Championship Game
Calvary Christian 6
Orangewood Christian 1
The Calvary Christian Eagles used a great start on the mound from Irving Carter and a big first inning to take home the 2019 FHSI Showcase championship on Friday evening.
In the bottom of the first inning, the eagles didn't have to do much to gain an early lead on the Rams. Orangewood starter Andrew Pelski had issues with his control, plunking four of the eight batters he faced before being removed from the game. He also gave up an RBI single to Mykanthony Valdez, a sac fly to Kyle Tako, and an RBI base knock to Jacob Howard. Vance Wimberly was called on in relief, and struck out Ty Hollandsworth with the bases loaded to limit any further damage.
Three runs of support was more than enough run support for Irving Carter. The big righty, who is committed to the University of Miami, retired the first seven hitters he saw. The Rams' offense only broke through in the fourth thanks to a walk to Brooks Rikeman, a double to Matt Simon and an RBI groundout from Nate Sullivan. Carter never allowed more than one hit in any of his 5.2 innings of work and struck out four.
Mykanthony Valdez supplied the offensive highlight of the game with a two-run bomb in the fourth inning.
This was the FHSI debut for Calvary who are also the reigning Florida 4A state champions.
3rd Place Game
Barron Collier 5
Second Baptist 3
The Barron Collier Cougars wrapped up their week of baseball with a 5-3 win over the Second Baptist Eagles on Friday morning.
The Cougars ran into early trouble in the top of the first. A single and two hit batsmen loaded the bases with Eagles before starter Sean Means settled down and struck out Dylan Kim to strand the runners.
The second and third innings didn't provide much excitement as Means and Mitchel Reddy dueled on the mound. In the bottom of the fourth though, the Cougars broke through. Barron Collier's bats were scorching hot as they pumped out six hits in the inning. Matt Lord, Buddy Packish and Emmett Maritato all picked up RBI, while the other runs came in courtesy of a balk and a wild pitch.
Reid Stiefel put the Eagles on the board with an RBI single in the fifth. Trailing 5-1 as they headed into their final at-bat, the Eagles tried their best to rally. A walk, single and aerror loaded the bases with no one out. Michael Fordham then picked up a painful RBI when he was hit bya pitch to make it 5-2. After a pitching change, it was deja vu as this time JC Davis had to wear it to bring in a run. Reliever Connor Phelan was able to settle down after that though, and induced a strikeout and a flyout to end the game.
Means and Phelan each had five strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work for the Cougars. Phelan also had two hits, including a double, and two steals on offense. Anthony MacKenzie was 3-4 from the leadoff spot for Second Baptist.
5th Place Game
Christ School 7
University 0
Christ School jumped out to an early lead, and then received a phenomenal start from Mac Gortney to take home their second win of the week, 7-0, over the University Pioneers.
Things got ugly quick as the Greenies hung a four piece in the top of the first. The first run came across when Max Lecroy scored on a failed pickoff attempt. Andrew Grande then sent a pitch to center, driving in Parker Johnson. Three batters later Jack Galbraith deposited a 2-2 pitch into right field which allowed Grande and Isaiah Lowe to score, making it 4-0.
Mac Gortney didn't need much help as he carved through the Pioneers lineup. The crafty lefty used a nice mix of fastballs and off speed pitches to keep University guessing all night long. Gortney retired the first eight hitters he faced before allowing a double with two outs in the third. Then with one out in the fourth, Daniel Mosele managed a single. From there, it was all Gortney. He set down the next twelve Pioneers in order to finish the complete game shut out. 59 of the 77 pitches he threw on the day were for strikes, and he did not issue a walk.
Jack Sutton picked up three RBI in the late innings with a two-run single in the fifth and another single in the seventh. Parker Johnson also had three hits to help the Greenies offense.
7th Place Game
South Fork 8
Flagler Palm Coast 2
It was a battle of the Bulldogs as South Fork salvaged a win in their final game of the week, defeating Flagler Palm Coast 8-2 on Friday morning.
South Fork came out swinging, putting three on the board in the first. Ricky Boyce drove in two with a single, and an error by the catcher allowed Ryan Shuley to score to make it 3-0 early.
Shuley and Mitchel Little both drove in runs in the third on a sac fly and single, respectively. The only earned run allowed by South Fork starter Ryan Flynn came in the bottom of the third when D'Emiliano Whiters singled home Alex Machado.
Flynn was solid on the mound, tossing six innings for South Fork. He scattered seven hits, didn't walk a batter and racked up six strikeouts. Sam Mickels threw the last inning for the Bulldogs, striking out all three batters that he faced. Mickels also added three hits and two runs scored at the plate.