Home runs dash I-Coast in Region 3A-3
BRADENTON – Cameron Cox belted two home runs, a two-run blast and a three-run shot, to account for all of Southeast’s runs in a 5-3 victory over Island Coast in the Region 3A-3 quarterfinals Tuesday night.
Cox, a senior, also relieved starting pitcher Matt Fenske with two on and no outs in the seventh inning. Cox pitched out of the jam, earning a save, to set up a regional semifinal battle at Bishop Verot Friday night.
It is Southeast’s first regional victory since 2005.
After Island Coast took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Southeast (18-9) grabbed the lead on Cox’s two-run homer to left. The blast was so high that Gators left fielder Nelson Candlario ran toward center field, losing the ball in the setting sun.
The ‘Noles struck again after Island Coast (20-7) knotted the score 2-2 in the top of the third.
Again Cox who provided the thunder by drilling Tanner Renegar’s second pitch over the wall in center field. The three-run blase put the ‘Noles in front for good.
Fenske settled into a groove, retiring seven straight batters at one point before the Gators scratched out a run in the sixth and put the first two hitters on base in the seventh.
Cox induced Taylor Renegar into a fielder’s choice before getting Cole Ondrejka and Chase Vogelbach to fly out.
“We played a good game, but what hurt us was we left five runners in scoring position in the first three innings,” said Gators coach Clinton Montgomery. “I wish we could have put the ball in play more. We struck out 11 times where we average four or five a game.”
Taylor Renegar drove in two of the Gators’ three runs. He plated one run on a sacrifice fly and one on a base hit.
The Gators (20-7) wound up losing two of their last three games, and five of their last nine, to close out a season in which they had five- and eight-game winning streaks.
Island Coast 101 001 0 – 3 8 1
Southeast 203 000 x – 5 8 1
W – Fenske. L – Tanner Renegar (7-3).
2B – Gellinger (IC), Suchy (S). HR – Cox (S) 2.
Sports editor Jim Linette contributed to this report.