SCF Baseball Blows Out UTJV

On a cold and windy day, the SCF baseball team (11-9) were able to pull together a complete blowout as they defeated the University of Tampa JV Team (4-4) 16-3. With the win, the Manatees are now 24-1-1 against the Spartans.

"I thought we had some really good at-bats in the beginning tonight," said head coach Tim Hill II. "It was nice to get off to a good start where we had so many close games with some really tough competition and to have one where we jumped out early was nice to have that happen."

For the game, Hill II sent sophomore Jake Smith to the mound, while UT JV head coach Mark Johnson sent sophomore Aidan Brown.

Smith didn't take long on the mound and made short work with three strikeouts at the top of the first before the Manatees began their onslaught in the bottom half.

The bottom half began with a leadoff walk by freshman Cameron Lee before stealing second and being in scoring position. This would then be followed by a single by sophomore Rook Ellington bringing in Lee for the first run of the game. Sophomore Jamarcus Lyons would then reach base on a fielding error before classmate Aaron McKeithan singled to load the bases for sophomore John Malcom, who would draw a walk and send Ellington home. Freshman Owen Ayers would then hit a single to left to bring in Lyons for a 3-0 SCF lead and keep the bases loaded.

Two batters later, sophomore Remy Patry would clear the bases with a double as the Quebecer would give the Manatees a 6-0 lead.

"It felt amazing facing something like with two strikes," said Patry on his double. "I was trying to shorten up my swing and the fastball came down the middle and didn't miss it, so it felt good.

This would then follow a big moment for Lee with the Manatees batting around as the native of Frankfurt, Illinois hit his first collegiate home run of the year before the end of the inning.

"It felt good after being in a slump for a while," said Lee on hitting his first collegiate home run. "And hitting that ball really felt good, hoping help me to bust me back to a breakout game."

"When the winds blowing strong straight in on a cold night, that ball shot off like a rocket," said Hill on Lee's first home run. "He turned the wind around. Cameron is a strong kid and that home run that he hit was impressive."

Smith would then strike out the side in the second inning before Hill decided to send freshman Austen Kessler to the mound for relief at the top of the third while getting out of a jam. Meanwhile in the bottom half of the inning, the Manatees would add another run to the board as Lyons would reach base on a error, while Lee scored after being hit by a pitch for a 9-0 SCF lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Manatees would reach double digits runs off of a two-RBI double by sophomore Justin Wrobleski to make it 11-0 SCF.

The Manatees would make another pitching change at the top of the fourth as sophomore Grady Martin came in to relief Kessler getting out of a bases loaded jam. This would then follow with freshman Matt Gelorme make a relief appearance at the top of the sixth.

At the top of the seventh, freshman Michael Dorso would come in to relief but the Spartans would finally get on the board after an RBI single by sophomore Tanner Spinks and a sacrifice fly by junior Trevor Roberson made it 11-2 SCF.

In response to the top of the seventh, the Manatees would begin with three straight walks drawn by McKeithan, freshman Zac Graham and Ayers. After Wrobleski flew out, Steinberg would send a single to right and bring in McKeithan and Graham before Patry drove in Ayers on a fielder's choice.

After sophomore Jake Mattos threw a scoreless eighth, the Manatees would add two finals run to their scoreboard after Lyons and Graham drew walks and McKeithan was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Wrobleski would hit a fielder's choice and send Lyons home for a run. For their final run, Steinberg would send a single to center and bring in McKeithan to make it 16-2 SCF.

At the top of the ninth, the Manatees would make one final pitching change as Steinberg would come in to finish the inning. After giving up an RBI double by junior Thomas Bencivenga for a 16-3 SCF lead, Steinberg would still be able to seal the deal with one final strikeout for the game.

"We were ready to put some runs on the board early on with eight runs in the first inning," said Patry. "I think we kind of sat on that for a couple of innings with a run here and there with a good offensive showing for our team today."

"I think with the Tampa JV team, our coaches told us not to take them lightly," said Steinberg. "They've had some really good teams before and brought guys down, so it basically the day-to-day approach to treat every team the same that are coaches have been talking about and I think it was good for us to go put out a eight-spot in the first inning and kind of carry it from there.

Smith would earn a no-decision after two scoreless innings giving up one hit with six strikeouts.

"I thought Jake (Smith) was electric tonight," said Hill on Smith.

Kessler would earn the win after throwing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and one walk. Kessler is now 1-1 on the year.

Martin, Gelorme and Mattos threw three combined scoreless innings with four combined strikeouts and three walks. Mattos missed a few games due to a leg injury.

"To get Jake (Mattos) back was nice," said Hill on Mattos. "He's a guy we definitely count on and just to see him back out on the field playing again along with other guys being hit from the injury bug and getting healthy again is important for us."

Dorso and Steinberg gave up the three runs on four hits with four strikeouts in two innings. Steinberg was also 3-for-6 with three RBI and was the only Manatee with a multi-hit game.

"Baseball is a mental game," said Steinberg on his game. "And just keeping my same approach that are coaches have been preaching to us every day and just seeing the ball deep and keep my approach that we talked about every day and it worked out well."

Brown would be dubbed with his second loss of the season after giving up eight runs (two earned) on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Brown is now 1-2 on the year.

Patry finished 1-for-4 with a career-high four RBI, while Wrobleski was 1-for-6 with three RBI.

Lee finished 1-for-2 with the home run, two RBI, three runs scored, three walks and one stolen base, while Malcom was 1-for-1 with an RBI, two runs and two walks.

Ellington (1-for-3, one RBI and one run), McKeithan (1-for-4, three runs) and Ayers (1-for-3, one RBI, three runs, three walks) also had one hit each.

Spinks and Bencivenga were both 2-for-3 with an RBI each.

Up Next:
The Manatees will conclude most of their non-conference schedule tomorrow as they welcome back Pasco-Hernando (9-9) to Wynn Field Saturday afternoon, February 29 at 1 pm.