Lake Mary Prep 12
Royal Palm Beach 8
The Lake Mary Prep Griffins bounced back from a loss on Tuesday with an offensive show, scoring twelve runs in their win over Royal Palm Beach on Thursday morning at Sanford Memorial Stadium.
The bats came out hot for LMP in the top of the first as the team picked up two runs on three hits, including RBI singles from Jeff Casillas and Colin Priest. They then turned things up in the second, sending 14 players to the plate and scoring nine times. Frankie Delgado, Tyler Michael and Jack Gates each reached base safely twice in the inning, with Delgado and Michael each scoring twice.
The Wildcats made things interesting by scoring in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. They picked up three in the fourth thanks to a handful of errors from the Griffins. Four more came acorss in the sixth on RBI from Zach Moak, Jeremiah Thomas and two from Luis Delgado. Moak also added another RBI in the seventh.
In all, eight players from the two teams reached base at least twice, while fourteen different players scored a run.
Key West 1
St. Johns Country Day 0
The Key West Conchs received a monster effort from Dale Michaud on the mound en route to a 1-0 shutout win over the SJCD Spartans on Thursday morning at Boombah.
Michaud allowed only three base runners on the day. He gave a up a triple in the fifth, but left the runner stranded. He also walked two and struck out four.
The only run of the game came in the top of the sixth. Curtis Knowles singled with two outs, and then stole second base. On the next pitch, a costly error by the SJCD shortstop allowed Knowles to come around and score.
Finn Howell threw well despite the loss. In four innings, he scattered four hits, didn't walk a batter, and had four strikeouts.
Seminole 16
Tampa Prep 0
Seminole High was on fire at the plate in this one, putting 16 runs across the board in only four innings to earn a mercy rule win over the Tampa Prep Terrapins on Thursday morning at the Boombah Sports Complex.
Every starter for Seminole had at least one hit in the game, and ten different players scored a run. Among the offensive leaders were Matt Allan (two doubles, two runs), Sean McArdle (double, 4 RBI) and Mason Mazerrade (two doubles, two RBI).
In addition to the offensive explosion Charlie McDaniel was masterful on the mound for the Seminoles. The junior lefty didn't allow a hit, walked two, and struck out five in his four innings of work.
Montverde Academy 3
Christian Academy of Knoxville 1
The Montverde Academy Eagles took advantage of a fantastic start from Julian Delgado, and did enough on offense to take down the CAK Warriors, 3-1, on Thursday afternoon.
Montverde threatened in both the first and second innings but failed to score a run as Eli Wilder was able to strand four runners. Then, CAK took the lead in the top of the third. After Austin Jaslove reached on a fielder's choice, Zane Keener smoked a double to the gap, scoring Jaslove.
Montverde came back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Wilder seemed to be cruising through his fifth frame, but a two-out error kept the Eagles in the batter's box. After a walk to load the bases, Wilder was relieved on the mound. Javy Davila then drew a walk of his own to bring in Damaal Jordan Sands and tie the game.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles came through with the winning runs. Alan Caretta and Sands reached on a single and hit by pitch, respectively. After a failed pickoff, CAK decided to intentionally walk the next hitter to load the bases. Kenny Ecleston took advantage, stroking a single into the outfield that drove in both Caretta and Sands to give Montverde the 3-1 lead.
Delgado went the distance for Montverde, tossing seven inning. Though he only had one strikeout, he kept the Warriors in check to the tune of three hits and one walk. It was his second appearance of the week after closing out Monday night's win.
Bolles 10
Colonial 0
The Bolles Bulldogs continue to dominate the Classic, posting their third straight shutout win on Thursday afternoon.
After a 2-0 extra-inning thriller on Monday, and a dominant complete game effort from Patrick Libby on Wednesday night, it was Will Shepherd's turn to shine on the mound. In his four innings of work, he allowed only one hit, no runs, no walks and struck out six. He was relieved in the fifth by Cole Burgess, who struck out two in his frame.
The Bolles offense went right to work, posting a six-piece in the bottom of the first. Thirteen batters went to the plate, and they scored six runs, but it was only on three hits. They walked five times and also earned a hit by pitch to help extend the inning. Chance Moore had a two-run single and also scored in the inning.
They added two more to their lead in the third thanks to a Hunter Barco groundout and a Bryson Kirksey single. The mercy rule win was finalized in the 5th when J. Paul Schellenberg doubled in Sully Brackin to make it 10-0.
With the win, Bolles secured a spot as the Pool A representative in the championship game on Friday evening.
Christian Academy of Knoxville 4
St. Johns Country Day 1
In a continuation of Tuesday night's matchup that was suspended due to weather, the CAK Warriors were able to defeat the St. Johns Country Day Spartans 4-1 at the Boombah Sports Complex on Thursday afternoon.
The first run of the game was scored Tuesday night when Hunter Loyd's sac fly to right scored Connor Jurek to make it 1-0 CAK.
The third and fourth innings went by quickly as Loyd and his counterpart, Jace Thomas, traded outs. In the top of the fifth, the Warriors were able to break through and extend their lead. With two outs, a wild pitch got away form the SJCD catcher, allowing Austin Jaslove to score. Jesse Osborne then punched a single through the left side to score Zane Keener. A single and a walk loaded the bases, and forced a pitching change. Andrew Kribbs drew a walk which scored Osborne to make it 4-0.
The Spartans didn't quit though. Leading off the sixth, Tyler Kuramoto scorched a ball to deep center for a double. Jordan Taylor followed suit in the next at bat, sending a screamer down the left field line for an RBI double of his own. A hit by pitch put two men on and chased Loyd from the game. Connor Jurek was called on to come in and stop the bleeding. He struck out the first batter he faced, and then induced a 4-6-3 double play to escape the jam. In the seventh, he made quick work of the lineup, retiring the side in order to earn the save.
Loyd finished with an impressive state line of 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB and 10 K. Zane Keener and Jesse Osborne each had two hits to power the offense. Kuramoto and Taylor each had two hits in a losing effort for SJCD.
University 9
Timber Creek 2
Box Score
In a must win game for both clubs, the University Titans were able to overcome an early deficit to win the matchup against Timber Creek, and secure a spot in the championship game on Friday.
The Wolves got on the board in the top of the first without needing a hit. Cole Nelson struck out swinging, but the pitch got away and he ended up on third after a throwing error. During the next at-bat, a wild pitch allowed him to score to make it 1-0.
University answered back in a big way in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded and two outs, Brendan Whaley slapped a single to center field. The ball was misplayed by the centerfielder, allowing all three base runners to score and putting Whaley on second. Will Quinones then followed with a ball to right field in the next at bat that was also misplayed, allowing Whaley to score to make it 4-1.
Anthony Perez added another run to the University tally when he scored on a double steal in the third. Then, in the fourth, the Titans put up another four spot, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Dalton Meredith. Timber Creek added one in the fifth on a wild pitch to make the final of 9-2.
Austin Amaral took home the win for the Titans after an impressive outing on the mound. In 4.1 innings, Amaral struck out ten batters while allowing only one hit. He then gave way to Lex Candelario Loza, who was able to close things out for the third straight game.
Whaley, Quinones, and Perez each had two hits to lead the Titan offense.
With the win, University moves to 2-1 in Pool B play. They allowed eight runs, while Seminole High, also 2-1, allowed nine. That gives the Titans the nod to play in the championship game against Bolles on Friday night.
Spruce Creek 5
Grandview 0
The Spruce Creek Hawks continued their winning streak with a 5-0 shutout win over the Grandview Wolves on Thursday night at Sanford Stadium.
The Hawks didn't waste any time getting on the board. In the top of the first, Camden Trificante doubled and moved to third on a groundout. Cameron Orie then singled to drive in Trificante. KJ Braithwaite was entered in to the game as a courtesy runner, and promptly stole second. Sal Grinstead then did his job, driving a single to the outfield that scofred Braithwaite to give Spruce Creek a 2-0 advantage.
After starting the game with excitement, the game then turned into a pitcher's duel. Neither team was able to score in innings 2-6 thanks to impressive work from Brennan Keil (SC) and Josh Hojnoski (GV). A new pitcher was brought into the game for Grandview in the seventh, and the Hawks were ready to attack. A leadoff double from Rhett Foster got things going, followed by a sac bunt that moved him to third. Trificante then delivered a single to plate Foster. Zach Veen followed with a single of his own, followed by a sac fly from Orie that scored Trificante. Brenna Kiels single in the next at bat put the final run across the board for Spruce Creek.
Keil was great on the mound, finishing with a line of six innnigs, three hits, zero runs and five strikeouts. Trificante picked up three hits out of the leadoff spot and also scored twice.
Despite going 3-0 in pool play, and allowing only one run, the Hawks find themselves short of a championship game berth due to seeding rules (Bolles also went 3-0 in Pool A with 0 runs allowed). Still, they have been one of the most impressive team to come through the FHSI in the past few years.
Schedule for Friday March 22
Games at Sanford Memorial Stadium
8:45 am - Lake Mary Prep vs. Grandview
11:15 am - Timber Creek vs. Key West
1:45 pm - Seminole vs. Montverde Academy
4:15 pm - University vs. Bolles*
*Championship Game
Games at Boombah Sports Complex
10:00 am - Colonial vs. Tampa Prep
10:00 am - St. Johns Country Day vs. Royal Palm Beach
11:00 am - Spruce Creek vs. Christian Academy of Knoxville