Scores and Recaps From Friday's Action
Newsome 1, Sickles 0
With the solid one-two punch of senior Beau Nichols and junior Will Ohme, the rest of the Newsome pitching staff has to make the most of their spot starts. In just his second start of the season, junior Zach Louden didn’t squander his chance as he won out in a pitching duel against Sickles, tossing a no-hitter in a 1-0 win.
“I know my role on this pitching staff, so every time I get a chance to go out there and throw I try to do my best,” Louden said. “I try and get a W, I know our No. 1 and 2 guys are pretty good, both going to play in college, so when it’s my turn I just go out and work as hard as I can.”
Louden struck out a pair, while allowing just one walk and hitting one batter in the performance earning his first no-hitter at any level.
“It’s all just a blur,” Newsome coach Dick Rohrberg said. “With the two guys we got, Nichols and Ohme, there are not a lot of chances for some of these other guys, and Zach did a great job tonight. He was very efficient with his pitches throwing under 80 pitches, pounded the zone.”
Louden is now 2-0 on the season, with an 0.47 ERA in 15 innings, but admitted he was more focused on doing his job for his team and that the possibility for a no-hitter didn’t set in right away.
“I’d say probably around the fourth inning it kind of set in that things were going well,” Louden said. “I kind of realized what was happening but I was focused on helping my team get a win – that was the most important thing.”
Louden said he focused on his job, but said he felt a rush as his final pitch was popped high to centerfield and gloved by senior Tyler Doyle.
“As soon as I saw it go in the air, I kind of felt that emotion where you just know it is happening,” Louden said. “Then my teammates came out, jumped on top of me and I was at the bottom of the pile.”
Newsome (10-7) got on the board in the fourth as the Gryphons were unable to turn a double-play in a first-and-third situation and Cody Shook was able to score from third base. Auston Spires had a double for the Wolves.
Louden lauded his defense behind him and his catcher Joey Raffaele in the combined effort.
“Everybody made plays when I needed them with some great plays by our outfielders, and Jacob Phelps at short made some nice plays,” Louden said. “Joey Raffaele worked really hard back there for me, got some calls I needed, he really helped me out.
Sickles got an excellent performance on the mound from Dylan Eskew, who allowed three hits and struck out six taking the tough loss.
Seffner Christian 13, Bell Creek 3 (six innings)
Seffner Christian (10-4) topped Class 3A-District 4 opponent Bell Creek in a mercy-rule afternoon win on Friday. Junior Bobby Turkett homered and had a pair of doubles, driving in four runs (including the mercy-rule walk-off) to lead the Crusaders. James Peeler also added a solo shot home run to the day for SCA, while senior captain Troy Devault and junior Will Gilbert each doubled twice in the win. Sophomore lefty Bobby Wellen worked 4.2 innings, allowing one earned run, on five hits with three strikeouts.
Carrollwood Day 13, Winter Haven All Saints 0 (five innings)
Frank Furey came through at the plate and on the mound for the Patriots including tossing four shutout innings. Noah Torres hit a double and a triple, while Rodrigo Montenegro and Blake Hooker each had a three-hit night for CDS.
Plant City 4, Bloomingdale 2 (10 innings)
Plant City (6-9, 3-4 in 8A-6) scored two runs in the first only to be answered by a pair of Bloomingdale (8-8, 3-4 in 8A-6) runs in the sixth, pushing the district match up to extras. The Raiders almost took the lead in the ninth as Austin Eldridge smashed a ball to left field only to see Bloomingdale’s Johnathan McCary snatch it back from going over the fence. One inning later though, the Raiders would get the job done, Hunter Emerine lead off with a single and moved over on a TJ Gayner bunt, then with two outs senior Dalton Wingo (a UCF commit, who had two runs scored and 2 RBI) singled in pinch runner Cody Cribbs, and Eldridge doubled in Wingo for some insurance. Dylan Robinson worked four innings of no-hit baseball on the mound for PC, allowing a lone walk and earned the win in relief, and starter Parker Messick struck out five in five shutout innings of work.
Calvary Christian 4, Tampa Prep 1
SOFTBALL
Plant City 5, Bloomingdale 2
Plant City (13-1, 7-0 in Class 8A-District 6) freshman Emily Longoria drove in three runs to spark the Raiders win. Lexi Moore and Abbie Deweese heas scored twice, and Ashley Blessin allowed three hits and had seven strikeouts on the mound.
Tampa Catholic 9, Berkeley Prep 5
Scott County (Georgetown, Ky.) 2, Chamberlain 1
As always, a BIG THANK YOU to my buddy Jarrett Guthrie for his contributions to this article!!