SCF Baseball: FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Tournament Day Three Recap

After a long game before them, the SCF baseball team (38-19) were able to keep their dreams alive as they defeated Santa Fe (38-17) 8-2. With the win, the Manatees are now 4-2 against the Saints and have advanced closer to their goal in the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Tournament at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland.

Before SCF played, Miami Dade (31-19) played #1 seed #2 CCF in an elimination game. MDC opened the tournament with a 2-0 loss to RV Chipola and were sent to the losers bracket where they faced #11 FSW and were able to upset the Suncoast Regular Season Champions by a score of 14-11 and eliminate them from the tournament on day two.

Going into day three, the Sharks were in a challenge as they were to face #2 CCF, the #1 seed in the state tournament. Through five innings, the Sharks were down 11-0 heading into the fifth, but they were able to score five runs and avoid the eight-run mercy rule.

After scoring another run in the sixth and two in the eighth, the Sharks were able to cut the deficit to one after freshman Sujel Arias-Auzon hit a leadoff double and scored on a wild pitch. After sophomore Richard Nunez-Prado walked and classmate Luis Guerrero struck out, Nunez-Prado would reach second on a wild pitch, freshman Jose Crisostomo-Bock would line a single to left and tie the game at 11-11.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Sharks would seal the deal with Nico Martinez-Bautista drawing a bases-loaded walk to make it 12-11 for the win. The game's duration was over five hours.

Now let's fast forward to SCF facing Santa Fe. For the game, SCF head coach Tim Hill II decided to send sophomore Chris Holcomb to the mound, while Santa Fe head coach Johnny Wiggs sent sophomore Donovan Benoit to counter.

After a scoreless first inning, the Manatees opened the scoreboard first at the top of the second. Beginning with freshman Max Dineen hitting a leadoff single and sophomore Collin Moore was hit by a pitch, freshman Tyler Acosta would send them to scoring position from a sacrifice bunt. This would set up freshman Remi Patry to send Dineen and Acosta home with a two-RBI single for a 2-0 SCF lead. After freshman  All-Suncoast Second Team member Nick Winkelmeyer grounded out for the second out, redshirt sophomore All-Suncoast First Team member Brian Dillingham would smack a long shot to left for a two-run homer. This was Dillingham's third home run of the season. At the top of the fourth, the Manatees would extend the lead to 5-0 after an RBI by Winkelmeyer.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Saints were able to get their first run on the board after an RBI single by freshman Jonathan Logsdon. Holcomb would get pulled in the bottom of the fifth as Hill made a change and sent freshman Logan Fraiser to the mound, who was able to strikeout the last batter to end the fifth.

At the top of the seventh, the Manatees would extended their lead. After loading the bases with back-to-back-to-back singles by sophomores Bryce Hulett, All-Suncoast First Team member Josh Crouch and All-Suncoast First Team member Geovany Lorenzo, Dineen would send Hulett home on fielder's choice. This was then followed with Crouch scoring on a wild pitch and Dineen advancing to second. After Moore drew a walk, Wiggs would make a pitching change and send sophomore Connor Churchill to the mound, who was able to get out of the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Saints would get their second run of the game as freshman Edgar Brito would hit a pinch hit single to make it 7-2 SCF.

At the top of the ninth, the Manatees would increase the lead even further. Moore would start with a one out ground rule double before Acosta sent him home with a single to make it 8-2 SCF before the end of the inning.

From there, redshirt freshman Josh Bonynge would secure the final inning for another SCF win in the tournament.

Holcomb would earn a no-decision after giving up one run on five hits while walking three and striking out two in 4.2 innings.

Fraiser would earn his second win on the night after giving up one run on three hits with three strikeouts. Fraiser is now 2-1 on the year.

Bonynge would throw one scoreless, walking two batters and striking out three.

Benoit would be dubbed with his second loss after giving up five runs on seven hits while walking one batter and striking out one in 3.2 innings. Benoit ended his sophomore year at 5-2.

In relief, sophomore Tyler Jones threw 1.1 innings, giving up two hits and walking two batters, redshirt freshman Emanuel Fernandez gave up two runs on three hits with one walk in 1.1 innings and Churchill gave up one run on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts in 2.2 innings.

Five Manatees led the way with a multi-hit game with Patry leading the way going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while Dillingham (2-for-5, one home run and two RBI), Hulett (2-for-5, one run scored), Crouch (2-for-5, one run scored) and Acosta (2-for-4, one RBI) had two hits each. In fact, all of the Manatees in the starting lineup had at least one hit in the game.

Logsdon and sophomore All-Mid-Florida Conference Second Team member Brock Edge were each 2-for-4. Logsdon had one RBI, while Edge scored a run.

As a result, Santa Fe became the fourth team eliminated from the tournament.

Following SCF's win, RV Chipola College (36-17) defeated #5 Northwest Florida State (42-11) 6-3. As a result, NWFS will now play in the losers bracket against Miami Dade.

Scores in Other Districts:
Monroe College (32-17) (NJCAA Region 15) earned the first spot in the NJCAA College World Series as they defeated Spartanburg Methodist (33-17) (Region 10) 8-3. Monroe will represent the Eastern District (Regions 10, 15, 20).

Up Next:
Four teams remain in the tournament as the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Tournament continues Monday, May 13. Miami Dade will play first against NWFS at 1 pm. SCF will then follow against RV Chipola at 4 pm. The winners of those two games will go on to the championship game on Tuesday, May 14 at 11 am and claim a spot as one of 10 teams in the NJCAA to go to the 2019 NJCAA College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.

SCF is 9-11 when facing Chipola, 5-7 against Miami Dade and 0-4 against NWFS, which includes the 15-6 loss in the first round of the tournament.