Baseball Takes Series Over Tampa JV

Baseball Takes Series Over Tampa JV
April 1, 2023

By Pat Clines

Bradenton, Fla - The SCF baseball team (22-19, 10-2 Suncoast) were put to a real challenge for the first time in a long time for non-conference play as they defeated the University of Tampa JV (9-13) 11-8. This puts Manatees at 27-1-1 against the Spartans and they take the overall series 3-0. Both teams will meet again Tuesday, April 4 at 6 pm.

 
"It's always good to get a win," said head coach Tim Hill II. "I'm glad to see some of the other guys who haven't played much get the opportunity to play. They're all good players and I want to make sure everyone is focused for where we want to go. That's what I was most pleased about."
 
"I think it was a good team win," said freshman Preston Wetherell. "Putting up 18 hits was something and it made pitching a whole lot easier. I was happy to see a lot of the guys get an opportunity to play."
 
"Tonight was definitely a good team win for us," said sophomore Austin Dearing. "Even if we were lackadaisical when we fell apart towards the end, we stayed in there and finished strong."
 
Hill sent freshman Trey Clucas to the mound to start the game while Tampa JV head coach Mark Johnson went with Daniel Sohn.
 
The Spartans would actually open the scoreboard first after junior Jack Hedlund hit an RBI single at the top of the first. In the next inning, the Spartans extend their lead to 3-0 with an RBI double by freshman Aiden Nolasco and sophomore Derek Morgan bringing in a run on a fielder's choice.
 
In the bottom of the second, the Manatees were able to get on the board. After a leadoff single by Dearing, freshman Jayce Blalock would cut the deficit to 3-2 as he hit a two-run homer to left for his fifth of the season. After a two-out single by freshman LT Cockrill and sophomore Richie Morales getting hit by a pitch, sophomore Kevin Karstetter continued his ways of hitting as he lined a double to right to bring in Cockrill before classmate Brayden Woodburn would send a single to right to bring in Morales and Karstetter to make it 5-3 SCF.
 
At the top of the third, Hill would send sophomore Cameron Clines to the mound. Despite hitting one batter, the transfer from Georgia Tech would strikeout three to end the third. In the bottom half of the inning, the Manatees would extend the lead further. After sophomore Liam Moreno (walk), freshman Evan Mastromauro (single) and Cockrill (walk) loaded the bases, Morales would send a single to left to bring in Moreno and Mastromauro before Karstetter lined another double to right to bring in Cockrill to make it 8-3 SCF. The Manatees would add one more run as Moreno would hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Dearing to make it 9-3.
 
At the top of the sixth, the Spartans put another run on their end after an RBI single by junior Jose Silva III, but the Manatees would yet again respond back in the bottom half of the inning. Moreno would hit a single and steal second before advancing to third on a throwing error, but would come out of the game with an injury. Hill would then send freshman Erick Almonte to pinch run before Mastromauro popped a single to center to bring in Almonte. After Mastromauro stole second, Cockrill would send a single to right to bring in Mastromauro to make it 11-4.
 
At the top of the eighth, the Spartans would get one more crack of bringing in runs from a wild pitch, an RBI single by senior Robert Fadel and bases loaded walks drawn by freshmen Charlie Dicampli and Jaden Malave to make it 11-8 SCF, but it was all the Spartans could produce as the Manatees pulled away with the win.
 
Clucas would earn a no-decision after giving up three runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout in two innings. Wetherell would earn his first collegiate win after giving up one run on two hits with one walk and one strikeouts in two innings of relief.
 
"I felt good on the mound," said Wetherell. "I have been working on some things and it was nice to be back on the mound after a long while."
 
Hairston would earn his first collegiate save after giving up one hit with one walk and one strikeout in one and a third scoreless innings of relief.
 
Clines gave up one hit with four strikeouts in two innings of relief, while freshman Brendan Albrittain would give up four runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts in one and two-third innings of relief.
 
Sohn would be hit with the loss after giving up seven runs on eight hits with one walk and one strikeouts in two and a third innings.
 
Six Manatees would get a multi-hit game. It was Karstetter and Woodburn that would lead the way in hitting as they each had three hits. Karstetter (3-for-3, three doubles) added two RBI, one run, two walks and a stolen base, while Woodburn (3-for-6) added two RBI and a stolen base.
 
Mastromauro, Dearing, Cockrill and Blalock each had two hits. Mastromauro (2-for-5) added an RBI, two runs and three stolen bases, while Dearing (2-for-5) added two runs, Cockrill (2-for-3) added one RBI, two runs and two walks and Blalock (2-for-5) added two RBI and one run.
 
"I felt good today," said Mastromauro. "I was seeing the ball really well and was able to damage to getting the hits I needed."
 
"I felt good at the plate," said Dearing. "Recently I have been struggling, so it was good to see a few good hits go down. It was something to build off of in the next game coming."
 
Morales (1-for-4, two RBI and one run), Moreno (1-for-3, one RBI, one run, one walk and one stolen base), Almonte (1-for-1, one run) and sophomores Lucas Ismaili (1-for-4, one walk) and Victor Sanchez (1-for-1) had the remaining five hits for the Manatees.
 
Silva III lead the way in hitting as he went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.
 
Other Suncoast Scores:
St. Pete College (12-21, 5-7 Suncoast) defeated A3 Academy 21-15. The Titans will take on the University of Tampa JV Wednesday night, April 5 at 6:30 pm.
 
Suncoast Conference Standings:
1. SCF (22-19, 10-2)
2. Polk State (23-16, 7-5)
3. St. Pete (12-21, 5-7)
4. Hillsborough (8-29, 2-10)
 
Up Next:
The Manatees remain at home for non-conference play as they welcome RV Florida Southwestern (26-13, 8-4 Southern) Monday night, April 3 at 5 pm.