Scores, Videos and Recaps From Thursday Night's Action
BASEBALL
Plant 3, Steinbrenner 1
Plant senior John Shields has a steady glove at shortstop, he’s a solid table setter in the leadoff position for the Panthers with a team-leading 16 runs scored, and Shields is signed to continue his baseball career at Alabama. But even with all these factors, the lanky Shields is still crossing things off his list. Thursday night, he added one more as Shields belted a home run to right-center in the bottom of the first over the wall at Wade Boggs Field for his first-ever leadoff dinger. “I’ve always wanted to leadoff a game with a home run,” Shields said. Shields wasn’t done adding to the Panthers efforts adding a two-run hit in the second inning as Plant topped district rival Steinbrenner 3-1. The win in the three-team Class 8A-District 5 was the Panthers second over the defending state champion Warriors this year and with three weeks left in the regular season, Plant (15-3) has locked up the district top seed, and thus a region playoff berth. Plant starting pitcher and Air Force signee Ethan Richards worked out of jams in the first and second inning, before Steinbrenner scratched out a run as Tyler Lala doubled to lead off the fourth and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Steinbrenner (12-5) hitters found no answer to Panthers junior Connor Scott, who entered in relief and worked four innings of two-hit baseball. Scott, a Florida commit, struck out six allowing a single to Noah Luke and a pinch hit double by Ryan Glass, but no further damage on the scoreboard. “(From) a fielding standpoint we try not to get lazy out there because you count on both of them to strike guys out and get guys out,” Shields said of Richards and Scott on the mound. “Ethan comes in and shuts them out and … we’ve never really had a time where we can’t count on (Scott) and it wasn’t any different tonight. Playing behind them gives us a whole bunch of confidence.” AJ Hubbard was 2-for-3 with a double and was hit by a pitch and has become a big weapon at the plate for the Panthers. “He’s probably one of the toughest kids in this program,” Plant coach Dennis Braun said of Hubbard. “He leads this team in getting hit by pitchers, he stands on the plate and it’s hard for them to cover the plate … he gives us quality at-bat after quality at-bat.”Warriors left fielder Justin Turk made a great diving catch on a dying liner in the second and another solid catch to end the fourth. Brock Fagler had a good showing at the hot corner for the Panthers with both his glove and a strong arm.
Seffner Christian 24, Wildwood 1 (Four innings)
Seffner Christian (9-4) unloaded on Wildwood on Thursday for a non-district win. Tommy Turkett had a two run double, James Peeler doubled in another, and Jackson Shelton and Seth Roberts each singled in runs. Also for the Crusaders, senior captains catcher Jacob Beauchamp and shortstop Casey Moore both committed to Greensboro College, where former University of South Florida and University of Tampa assistant coach Frank Maldonado leads the Pride.
Berkeley Prep 10, Tampa Catholic 1
Carson Weekley, Alex Shear and Tucker Fine also singled in runs to key a five run, third inning as the Buccaneers topped Tampa Catholic on Thursday. Khalib Bayona had an RBI walk and sac fly, and Julian Bosnic had a solo home run in the win for Berkeley Prep (9-9). Marcus Ayers worked six, shutout inning striking out six to ear the win.
Newsome 4, Wharton 1
The Wolves had a pair of two-run innings to top Wharton at home. Junior Jacob Phelps had a double and two RBI, Joey Raffaele had two RBI and a sacfly, and senior Beau Nichols struck out 10 for Newsome earning the win on the mound. Drew Ehrhard was 2-for-3 with a double for the Wildcats.
Blake 13, Middleton 3 (six innings)
Senior Jacquez Rivers (3-for-5, double, two runs, three RBI) and sophomore Bobby Harris (2-for-3, two runs and three RBI) led the charge for Blake as it defeated Middleton by mercy-rule on Thursday. Elijah West also doubled and drove in a run, and Malik Walker had two hits, a run scored and an RBI for the Yellow Jackets.
Alonso 3, Sarasota Riverview 1
Ravens junior Ryan Drumheller drove in a pair and Jordan Butler did his job on the mound with eight strikeouts as Alonso (14-4, 4-1 in Class 9A-District 8) earned a big district win.
Jefferson 12, Leto 3
Jefferson (11-5) won its fifth straight as Robby Martin hit his sixth home run of the season. Jake Coleman was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI for the Dragons, Isaiah Gonzalez doubled and scored a run, and Jack Rodriguez scored twice and drove in another. Sophomore Michael Dominguez worked five innings on the mound allowing one run and striking out nine.
Lennard 4, Armwood 0
Sophomore Edward Tarrant worked six innings, allowing one hit and striking out 10 to lead the Longhorns to victory against Armwood. Victor Schilling was 2-for-3 with a run, and senior Danny Izquierdo had a double and scored a run in the win.
Cambridge Christian 6, Santa Fe Catholic 2
Make it six in a row for the Lancers as Cambridge Christian (14-3, 6-1 in Class 3A-District 4) won a district game at Santa Fe Catholic. Michael McCarty improved to 6-0 on the mound this season, and Austin Carter worked three shutout innings to earn the save. Jonah Rawls, Caleb Faris and Carter each doubled in the win and the Lancers had six stolen bases.
Hillsborough 7, Chamberlain 5
The Terriers got a solid challenge from district opponent Chamberlain on Thursday. Hillsborough broke a 5-5 tie in the seventh on a bases loaded walk and a Jarrod Cande steal of home to push things in the Terriers favor. Cande and Nick Romano had a solo home run, while Aaron Jensen belted a two-run shot for Hillsborough. Darryl Mitchell keyed a four run inning for the Chiefs in the fifth singling in two runs.
Strawberry Crest 9, Spoto 0
Freshman Brent May worked five scoreless innings to lead Strawberry Crest to victory allowing just one hit. Tanner Kelley worked the final two innings of no-hit baseball with five strikeouts. Christian Young, Lance Mumford and Antonio Mussenden came through at the plate for Crest (13-3).
Riverview 2, Freedom 1
The Sharks won their fourth straight as Josh Rulli went 2-for-3 and drove in the winning run in the top of the seventh. Tyler Salomon was 2-for-4 in the win, while Freddy Tarnok gave Riverview (13-6) four solid innings on the mound striking out six, and Reagan Jorgensen earned the win in relief with two scoreless innings.
Brooks DeBartolo 6, Clearwater Central Catholic 5
DeAndre Mahoney had two hits, including a triple and two runs scored and Johnny Diaz drove in a pair as Brooks DeBartolo defeated CCC on Thursday. Xavier Rodriguez also tripled, scored a run and had in RBI in the win for the Phoenix and Luis Andujar was 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Gaither 12, King 3
The Cowboys scored 6 in the 7th to blow things open against their district foe. Kenny Rodriguez went 2 for 4 with a 3-run HR and Orlando Arevalo went 3 for 4 with a two-run double. Anthony Alvarez went 5 2/3 innings to pick up the win for Gaither.
Bayshore Christian 15, Hernando Christian 6
Braden River 20, Tampa Bay Tech 1
Sickles 3, Robinson 0
SOFTBALL
Newsome 3, Wharton 2
Lindsey Harper’s RBI bunt single broke a 2-2 tie as Newsome held off Wharton to win a non-district game. Bailee Leistl and Bailey Cross each had RBIs for the Wolves, and Maggi Trgo was 2-for-3. Mary Beth Felman struck out five and earned the win with five innings on the mound.
Strawberry Crest 16, Spoto 0 (three innings)
Stephanie Dwyer (3-for-3, three runs), Celia Higgins (two runs), Alana Ward (run) and Lexi Fox (two runs) each had two RBI in the Chargers mercy-rule win over Spoto. Freshman Caroline Labrit struck out three to earn the win on the mound.
East Bay 2, Durant 1
Junior Haley Murphy hit a solo home run and got the win on the mound for the Indians, while Lauryn Newson also had an RBI in the district win for East Bay (13-6).
Chamberlain 11, Gainesville 2
Winning Pitcher: Shannon Maloney
Jefferson 10, Leto 1
Robinson 4, Sickles 2
Brooks DeBartolo 16, Lakeland Christian 1
A BIG THANK YOU to my buddy Jarrett Guthrie for his contributions to this article. You're the man!!