Prep Report: Seahawks’ 4-run 4th clubs Knights
Cape Coral matched North Fort Myers run for run Tuesday night until the fourth inning when the Seahawks plated four runs with one out en route to a 7-3 victory over the Red Knights.
With the game deadlocked at 2-2, senior Koji Spangler sparked the Seahawks’ four-run rally in the fourth inning with a ringing one-out single to left. He wound up on third base after a couple of wild pitches by North starter Jonathon Mamott. Freshman Luke Spangler hit a high chopper over the mound that glanced off Mamott’s glove. Luke reached first safely, but Koji was unable to score.
After another pitch got away from North catcher Robbie Fenton, putting Luke Spangler on second base, senior Brett Hobaugh singled home both runners to give the Seahawks the lead for good.
Junior Danny Hale tripled to center field, driving in Hobaugh, and later scored on junior Steven Dudas’ single up the middle.
“Other than that it was nothing to be impressed with,” Seahawks coach Mike Gorton said of the big inning. “I feel like the guys mess around sometimes instead of put the nail in the coffin or just hammering down on a team.”
Junior left-hander Brandon Marshall kept the Red Knights at bay after that, allowing a run in the bottom of the seventh with two out.
“Brandon pitched very well after the second inning,” said Gorton. “When he got into third inning he finally found a rhythm. He got out to us late after basketball districts so this was his second time throwing. I knew he would take a lump the first two innings, but he showed some guts being able to come back.”
Marshall (1-1) went the distance, surrendering three runs on six hits and striking out 10.
The Red Knights plated a run in the first inning on senior Corey Jackson’s RBI single.
Cape answered with a run in the second on Luke Spangler’s safety squeeze with Koji Spangler (2-for-4) on third.
North took a 2-1 lead in the second on sophomore Robbie Owen’s fielder’s choice gounder to third base as Brad Kopale’s throw home was late.
“Since I’ve had these kids when they were younger they give up a run and get down, ” said Gorton. “I’ve harped on it and we’ve gotten a lot better to where we are answering a run with a run. They know that they don’t need to get everything back, but need to at least answer and they did that tonight. That was one of the highlights of the night, answering back in the early innings.”
The Seahawks countered with the tying run in the third on Cody Carroll’s sac-fly to center.
“That’s been the story of our season so far, giving up a big inning here and there,” said Red Knights coach Gary Kamphouse. “As a young team we’ve got to learn how to get off the field with two outs. Our pitcher got a little tired there and I probably left him in too long.”
The Knights went down quietly in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, striking out five times and leaving two runners stranded.
“I think we had some quality at-bats tonight, but struck out way too much especially with guys on second base with no outs or one out,” said Kamphouse.
Jackson was the only Red Knight with more than one hit.
The Knights (0-4) play at Island Coast Friday night.
The Seahawks (2-1) visit Lehigh Thursday and host Fort Myers in a district game Friday.
Cape Coral011 401 0 – 7 9 2
North Ft. Myers110 000 1 – 3 6 0
W – Marshall (1-1). L – Mamott.
2B – Kopale (CC), Carroll (CC), Nelson (NFM), Fenton (NFM). 3B – K. Spangler (CC), Hale (CC).
Ida Baker 6, Cypress Lake 2: Michael Watson drove in three runs, including the game-winner with a single in the fourth inning, as Ida Baker plunked Cypress Lake.
Watson finished 2-for-3, including a two-run triple in the fifth inning. Justin Pinto and Tyler Cardini each had two hits and one RBI.
Sean Brady pitched five innings, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out nine to pick up his first win on the mound.
The Bulldogs (2-2) host Island Coast Thursday.
Ida Baker001 130 0 – 6 11 1
Cypress Lake011 000 0 – 2 3 3
W – Brady (1-1). L – Demarest.
2B – Pinto (IB), Cardini (IB). 3B – Watson (IB).
Bishop Verot 6, Island Coast 1: Nick Rivera clubbed a two-run home run in the second inning to put Bishop Verot on the track for a victory over previously unbeaten Island Coast.
Dan Vogelbach also homered for the Vikings, who collected a total of 10 hits in the game. Hudson Boyd pitched four innings, giving up two hits and one run while striking out eight to earn his first win.
Chase Vogelbach homered in the third inning to account for the Gators’ only run. Tanner Renegar was tagged with the loss on the mound.
The Gators (3-1) play at Ida Baker Thursday when the Vikings (2-0) host Charlotte.
Island Coast001 000 0 – 1 3 1
Bishop Verot120 021 x – 6 10 1
W – Boyd (1-0). L – Tan. Reneger (0-1).
2B – Rivera (BV). HR – Rivera (BV), D. Vogelbach (BV), C. Vogelbach (IC).
Softball
Mariner 18, Estero 1: Alyssa Langdale was in the zone on the mound at at the plate to lead Mariner to a lopsided victory over Estero.
Langdale was 2-for-4 at the plate, driving in two runs and scoring three times. She pitched five innings, surrendering three hits and one run while striking out four.
Samantha Rapp belted a solo home run and McKenzie Hunt (3-for-4) doubled and slugged a three-run homer to highlight Mariner’s six-run rally in the third inning.
The Tritons lashed out with a total of 15 base hits.
The Tritons (4-2) turn around and play a rematch at Estero Friday.
Estero001 00 – 1 3 4
Mariner236 7x – 18 15 2
W – Langdale (2-0). L – Hernandez.
2B – Langdale (M), Hunt (M). HR – Rapp (M), Hunt (M).
Ida Baker 15, Cypress Lake 0: Maddy Peres pitched a five-inning no-hitter, striking out nine batters, and drove in four runs with a pair of hits to lead Baker to a shutout victory.
Louis Ross and Jessica Nuccio each contributed a pair of hits for the Bulldogs, who scored 11 runs in the first two innings.
Baker (1-0) hosts Island Coast Thursday.
Ida Baker470 40 – 15 10 0
Cypress Lake000 00 – 0 0 3
W – Peres (1-0). L – O’Riley.
2B – Peres (IB).
North Fort Myers 9, Cape Coral 8: Jasmine Santiago’s two-run single with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning earned North Fort Myers a come-from-behind victory over Cape Coral.
Katrissa Rowell had two hits and Allie Kennedy had a home run for the Red Knights, who play at Island Coast Friday night.
Basketball
Bishop Verot 66, Hardee County 46: Bishop Verot earned a berth in the Region 3A-3 finals by pounding Hardee County in the regional semifinals.
The win gives the Vikings (22-7) a home court advantage against Tampa Catholic Saturday night in the regional finals.
Ricky Doyle pumped in 21 points to go with eight rebounds and Nate Howard added 12 points and nine rebounds to lead the Vikings, who raced to a 35-15 lead by halftime.
In other regional action Tuesday night, Fort Myers pulled out an 80-79 victory over Barron Collier in the Region 4A-3 semifinal. The Green Wave will host Tampa Blake Saturday night in the regional final.
Hardee 9 6 16 14 – 46
Bishop Verot12 23 13 18 – 66
HARDEE 46 – Rivers 12, A. Hooks 9, J. Hooks 5, Metayer 5, B. Brown 2, C. Brown 2, D. Hooks 3, Casso 2, Rodriguez 5, Boehm 1. Totals: 15 8-18 46.
3PG: Rivers 2, A. Hooks 1, J. Hooks 1, Metayer 1, D. Hooks 1.
VEROT 66 – Wagner 7, Taylor 8, Reeves 8, Hoop 2, Dierkscheide 2, Mosher 4, Doyle 21, Howard 12, Brittenham 2. Totals: 28 9-12 66.
3PG: Doyle 2.