Prep Report: Zunino sets new Mariner HR record
Daily Breeze Staff Report, breezesports@breezenewspapers.com
With bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday night, Mariner High junior Michael Zunino needed only a single to give the Tritons an extra-inning victory over rival Cape Coral.
Zunino, though, is locked in a home run groove.
He delivered once again, this time with a walk-off grand slam, leading the Tritons to a 5-1 win over the Seahawks.
Zunino connected on five home runs in three games last week and has eight in the past eight games.
He has 10 on the season, surpassing the previous school single-season mark of eight held by three players, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham.
“It’s a pretty big record to eclipse, I don’t care who you play,” Mariner coach Steve Larsen said. “He’s hit the ball as well as you can for a two-week span, but it’s not out of the expectations.”
Zunino had a strong sophomore season and Larsen expected him to become an even bigger factor this season, both at the plate and behind the plate as the team’s catcher.
He’s batting .521 with 28 RBI to go along with the home runs.
He hit a solo shot in the first against Cape to put the Tritons on the board.
Neither team scored from the second inning on, until the bottom of the eighth.
Senior A. J. Reyes pitched a complete game and had 12 strikeouts for the Tritons. Anthony Torres started for the Seahawks and went five innings.
The Tritons (12-4) play at Cypress Lake Tuesday. The Seahawks (6-9) host Minneapolis Southwest Tuesday.
Cape Coral 010 000 00 — 1 4 0
Mariner 100 000 04 — 5 6 0
W — A.J. Reyes L — Chris Haberman
2B — Brandon Mulloy (C), Jordan O’Day (C)
HR — Michael Zunino 2 (M)
Softball
Mariner finished third in the 20th Tarpon Classic Tournament, which concluded Saturday in Punta Gorda. Ida Baker went 3-1 in tournament play, finishing fifth, and North Fort Myers took fourth.
Mariner coach Bill Stoudt said the Tritons are beginning to get more contributions from their large group of freshmen.
They began tournament play Friday with a 10-3 win over Charlotte, pounding out 14 hits.
“We’re starting to come around,” Stoudt said. “We’re starting to hit the ball better.”
Freshman Samantha Greenwell (2-for-4) and freshman Cody Sawyer (3-for-5) keyed the offensive attack against Charlotte, and sophomore pitcher Nikki Roderiques allowed one earned run and struck out four.
The Tritons won their second game on Friday, beating Estero 4-1. Greenwell belted a two-run home run and Sawyer went 2-for-3. Roderiques struck out 10, notching another win on the mound.
On Saturday, the Tritons fell to eventual tournament champion Naples 8-0, but rebounded to beat North Fort Myers 11-7 in a consolation game.
Abby Willis (2-for-3) scored two runs against the Red Knights, Krystal Corasio (2-for-3) scored four runs and Sammy Rapp went 2-for-4.
Freshman Carrie Grigski went five innings on the mound to get the win and freshman MacKenzie Hunt pitched the final two innings for the save.
Like Mariner, Ida Baker also went 3-1 in tournament play, but lost their second game on Friday. The Bulldogs could only reach fifth place on Saturday and did so by winning both games.
The Bulldogs opened play Friday with a come-from-behind win over Port Charlotte, 7-3.
Trailing 3-1 in the top of the seventh, the Bulldogs were sparked by freshman Hannah Kelly. She cleared the bases with a triple, giving the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead, and they added three more.
The Bulldogs have been dealing with injuries and two of their primary pitchers, Kayla Vetter and Kaitlynn Rieser, were unavailable this past weekend.
Freshman Sierra Novo gave the Bulldogs a lift on the mound.
In an 8-3 win over Charlotte Saturday, Novo pitched six strong innings and was backed offensively by Jamie Ross (3-for-3), Kelly (3-for-4) and Erin Covert (two RBI).
The Bulldogs concluded play with an 8-1 win over Estero. Jessica Gregorie pitched a complete game, recording nine strikeouts. Caitlin Holloway drove in three runs, giving her 35 on the season.
The Tritons (11-9) visit Cypress Lake Tuesday. The Bulldogs (18-4) host Fort Myers Wednesday.