By Pat Clines
Bradenton, Fla - The SCF baseball team (31-22, 17-5 Suncoast) kept their focus on one of the key goals for this season as they defeated Polk State (31-20, 13-9 Suncoast) 21-4 in seven innings via the 10-run mercy rule at Wynn Field.
"The guys were ready to go," said head coach Tim Hill II. "I thought from the very first pitch to the last, they were really focused and the result is the way they played today and how capable they were as a talented team. I thought they busted their butts all year and it was nice to see them have a lot of success here today."
"I thought we did great," said sophomore Kevin Karstetter. "The guys came out ready to play and especially for conference, we really turned it up the past month or so and that's what really matters. There is a bunch of talent here that work hard to earn this win."
"The boys came out firing and could not stop the bats today," said freshman Ed Wagner. "It was unbelievable."
"Everything was going great for us," said sophomore Brayden Woodburn. "We had good timely hitting. Ed (Wagner) did a great job on the mound and Preston (Wetherell) help closed the door for us and it was really nice."
Hill sent Wagner to start game two, while Polk State head coach Al Corbeil went with sophomore Aiden Butler.
After Wagner took care of the top of the first, the Manatees would open in the bottom half of the inning. After a one-out double by Karstetter, sophomore Lucas Ismaili would send a single to center to bring in Karstetter for the first run of the game. After classmate Mario Lopez, Jr. hit into a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a throwing error, Woodburn would send a triple to right center and bring in Lopez to make it 2-0 SCF.
At the top of the second, the Eagles would tie the game at 2-2 as freshman Roberto Odor would hit a two-run double before Wagner was able to get out of it, however it would barely faze the Manatees as they rallied in the bottom half of the inning. After sophomore Austin Dearing reached first on a fielding error before advancing to second on a wild pitch, sophomore Liam Moreno would send a double to center and bring in Dearing before advancing to third after another error. Freshman LT Cockrill would then bring in Moreno on a ground out to make it 4-2 SCF. After freshman Erick Almonte hit a single and stole second, Karstetter would show his power side and send a towering two-run home run to left for his 11th of the season for a 6-2 SCF lead.
After a scoreless third, the Eagles would the Manatees lead in half as freshman Damion Kenealy would send a solo home run to center for his fifth of the season. Once again it would barely faze the Manatees heading into the bottom half of the inning beginning with a leadoff single by Moreno. After Almonte grounded into a fielder's choice safely and moved Moreno to third while Almonte reached second on an error, Karstetter would send a single to center to bring in Moreno and Almonte. Ismaili would then hit a single to right and get caught in a pickle while Karstetter scored to make it 9-3 SCF.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Manatees would go on a non-stop scoring run beginning with a leadoff double by Woodburn before sophomore Ben Gilbert brought him in with a single for a 10-3 lead. After Dearing grounded into a fielder's choice, Moreno would get hit by a pitch before they committed a double steal to get into scoring position. Corbeil would pull Butler and send freshman Everrett Martin to the mound to relief Butler before Cockrill would then draw a walk to load the bases.
After Almonte struck out, Karstetter would hit a check swing for an infield single to bring in Dearing. Ismaili would then smack a double to left to bring in Moreno and Cockrill before Lopez drew a walk to reload the bases before Corbeil sent sophomore Breton Cusic to replace Martin.
With the bases full of Manatees as they batted around, Woodburn would show his portion of power as he lined a fly ball to right over the scoreboard for his first collegiate grand slam and seventh home run of the season.
"It just felt like another home run," said Woodburn on his grand slam. "I just trying to live in the moment and not let it get too big, so it felt good hitting it and helping the team win."
After back-to-back single by Gilbert and Dearing, Moreno would line a double to left to bring in Gilbert before Cockrill sent a two-run single to right to bring in Dearing and Moreno for a 20-3 SCF lead.
At the top of the sixth, Knealy would then hit a solo homer to left for his sixth of the season and his second of the game to make it 20-4 still in SCF's favor, but Wagner would get out of the jam and end the top half. The Manatees would add their final run as Woodburn scored on a wild pitch to make it 21-4 before freshman Evan Mastromauro turned a final double play to seal the deal for the win.
Wagner would improve to 7-1 after giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in six innings. Freshman Preston Wetherell would throw one scoreless inning of relief and gave up one hit.
"I felt good out there," said Wagner. "Once we scored 20 runs, it gets a little easier to pitch. You can't let up a 20-run homer, so it was pretty sweet because we dominated all-around. It was awesome."
Butler would fall to 3-4 after giving up 12 runs (11 earned) on 11 hits with one strikeout in four and a third innings.
Karstetter (4-for-4) and Woodburn (3-for-5) would lead the offense overall for the Manatees as they each had five RBI. Karstetter added four runs and a walk, while Woodburn added three runs and a walk. In fact, both players were a hit shy of a cycle (Karstetter needed a triple and Woodburn needed a single).
"I had a lot of fun and that's what it was all about for me," said Karstetter. "It makes it a lot easier for me."
Ismaili and Moreno each had three hits. Ismaili (3-for-5) added four RBI and one run, while Moreno (3-for-3) added two RBI, four runs, one walk and one stolen base.
Gilbert and Dearing were both 2-for-5 at the plate. Gilbert added one RBI and one run, while Dearing added three runs and a stolen base.
Almonte (1-for-4, two runs and a stolen base) and Cockrill (1-for-4, three RBI, one run and one walk) had the remaining two hits, while Lopez (two runs and one walk) also contributed.
For the Eagles, Kneadly lead the way in hitting and offense as he finished 2-for-3 with two home runs.
Notes:
With the win, the Manatees were named the Suncoast Conference Champions for the first time since 2018.
"It's something that we're used to doing," said Hill. "It's been a little gap since the COVID year where we had a really good team that year we had a chance to take it. It's good to finally put another championship on the wall."
"It feels great," said Wagner on winning the Suncoast. "We knew we had the best squad to do it and performed when it matters. All-around, it was easy money."
With his one walk, Woodburn now has 44 walks this season and 84 in his career. He needs 16 away from surpassing Jody Reed (59, 1982) for the single season record and 26 from breaking Joey Collis' career walks record (109, 1994-95).
With his four hits and five RBI, Karstetter now has 225 career hits and 162 RBI. Additionally, his one double puts him at 29 this season and 57 in his career. He is five away from breaking Paul Stryas' single season doubles record (33, 1997).
Other Suncoast Scores:
St. Pete (18-27, 9-13 Suncoast) defeated Hillsborough (11-38, 5-17 Suncoast) 15-9.
Suncoast Conference Standings:
1. SCF (31-22, 17-5) #^
2. Polk State (31-20, 13-9) #
3. St. Pete (18-27, 9-13) *
4. Hillsborough (11-38, 5-17) *
^Suncoast Conference Champions
# Clinched playoff spot
*eliminated from playoff contention
Up Next:
The Manatees return to Winter Haven at Bing Tyus Yard for game three against Polk State to continue conference play. Sophomore Ryan Stefiuk (2-3, 5.40 ERA) will be given the nod to start the game.