Player of the Day: Nicholas Noto, SouthLake Christian
Pitcher of the Day: Evan Koehler, University
Spruce Creek 4
Rockledge 2
Box Score: Coming Soon
In the first Semi-Final game of the day, Rockledge would strike first in the third inning. Aaron Saltsman would lead the inning off with a double and would be driven in by the next batter Kai Aravena on a single up the middle. They would hold their 1-0 lead until the top of the fifth inning when Dalton Hurst would tie the game on a double to right field. Rockledge would answer right back in the bottom of the inning when Julian Balzer
would hit an opposite field single and give the Raiders a 2-1 lead.
Spruce Creek would answer back themselves in the top of the sixth when they put together a two out rally, tying the game on a passed ball and took a 3-2 lead on an Evan Mastromauro single to the left side. Rhett Foster would drive in an insurance run in the top of the seventh, and they would hold on for a 4-2 win.
Brandon Neely kept the Raiders in the game in his 4.2 IP and kept working out of trouble. Although he gave up four hits and four walks, he only gave up one earned run (two overall) and struck out four. Brady Skradski would outduel Neely and would also work out of trouble. In 5.0 IP, he would give up six hits, two walks, but would only give up one run and strike out six.
Spruce Creek will play for the 2021 FHSI Showcase Championship at 11:30am on Friday in Sanford. They will play the winner of Key West and University, and the championship game will be streamed live on FloSports!
Rockledge will wrap up their week in a consolation game against Gainesville at 2pm in Sanford on Friday.
University
Key West
Box Score: Coming Soon
The second semi-final game was scoreless through two innings before University's Kitwana McTyler hit a sac fly for the 1-0 lead. They would follow this up in the fourth inning with two more runs on a bases loaded walk and an error to make it 3-0. Key West would cause some trouble in the bottom of the fourth when they were finally able to get on base as Evan Koehler retired the first eleven batters of the game that he faced. After a HBP, they would take two consecutive walks to load the bases, but would strand the bases loaded on a strike out.
University would add on to their lead in the top of the sixth when a two out error at second base extended the inning in the worst way possible for the Conchs. Todd Kniebbe would smoke a single up the middle to drive in the fourth run of the game. The Titans would add two more shortly afterwards when an overthrow at home plate would allow the aggressive runners to score for a 6-0 lead.
Koehler would throw 5.2 IP overall, not allowing a single hit but had a run charged to him when he was no longer in the game due to his pitch count. He struck out nine while only walking three in the process. Key West would cause some trouble as soon as he was out of the game, scoring two runs on two bases loaded walks, making the Titans use four pitchers to get the final out of the inning.
Despite seven walks and three hit batters, University would hold on for a 6-2 victory and throw a four pitcher no-hitter in the process.
University/Key West will play in the 2021 FHSI Showcase Championship against Spruce Creek at 11:30am in Sanford on Friday, which can be watched live on FloSports!
Key West/University will play in a consolation game at 9:00am in Sanford against SouthLake Christian.
Gainesville 7
SouthLake Christian 10
Box Score: Coming Soon
The first game of the day was a tale of two completely different halves. Through the first four innings of the game, SouthLake Christian was up 2-0 after scoring two in the bottom of the third. The floodgates opened in the top of the fifth when Nathan Kemph hit a two run double to tie the game up 2-2. A couple of more runs would be walked in for a 4-2 lead before Colton Kelly hit a two run single. Another run would end up being walked in to give the Hurricanes seven runs in the inning on seven walks and two hits.
The Eagles would not go away quietly though when Nicholas Noto would bring two home on a single to left. They would get one more run in the inning on a bases loaded walk by Derek Farley to make it a 7-5 game through five. In the bottom of the sixth still trailing by two, Noto would hit a grand slam off the left field foul pole to give SouthLake Christian a 9-7 lead. He ended up with six RBI in the game! The team would score another run in the inning and hold on for the 10-7 victory.
SouthLake Christian will play their last game of the Showcase on Friday morning at 9am in Sanford against Key West. Gainesville will play in the final game of the Showcase on Friday at 2:30pm in Sanford against Rockledge.