
With the win, the Titans earned a berth in the Championship Game on Friday at 4:30 pm. Florida High, sitting at 0-3, will play at 9 am against Flagler Palm Coast.
North Florida Christian 20 Deltona 5 Box Score
The North Florida Christian Eagles remained undefeated with a 20-5 blowout win over the Deltona Wolves on Thursday evening.
NFC managed to score multiple runs in all five innings played, including four in the first three in the second, two in the third, seven in the fourth and four in the fifth. Every starter for the Eagles either scored or drove in at least two runs.
The top performers for the Eagles included Brandon Walker (0-0, 3 BB, 4 R, RBI), JD Tease (2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 4 RBI), Matt Dickey (3-3, 2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Trent Phillips (3-3, R, 5 RBI, 2 BB) and Cameorn Neal (3-4, 3 R, RBI).
Deltona had a couple of nice days at the plate despite the loss. Clayton Harris was 2-3 with two runs and two doubles. Jeff Rivera finished 3-3 with an RBI.
The Eagles will play University in the Championship game at 4:30 pm on Friday. Deltona, at 1-2, will take on the Christian Academy of Knoxville Warriors at 11:30 am.
Tampa Prep 3 Flagler Palm Coast 1 Box Score
The Tampa Prep Terrapins picked up their second win of the 2018 FHSI with a 3-1 victory over Flagler Palm Coast.
The Bulldogs started the scoring in the second. A walk and an error put Trevor Meaney on third base with one out. Two pitches later, Ashton Neuman sent a fly ball to center to score Meaney with a sac fly.
Tampa Prep threatened in the fourth inning, loading the bases with a walk, a single and another walk, but they weren’t able to put a run on the board. They would not make the same mistake in the fifth. Owen Fulton started things with a single, and was moved to second on a sac bunt. Leadoff man Landon Schabes then delivered a double to score Fulton and tie the game. Gilbert Marquis then followed suit with a single to score the speedy Schabes. A double by Ryan Savitt out men on second and third, and the Terps would take advantage with Marquis scoring on a wild pitch to make the score 3-1. Schabes, who slotted in as the pitch for the last out of the sixth, then shut the door in the seventh to earn the save for Tampa Prep.
The trio of Tim Williams, Alex Varner and Schabes combined to allow one run on five hits with five strikeouts. Marquis led the offense with two hits, a run and one driven in.
Tampa Prep (2-1) will take on South Fork at 2:00 pm. Flagler Palm coast will have a quick turnaround after the night cap, reporting back to Sanford stadium for a 9:00 am start versus Florida High.