CC South rally wins 9-10 debut
Too much time and hard work went into practice for the Cape Coral American South 9-10 All-Star team to get down on themselves after a few rough innings Monday night.
Truth is, the team was getting good pitching and playing solid defense. It was the few mistakes offensively that left them in a 4-0 hole after three innings in their District 9 Tournament opening pool play game against visiting DeSoto.
Tournament teams will play five pool games with the top two teams in each pool advancing to the championship bracket.
“New team,” manager Lance Schreiber said. “We had some trouble with baserunning, executing bunts and stuff like that, but never gave up.”
It turned out to be a thrilling start to all-star play as South put together a nine-run fifth inning to earn a 10-4 win.
The bottom of the fifth became classic rally time with the dugout buzzing and the offense coming to life. They brought 12 batters to the plate and slugged five hits, including R.J. Schreiber’s two-run single and RBI singles by William Sanger, Zachary Crane and Jacob Barton. Barton finished 3-for-3.
“I think our defense actually motivated our attitudes,” Schreiber said. “That carried over to the offensive side. Nobody got down and they knew everything was within reach.”
It was one of two pool play contests at Koza-Saladino Park Monday. In the other game, Fort Myers American blanked Cape Coral American North 6-0. Also, South Fort Myers blanked Cape Coral National 10-0.
In the opposite pool, Hancock rolled over Punta Gorda 19-1, North Fort Myers National topped Port Charlotte National 6-4 and Buckingham spanked Pine Island 27-1.
Fort Myers American received a strong pitching performance from right-hander Dawson DeGroot. He carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the sixth.
Tyler Shuck also had a strong outing on the mound for Cape North.
They had a few opportunities to put runs on the board, but never capitalized. In the fifth, Bryce Van Horn reached on a walk and used his speed to reach third on a wild pitch. Tre Bradwell had a good at-bat against DeGroot, drawing a walk, but they were unable to get on the board.
Brice Abrams, Shuck and Steve Grigiski each singled in the sixth, but the final out came with the bases loaded.
South fell behind 4-0 against DeSoto, but had opportunities to score early on. In the second, DeSoto catcher Blaine Wallace threw out two runners on stolen base attempts at second.
South put runners at second and third, with one out, in the bottom of the third, but the final two outs came on a bunt attempt that was popped up and a great play at first base by DeSoto.
Right-hander Matthew Lord started for South and struck out six in 3 2/3 innings. Crane and Sanger pitched in relief, combining for 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
Lord had good command of the strike zone, which forced DeSoto to put the bat on the ball. They did, at times.
DeSoto took a 1-0 lead in the first after three hits, including an RBI double by Peyton Smith. They had a chance for more, but South turned an odd, inning-ending double play.
DeSoto’s Cole Roberts hit a grounder that stopped right in front of the plate. South catcher Robert Cobb fielded the ball and ran to third where DeSoto had two runners. One was called out for passing up the lead runner, and Cobb tagged the other.
South trailed 4-0 before starting its rally in the bottom of the fourth. Cobb walked and came around to score on a wild pitch.
In the big fifth inning, Kaleb Paz and Zachary St. Amand drew walks and Crane singled, loading the bases with no outs. The big hits followed and they kept the pressure on, forcing DeSoto to change pitchers twice.
DeSoto 103 000 – 4 8 2
CCAS 000 19x – 10 10 1
W – William Sanger. L – Smith.
2B – Smith (D), Adams (D).