Baseball Sweeps Seminole State, Take First Conference Series

Baseball Sweeps Seminole State, Take First Conference Series
February 15, 2025

By Pat Clines

Bradenton, Fla - After falling in their conference opener, the RV SCF baseball team (9-5, 2-1 Citrus) were able to take their first series of Citrus Conference play as they swept Seminole State (8-6, 1-2 Citrus) at Wynn Field 16-3 (5) and 12-1 (6) by mercy rule at Wynn Field.

"It certainly was a good day on our home field today," said head coach Tim Hill II. "The guys played well in all phases of the game. It was two dominating performances that were good to see after a really tough loss at Seminole State's place Thursday where we felt that we gave the game away. We obviously had really good hitting with the number of runs we put up, but the pitching was outstanding and so was our defense. Conference series are always tough, so it's nice to win the first one."
 
"I thought we played a great two games," said sophomore Oscar Hernandez. "We came out aggressive and attacked early while not letting up, which made the difference between good teams and great teams. I'm super happy with how we played today. Just being able to take the first conference series was huge as it's going to set the tone for the rest of the season. We showed we could bounce back after a tough loss, which I thought showed the heart the team has."
 
"Overall, I felt the team played the best baseball we have played this whole season," said freshman Lochlan Radloff. "The energy was very high the whole game and we played clean baseball the whole day. We had great hitting with runners on base. It felt amazing to win the first series, so I think our team will win a bunch this year because we're a very talented as a group."
 
"I felt like the team did amazing today overall, especially after dropping a tough one on Thursday," said freshman Myles Davis. "We were able to stay focused and determined with good energy throughout a long day, which was amazing. Taking the first series is very nice. Just being able to set the tone for the rest of the series and season was very good to have to bounce back."
 
Game One:
For game one, Hill II sent Radloff to the mound for the start, while Seminole State head coach Mike Nicholson went with redshirt freshman Austin Waring.
 
The Manatees would once again open on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first inning. After sophomores CJ Richard and Hayden Gustavson drew back-to-back walks before moving to scoring position on a groundout, freshman Ben Ryan would send a sacrifice fly to right to bring in Richard before classmate Ryan Kaitz sent a single to left to bring in Gustavson for a 2-0 SCF lead.
 
The bottom of the second would then see the Manatees put together an onslaught of runs beginning with a leadoff single by sophomore Mario Trivella before freshman Clayton Evans reached first on a fielder's choice with Trivella called out at second. After Richard reached on a fielder's choice of his own, before stealing second, Evans would then score on a balk before Gustavson was hit by a pitch and freshman Myles Davis drew a walk to load the bases. Ryan would then pop a single to center to bring in Richard while Kaitz brought in Gustavson and Davis with a single of his own. Sophomore Luke Boykin would then showcase his power as he sent a three-run homer to left-center for his third of the season before sophomore Allan Gil Fernandez sent a solo home run to left for his third of the season to make it 10-0 SCF.
 
"Allan has been struggling a little bit at the plate, but it was good to see him have a couple of nice at-bats and Luke has been swinging the bat well," said Hill II on Gil Fernandez and Boykin.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Manatees would add their final runs on the board beginning with a leadoff triple by Richard before he scored on a wild pitch. After Gustavson (hit by a pitch), Davis (single) and Ryan (walk) loaded the bases, Kaitz would send a single to right to bring in Gustavson before Boykin drove in Davis after getting hit by a pitch and Gil Fernandez drove in Ryan with a sacrifice fly. Following Trivella drawing a walk to reload the bases, Evans would send a single to right and bring in Kaitz and Boykin for a 16-0 lead.
 
The Raiders would eventually get on the board at the top of the fourth after an RBI triple by redshirt freshman Lane Sparkman and a sacrifice fly by classmate Anthony Saleeba. One inning later, redshirt sophomore Erwin Cabassa would send a solo home run to left, but it would be all the Raiders could produce as the Manatees took game one.
 
Radloff would improve to 1-1 after throwing a five-inning complete game, giving up three runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
 
"I felt pretty good," said Radloff. "I felt as if a lot of my offspeed was working. Also, I had a great defense behind me to make a bunch of plays and secure that win for us."
 
Waring would fall to 1-2 after giving up 10 runs on seven hits with three walks and one strikeout in one and a third inning. Freshman Chris Fargot would give up six runs on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings.
 
Kaitz would lead the way in hitting and offense as he went 3-for-3 with a home run, four RBI and two runs. Boykin would follow with a multi-hit and multi-RBI game of his own as he went 2-for-2 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.
 
Richard (1-for-3, three runs, one walk and one stolen base), Davis (1-for-2, two runs and one walk), Gil Fernandez (1-for-2, one home run and two RBI), Trivella (1-for-1, two walks), Ryan (1-for-2, two runs, two RBI and one walk) and Evans (1-for-3, one run and two RBI) had the remaining six hits for the Manatees.
 
The Raiders were held to five hits with Cabassa leading the offense with a home run.
 
Game Two:
For game two, Hill II sent sophomore Oscar Hernandez to the mound, while Nicholson went with sophomore Carter Krawchuk to counter.
 
The Manatees would open on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first. After freshmen Holden Brauner and Mattie Counts hit back-to-back singles, Counts would steal second and advance to third on a throwing error, while Brauner scored for the first run before Counts made it 2-0 after scoring on a wild pitch. The Raiders would cut the lead to 2-1 at the top of the second after an RBI double by freshman Juan Orozco. It would barely faze the Manatees as they extend the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third after Counts lined a triple to right-center to bring in Brauner.
 
After the fourth inning went scoreless, the Manatees would increase their lead further in the bottom of the fifth. After a one-out single by Brauner before advancing to scoring position on a wild pitch, Counts would send a double to right and bring in Brauner before Gustavson brought Counts in with an infield single to the pitcher to make it 5-1 SCF.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, SCF decided to ended the game from here with a big inning of runs. After Ryan (single), Boykin (hit by a pitch) and Trivella (single) loaded the bases, sophomore Connor O'Sullivan would send a single to center to bring in Ryan. One batter later, Counts would draw a walk and bring in Boykin before Gustavson sent a double to right-center to bring in Trivella and O'Sullivan. All eyes would turn towards Davis on a 1-2 count as the Marion, Iowa native would tower a three-run homer to left for his first collegiate home run and walk it off to seal the series for the Manatees.
 
"Felt amazing in that moment," said Davis on his first home run. "Just knowing the team had a lot of trust in me and additionally me having trust in them and I believe anybody who was in that spot on this team would have came up and did the job. This is just the type of team we have."
 
"Myles is one of our best hitters," said Hill II on Davis. "We can count on him to drive in runs."
 
Hernandez would improve to 3-1 after throwing a one-hit complete game, giving up one run with three strikeouts.
 
"I felt great today on the mound," said Hernandez. "Today was one of those day you try to cherish as a baseball player because this game is hard, but I couldn't have had the outing I had without everyone behind me. I'm very blessed and happy to have such a great group of guys battling with and to have helped my team win today."
 
Crawchuk would fall to 1-2 after giving up 11 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings. Freshman Jai Sample would give up one run on one hit in no innings of relief.
 
Four Manatees had a multi-hit game. It was Counts that lead the way as he went 3-for-3 with three RBI, three runs, one walk and one stolen base. Braun would follow finishing 3-for-4 with three runs. 
 
"I thought Holden and Mattie really set the tone for the offense in the second game and Holden played a really good centerfield," said Hill II on Brauner and Counts.
 
Gustavson (2-for-4) and Davis (2-for-4) rounded out the order with two hits, one run and three RBI each. Ryan (1-for-1, one run), Trivella (1-for-3, one run) and O'Sullivan (1-for-3, one run and one RBI) had the remaining three hits for the Manatees.
 
Orozco lead the way for the Raiders with the only hit as he went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
 
Other Citrus Conference Scores:
Miami Dade (7-7, 2-1 Citrus) split with RV Central Florida (11-3, 1-2 Citrus) winning game one 6-5 before losing game two 6-5. The Sharks will take on Seminole State Thursday, February 20 and Saturday, February 22, while the Patriots take on Tallahassee State (5-8) Tuesday, February 18.
 
Daytona State (2-10, 1-2 Citrus) split with #22 Indian River State (10-3, 2-1 Citrus) winning game one 6-0 before losing game two 9-1. The Falcons will take on Community College of Baltimore County Cantonsville (0-2) Monday, February 17, while the Pioneers take on Elevate Academy Tuesday night, February 18.
 
Hillsborough (5-8, 1-2 Citrus) split with Eastern Florida State (10-5, 2-1 Citrus) losing game one 8-2 before winning game two 6-5. The Hawks will take on Webber International University JV Tuesday night, February 18. The Titans will take on Palm Beach State (3-10) Monday night, February 17.
 
Polk State (9-8, 2-1 Citrus) split with Santa Fe (7-9, 1-2 Citrus) winning game one 8-4 before losing game two 6-5. The Eagles will take on South Florida State (11-5) Tuesday night, Tuesday night, February 18, while the Saints take on Pasco Hernando State (11-4) Tuesday afternoon, February 18.
 
#4 Florida Southwestern (13-1, 3-0 Citrus) swept St. Pete College (2-11, 0-3 Citrus) 7-6 and 13-2 (5). The Buccaneers will take on TNXL Academy Tuesday afternoon, February 18, while the Titans take on Lake Sumter State (11-4) Wednesday afternoon, February 19.
 
Citrus Conference Standings:
1. #4 FSW (13-1, 3-0)
2. #22 Indian River State (10-3, 2-1)
3. Eastern Florida State (10-5, 2-1)
4. RV SCF (9-5, 2-1)
5. Polk State (9-8, 2-1)
6. Miami Dade (7-7, 2-1)
7. RV Central Florida (11-3, 1-2)
8. Seminole State College of Florida (8-6, 1-2)
9. Santa Fe (7-9, 1-2)
10. Hillsborough (5-8, 1-2)
11. Daytona State (2-10, 1-2)
12. St. Pete (2-11, 0-3)
 
Up Next:
The Manatees will take a short breather from conference play as they travel to Tampa to take on the University of Tampa JV (5-1) at the U of Tampa Baseball Field Tuesday night, February 18 at 6 pm.