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District 6A-11 up for grabs

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MICHAEL PISTELLA Mariner junior Andrew Arsenault (13) had three hits in the Tritons’ 6-3 win over Riverdale Tuesday night. The Tritons open District 6A-11 play Monday against North Fort Myers. To view more photos from the game, see our Facebook page.
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MICHAEL PISTELLA Mariner sophomore Jorge Sunti (12) hustles down the first base line Tuesday in the Tritons’ 6-3 win over Riverdale at Terry Park. The Tritons (15-9) faced Naples Thursday in the championship game of the Riverdale Battle of the Border tournament at Terry Park. To view more photos from the game, see our Facebook page.
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MICHAEL PISTELLA Mariner’s Daniel Varner (21) pitched four scoreless innings in the Tritons’ 6-3 win over Battle of the Border host Riverdale Tuesday. To view more photos from the game, see our Facebook page.

On the surface and based on its 17-4 record, Ida Baker would be the odds-on pick as the favorite to win the District 6A-11 baseball tournament that starts on Monday.

But hold the phone. It’s not that simple.

While the Bulldogs have built the best record on the west side of the Caloosahatchee River, the seven district teams are not as far apart as it might seem.

The top-seeded Bulldogs split the season series with No. 2 seed Mariner, so anything can happen.

“I told the guys it’s hard to beat a team three times,” Tritons coach Tom Woodley said of his first-round opponent Monday, No. 7 seed North Fort Myers. “I would say this district is up in the air. Top to bottom a lot of games were close. We have to do the little things right to get it done.”

Island Coast, the 4th seed, opens with No. 5 Port Charlotte with the winner advancing to face the Bulldogs in the semifinal round on Tuesday. No. 6 Cape Coral takes on No. 3 Cypress Lake in the other first-round matchup. The championship game is scheduled for Thursday at the highest seed left.

“Anyone can win this district,” agreed Bulldogs coach Bob VanDeventer. “We have to take it one game at a time.”

In District 4A-5, No. 3 seed Oasis takes on No. 2 Bishop Verot in Wednesday’s opening semifinal round at Verot. The winner plays the winner between top-seed Cardinal Mooney and Gateway Charter in Friday’s championship game.

Softball

Mariner played North Fort Myers Thursday night in the District 6A-11 championship game pitting the 1-2 district seeds.

The winner hosts a regional quarterfinal game next Wednesday.