Prep Report: Mariner repeats 5A-15 title
Though unlikely the swine flu, Mariner’s Michael Zunino came down with something leading up to Friday’s District 5A-15 championship game against Gulf Coast.
The illness kept the senior up most of the night and lingered Friday, preventing him from taking batting practice or eating much.
“I think I had about three crackers in me,” he said.
Fortunately, Zunino and his teammates feasted on the Sharks at Terry Park to capture their second straight district title with a 10-0 five-inning rout.
As they did it last year, the Tritons (24-4) showed their depth on the mound. Senior left-hander Ryan Schneider pitched a complete-game shutout, following complete-game outings by Ryan Patton and Taylor Walker.
The Tritons allowed a total of one run in their three tournament wins.
“The depth we have in our pitching staff allowed us to put a quality starter out there every game,” Mariner coach Steve Larsen said. “Obviously that wasn’t the case for them and it allowed us to get after them.”
After using their 1-2 tandem of Kevin Lindheim and Bo Logan in the first two games, the Sharks (17-10) started Tyler Turetzkin Friday. He didn’t make it out of the first inning as the Tritons delivered a series of rocket line drives.
Senior Angel Laborde and Zunino had the first two singles and senior Bryan O’Connor started the scoring with a two-run double to left center.
The Tritons batted around, getting RBI singles from Dan Cohill and Schneider. They scored another run when Walter Cleary struck a high infield pop fly that was dropped. All five runs came with two outs.
“That was a big way to get started,” O’Connor said. “We had the momentum and were able to keep it going.”
The Tritons took a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Laborde was hit by a pitch and Daniel Alimonti walked and both runners eventually scored on wild pitches. Alimonti came through with a two-run single in the fifth, which gave the Tritons their 10-run margin.
The Tritons, again, played strong defense and showed their composure with runners on base.
It played a pivotal role in their 3-1 win over Ida Baker in the semifinals and continued Friday.
The Sharks loaded the bases in the third, but with two outs Marcus Pena hit a grounder that went off the glove of Schneider that second baseman Anthony Santo gathered up and threw to first just in time.
In the fourth, the Sharks stranded three more. With the bases loaded, Lindheim hit a fly ball to deep center but Colt Masters calmly ran under it and made the catch for the third out of the inning.
“Our defense played fantastic,” Larsen said.
The Tritons set out this season to repeat as district champs before moving onto to some other goals. They host a regional quarterfinals game Tuesday. It’s the fifth time in the last six years the Tritons have reached the regional playoffs.
Gulf Coast 000 00 – 0 8 1
Mariner 520 03 – 10 10 0
W – Ryan Schneider. L – Turetzkin.
2B – Bryan O’Connor (M), Logan (GC)
Bishop Verot 5, Cardinal Mooney 3: Josh Garcia drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, sending Bishop Verot to the District 3A-12 title. The Vikings had lost to Mooney twice in the regular season, but got their revenge in a lengthy championship game at City of Palms Park.
Bobby Borchering pitched 4 2/3 innings for the Vikings, allowing no runs. Dan Vogelbach hit a two-run homer in the first. D.J. Schleicher added an RBI single in the 10th.
The Vikings (14-14) host a regional quarterfinals game Tuesday.
Bishop Verot 200 100 000 2 – 5 7 2
Card. Mooney 000 102 000 0 – 3 6 1
W – Bobby Borchering. L – Goodman.
3B – Tommy Dougherty (BV). HR – Dan Vogelbach (BV)
Softball
North Fort Myers 4, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 2: A long road trip to face powerhouse Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas didn’t phase the North Fort Myers Red Knights.
The Knights took the same mental toughness and proven style of play with them and returned with another victory, earning a spot in Tuesday’s Class 5A regional finals.
Trailing 2-1 in the sixth, the Knights (26-3) fought back with three runs to pull ahead in the regional semifinals contest. Freshman Katrissa Rowell started the rally with a single. Allie Kennedy reached on an error and the Knights kept it going with Micheala Schlotter’s RBI single and Alyssa Dougherty’s two-run single.
In the bottom of the seventh, Aquinas (23-7) had the middle of its order up, but the Knights managed to seal it after two sparkling defensive plays – a leaping catch by first baseman Mariah Fernandez and a diving catch by Dougherty at second for the final out.
“Our kids played with a will to win (tonight),” North coach Jeff Miner said. “Every pitch, every out, every inning, that’s been our motto.”
The Knights, again, were led by great defense and stellar pitching from junior Jackie Owen (22-3). She worked all seven innings and struck out five.
The Knights host Palm Beach Dwyer Tuesday at Bobbie Dewey Field.
North FM 100 003 0 – 4 9 0
St. Thomas 200 000 0 – 2 6 2
W – Jackie Owen (22-3). L – Nori.
2B – Angelbello (ST). 3B – Paolini (ST), Mariah Fernandez (N).