@jayRecher
SEMIFINALS
Alonso 4, Plant 0
- Franco Aleman (A) - CG, 3 H, BB, 5 K (Win)
- Sehjin Daley (A) - 2-2, BB, R, RBI
- Ihoslean Montes (A) - 1-3, 3B, R
- Connor Scott (P) - 2-3
King 12, Sickles 8
- Michael Russ (K) - 3 IP, 6 H, 6 R (0 ER), 2 K (Win)
- Justice Thompson (K) - 1-4, HR, BB, 3 RBI
- Keyon Floyd (K) - 3-5, 3B, 3 R, RBI
- Josh Keding (K) - 2-4, R, 2 RBI
- Dylan Eskew (S) - 2-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI
- Trey Bacon (S) - 2-4, R
FINAL
King 6, Alonso 5
- Josh Keding (K) - 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R (ER), 7 BB, 5 K (Win)
- Addison Barger (K) - 1/3 IP, BB, K (Save) 2-4, 2 R
- Jamarcus Lyons (K) - 3-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI
- Justice Thompson (K) - 2-3, 2B, BB, RBI
- Hishaam Shafiq (K) - 2-3, R, RBI
- Nick Gonzalez (A) - 2-4, 2 2B
- Ihoslean Montes (A) - 1-3, BB, 2 R
For more on these games make sure to visit our friends over at 813preps.com
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
C - Jacob Cordell (King)
1B - Sam Drumheller (Alonso)
IF - Leo Alfonzo (Wharton), Mac Jorgensen (Riverview), Jamarcus Lyons (King)
OF - Connor Scott (Plant), Jordan Lala (Steinbrenner), Justice Thompson (King)
P - Franco Aleman (Alonso), Brock Fagler (Plant)
DH - Dillon Besnier (Riverview)
MVP - Addison Barger (King)
AWARDS
Artie Vazquez Coaches' Award - Coach Eric Beattie (Strawberry Crest)
Jose Fernandez Pitching Award - Franco Aleman (Alonso)
Bertha Saladino Team Sportsmanship Award - Tampa Bay Tech
Team Spirit Award - Freedom
Frank Permuy Best Hitter Award - Dylan Eskew (Sickles)
Pop Cuesta Best Defensive Player Award - Danny Gutcher (Gaither)
Home Run Derby Winner - Dominic Gonnella (Bloomingdale)
Jose Fernandez Passion For Baseball Award - Johnathan McCary (Bloomingdale)
813Preps.com Ironman Award - Ryan Drumheller (Alonso)
MY TAKEAWAYS FROM SALADINO
- Talk about resiliency. King came back against two of the best teams in the county, Riverview and Alonso, to take home the crown. The big players (Barger, Thompson, Lyons) came up big for Coach Mac and the Lions.
- I know it's three straight runner-ups for Coach Faedo and Alonso but they really do epitomize the top tier of baseball in this area. Always a very prepared, energetic bunch that leaves it all on the field. The Drumheller boys are as solid as they come and Franco Aleman is easily one of the best pitchers in the state, if not the country.
- Speaking of brothers, the Jorgensens (Reagan and Mac) had a really good showing for Riverview. I'm a huge fan of the attitude and preparedness of Coach Leiby and his staff. One of the more underrated teams in this area, but they shouldn't be.
- Coach Eric Luksis is doing an incredible job over at Sickles. His young bunch gave King all they could handle in the semis. Dylan Eskew was ballin' out all week and Trey Bacon continues to show why he's one of the top underclassmen in Tampa.
- Fernando Muniz had a nice tournament at the plate for Leto and Jon Santos had 9 stolen bases!
- Did Leo Alfonzo just get another hit? The kid was 8 for 10 during the tournament for Wharton and is a big reason to keep an eye on the Wildcats in the second half of the season.
- The Game of the Tournament, in my opinion, was Plant's 3-2 victory over Strawberry Crest in one of the first games on Saturday morning. Connor Scott and Brent May went toe-to-toe for seven innings and neither guy budged. Ben Pues snapped the tie with a two-run blast in the top of the 8th to give the Chargers the lead, but Brock Fagler hit a walkoff jack to left in the bottom half to give the Panthers the victory.
- It was such a pleasure to meet the Saladino family finally and we are all so lucky that we have such a great tournament every year to showcase some of the finest young ballplayers this city has to offer. Memories and friendships are formed during this week that last a lifetime.