Scores, Videos and Recaps From Tuesday Night's Action
9A: Alonso 1, Vero Beach 0 (nine innings)
Alonso finally found a breakthrough run in the bottom of the eighth as Jordan Butler singled in the walk-off winner earning the Ravens a spot in the 9A region final. The senior and Florida signee pitched seven shutout innings allowing just two hits, two walks and striking out nine in a no-decision, before Franco Aleman came on in relief to toss a scoreless eighth inning and get the win. Alonso will host Timber Creek in the region final, next Tuesday at 7 p.m
8A: Wharton 6, Ocala Forest 5
Falling behind 3-0 early, Wharton clawed back to hold a 5-3 lead as the seventh inning began only to see Ocala Forest tie things up in the top half. The game looked headed to extra-innings as Duncan Pastore found himself down to a 0-2 count, with two outs. But the junior took control of a pitch that caught a little too much of the plate and belted a double off the fence, setting up Ricky Viloria to play hero with a shot to right to drive in the game winner. Aaron Cohn earned the win holding things down in relief with four strikeouts to earn the win.
8A: Steinbrenner 3, Plant 2
Tyler Lala started things off for the Warriors with a solo-shot home run, and the Warriors got some late luck in the ninth as Lala got a one-out base hit, moved to second on a bounce out, third on a CJ Van Eyk single, and scored as a Cam Coakley hit found earth lost in the nights sky for a RBI single in the book. The Warriors hung on from there getting out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom half with a double-play ball to beat Plant for the first time in four tries this season.
7A: King 4, Hillsborough 2
King coach Jim Macaluso came into the game with confidence joking he’d bet his house that his Lions would come away with a win. The confidence the 40-year, veteran head coach had in his team, especially his starting pitcher Brian Lee would have paid off if Vegas had picked up the phone. Lee was solid to start, but after giving up a two-run double to Ryan Romano in the fifth, the senior lefty was invigorated – first shutting the door that inning with a pair of strikeouts, then pitching another two innings to finish his complete-game effort. The Lions jumped ahead early with RBI singles from Zarrian Brinson and Matthew Jernigan, as well as a run scored on an error. King added some insurance in the seventh as Jamarcus Lyons doubled to start the frame and eventually scored as Brinson took a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. The Terriers finish the season 21-5 and the loss halted an impressive 16-game win streak.
6A: Jesuit 1, Jefferson 0
A pair of pitching gems as Jesuit just squeaked by Jefferson in the Class 6A region semifinal. The Dragons got an excellent start from Michael Dominguez, who went six innings allowing just one run, scattering six hits and striking out five. For the Tigers, Jack Anderson did what has become his trademark of coming through in the big games, working 6 2/3 innings of shutout baseball, allowing just three hits and striking out six to earn the win. In seven playoff appearances, Anderson is now 6-1 over 39 2/3 innings, with 35 strikeouts, 21 hits, 11 walks and four runs allowed, which is an ERA and WHIP each under 1.00 (stats from Jesuit media relations director Pete Young. Thanks Pete!). Senior Thomas Bencivenga came through in the sixth inning singling in Joel Brewer (3-for-3) for the deciding run.
3A: Bishop McLaughlin 3, Cambridge Christian 2
A tight game went the way of Bishop McLaughlin as the Hurricanes claimed the region title and advance to the state final four in a win over the Lancers. Cambridge Christian finishes the year 23-7, as Austin Hessinger went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, Caleb Faris hit a double in the loss. The win marks the second trip to the state final four for Bishop McLaughlin in the last three seasons.
**AS ALWAYS** A Big Thank You to my buddy Jarrett Guthrie for his contributions to this article. For more on tonight's games, and for up-to-date prep coverage, visit his page www.813preps.com
ENJOY!!