University Titans 2 Viera Hawks 0
Logan Allen (UHS) and Bryson Allen (VHS) started Day 4 of the Showcase off with a tremendous pitcher’s duel. Unfortunately, one team had to be the tough luck loser. University got a clutch base hit from Cody Vandehey to win the game 2-0.
Both pitchers were masterful through four innings. Neither team managed to send more than four players to the plate in any one half inning until the top of the 5th. Scottie Seamens ripped a single to start the inning off for University. A failed bunt attempt resulted in Seamens being thrown out, but put Sam Devito on first. After a fly out, it looked like it would be another quick inning for the University offense. However, Quenell Rutledge sent a double to the wall that moved he and Devito into scoring position. Vandehey would come through, sending a 1-0 pitch to the outfield that easily scored Devito and the speedy centerfielder Rutledge.
With the 2-0 cushion, Allen was able to wrap things up and secure the win. He would face only ten batters over the last three innings, never allowing a runner past second base. When all was said and done, he had pitched a complete game, seven inning shutout. He allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out eight Hawks. Besides the bad luck 5th, Allen was nearly as impressive. He also went the distance, scattering seven hits with one walk and one strikeout. Julio Medina was 2-2 with a walk to lead the Titans offense.
Windward Wildcats 11
El Rancho Dons 6
The two teams from California met up for a slugfest on Thursday. In the end, the Windward Wildcats were able to out hit their Golden State counterpart, El Rancho, by a score of 11-6.
Windward started things off quickly in the top of the first. Three of the first four batters reached base on walks, and an RBI single from Jack Ginsberg plus a run scored on a wild pitch made the score 2-0. They would strike again for three more runs in the top of the second inning. This time, the Wildcat bats woke up as each of the first four hitters all had base hits to begin the frame. It could have been more, but Jesus Rojo was able to gun down a runner trying to advance from second to third on a sac fly to end the inning. Rojo would then put the Dons on the board in the bottom of the second, reaching base and advancing to third on errors. He would be brought in on a Johnny Banuelos sac fly to make it 5-1.
For the third straight inning, the leadoff man reached safely for Windward. This time it was Alex David starting things off with a double. Ginsberg would bring him in with another base hit, and then score himself two batters later on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the third, Ruben Rios and Rojo would stroke RBI singled to score three runs for the Dons to make it 7-4. After a brief delay due to weather, the game would resume with a very rare scoreless fourth inning. Rojo would start things back up in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double that would score Adrian Palacios. Johnny Banuelos would also record an RBI in the inning, making it a tight ballgame, 7-6.
It didn’t take long for Windward to reclaim a comfortable lead. They hung a four spot on the board in the top of the sixth inning. Four runs scored on four hits and an error with Ginsberg, Alex David and Tommy Turner picking up RBIs. The big inning made the score 11-6, which would end up being the final count. Ginsberg ended the day 3-4 with three RBI and a run scored for Windward. David was 2-3 with a double and three runs scored. Ruben Rios, Jesus Rojo and Johnny Banuelos each had two hits and two RBI for El Rancho.
Olympia Titans 7
Trinity Christian Eagles 1
Juan Hillman helped Olympia’s perfect season continue with a 7-1 victory over the Trinity Christian Eagles on Thursday.
Hillman, widely regarded as one of the top high school LHPs in the country, was impressive in a limited outing, though his first inning was a bit rough. Ryan Corrigan led the game off with a single, and was advanced to second base on a bunt. After moving to third base on a passed ball, Corrigan would come in to score on a single from Spencer Taylor to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Olympia would knot the score at one in the bottom of the inning. Leadoff man Drenis Ozuna reached on single of his own, and promptly stole second. He would be brought in on a single off the bat of Kirk Sidwell. TC starter was able to escape further damage by earning a strikeout with two men on to end the inning. Hillman would setlle in, retiring twelve of the next thirteen batters. His day ended after five innings; he allowed one run on three hits with no walks and eight strikeouts.
The Titans offense provided plenty of support throughout the day. In the bottom of the second inning, they picked up two runs on a bases loaded wild pitch and a single from Hillman himself. Sidwell would deliver two more RBI singles as well; one came in the fourth inning and the other in the sixth. Cameron Montgomery also chipped in with an RBI double in the sixth inning to make the final count 7-1. Sidwell finished 3-4 with three RBI, and Ozuna was 1-1 with three walks and three runs scored.
Florida Christian Patriots 11
Montverde Academy Eagles 2
The Florida Christian Patriots turned in an offensive outburst, scoring eleven runs in Thursday’s win over Montverde.
Ruben Someillan and Kendrick Garcia wreaked havoc on the Montverde pitching staff all night long. Someillan led the game off with a walk. After a sacrifice and a stolen base, he would be brought in by Garcia with a single to make the score 1-0. Montverde was quick to answer, taking the lead in the bottom half of the inning. RBI singles from Josh Reynolds and Gabriel Garcia were two of the three hits earned by the Eagles in the inning.
A combination of great offense and tremendous pitching from starter Alex Nodarse would put the game out of reach in a hurry. In the top of the second, the Patriots scored four times with two outs thanks to RBI doubles from Brandon Chinea, Christian Coipel and another RBI single from Garcia. Nodarse would settle in nicely after the first inning, keeping the Eagles form scoring again. Garcia added his third RBI of the game in the top of the fourth inning, scoring Someillan. He was not done, as he came through once more in the fifth inning, this time plating two more runners with another single. The cherry on top came in the seventh inning when Someillan, the team’s leadoff hitter who stands about 5’8”, hit a two-run homerun to rightfield to make the score 11-2. A few minutes later, the game would be called early due to rain. Someillan finished the day 2-3 with a homerun, two walks, four runs, two RBI and a steal. Garcia was 4-4 with five RBI. Nodarse had a final line of six innings, eight hits, two runs and nine strikeouts.
The games between Edgewater/Deltona, Flagler Palm Coast/Pembroke Pines and Niceville/Orangewood were all cancelled due to rain.
Due to the rainouts on Thursday, adjustments were made to the original schedule for Friday’s slate of games. Please note the new schedule below.
Friday’s Games
Sanford Memorial Stadium
9 am – Edgewater vs. Niceville
11:30 am – El Rancho vs. Trinity Christian
2 pm – Flagler Palm Coast vs. Montverde
4:30 pm – Deltona vs. Orangewood
7 pm – Pembroke Pines vs. Olympia
Seminole High School
9 am – Windward vs. University
12 pm – Viera vs. Florida Christian