Scores, Videos and Recaps From Thursday's Action
Class 9A-District 8
Championship
Alonso 4, Newsome 1
A Jordan Butler 3-run home run over the scoreboard in center in the fourth gave Alonso all it would need for the come-from-behind victory at home against Newsome and earn Alonso a third-straight district title. Newsome had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning as an error allowed Zach Benson (double) to score. The Ravens got another run later as Ryan Drumheller singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Butler finished the game 3-for-3, and Jared DeSantolo had two hits including a double. Franco Aleman worked a complete-game on the mound for the Ravens, allowing just four hits, a walk and striking out four. Alonso will host.
Class 8A-District 4
Championship
Wharton 11, Freedom 1 (5 innings)
Wharton senior pitcher Aaron Cohn, a Fairleigh Dickinson signee, worked a five-inning win on the mound allowing just one hit and struck out six. The Wildcats got clutch RBI hitting from Zach Sirois (two doubles, two RBI), Brian Baughman (single, two RBI) and Ricky Nieves, while senior Drew Ehrhard had a single, a pair of walks and scored three times.
Class 7A-District 9
Championship
Braden River 4, Brandon 2
Brandon got ahead early but couldn’t hold on falling in the district final to Braden River. Gabriel Rosado and Zach Pommier had RBI singles in successive innings, but Braden River battled back for the win.
Class 6A-District 8
Championship
Jesuit 10, Jefferson 0 (6 innings)
Joel Brewer and McGuire Weaver have been playing together for years. And when you put them 1-2 in your order, big things could happen.
That's exactly what DID happen as they combined to go 7 for 7 at the plate with seven runs batted in leading Jesuit to a 10-0 victory over Jefferson.
After missing the last two games, Weaver went 4 for 4 with five runs batted in, including a two-run shot in the 1st that put Jesuit on the track to victory. He finished a triple short of the cycle and his bloop single in the bottom of the 6th ended the game early.
Joel Brewer was 3 for 3 with two doubles, a sacrifice fly and two runs batted in. After batting fifth or sixth in the beginning of the year, Coach Miguel Menendez made the decision to put him at the top of the order a few games ago and tonight showed how that move could pay off.
Alex Mocny was also 3 for 3 with two runs scored and a double and Charles Clark added two hits, including an RBI double down the left-field line, as well.
Jack Anderson threw four scoreless innings giving up only one hit and striking out six. Price Sartor also struck out three in two innings of work.
AJ Mathis and Oscar Galvez picked up the hits for Jefferson.
Class 4A-District 4
Semifinals
Clearwater Central Catholic 3, Berkeley Prep 2
Berkeley Prep season came to a close as CCC won on a bases loaded, hit-by-pitch in the seventh inning. In the second inning, Khalib Bayona and Jacob Hines singled, before Michael Hill’s single to center plated the first run. A Tucker Fine single in the fourth plated Hines (2-for-3). CCC got one back in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by Michael Bessell, and tied the game in the sixth as Bessell scored on an error. Carson Weekley and Gordon Stetson each had two hits for the Buccaneers, and Julian Bosnic struck out 11 hitters in six innings of work in a no-decision.
Calvary Christian 1, Tampa Catholic 0
In a tough challenge against still undefeated Calvary Christian (25-0), Tampa Catholic senior and FSU signee Conor Grady put up a tremendous fight working 6.2 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out eight. However, the Warriors starting pitcher Nolan Hudi was not to be denied, tossing a one-hit (a single by Grady) complete game striking out a dozen and coming through with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to give Calvary the win.
Class 3A-District 4
Semifinals
Cambridge Christian 8, Winter Haven All Saints 2
Cambridge Christian (22-5) got a complete-game win from Alex Smith, and Caleb Faris supported Smith’s efforts with a double, a single and four RBI. Austin Carter added a pair of hits and two RBI in the win. The Lancers also got doubles from Tilden Agee and Sevas Cardona in the win.
Bishop McLaughlin 14, Seffner Christian 2
A BIG THANK YOU to my buddy Jarrett Guthrie for his contributions to this article.
For more on these games, including what happened on the softball diamond, head on over to his page, www.813preps.com
ENJOY!!!