SCF Baseball Claims Doubleheader In Classic

After falling 3-2 to St. Johns River in close fashion, the SCF baseball team (9-9) moved back to even on neutral grounds as they defeated NJCAA Region Region 10 Florence–Darlington Tech (7-4) 8-4 and NJCAA Region 17 East Georgia (3-6) 8-1 at the John Tindall Classic in Palatka. Both games ended in seven innings. With the win over East Georgia, the Manatees are now 2-1 against the Bobcats.

SCF vs FDT:
For game one, head coach Tim Hill II sent sophomore Jake Smith to the mound, while FDT head coach Preston McDonald sent freshman Connor Campbell to counter.

The Manatees would get on the board after an RBI groundout by sophomore Jamarcus Lyons sent home freshman Cameron Lee for a 1-0 lead at the top of the first. The Manatees would then extend their lead at the top of the second beginning with a leadoff walk drawn by sophomore John Malcom and a single by freshman Owen Ayers before freshman Jacob Steinberg sent Malcom home with a single to short. After sophomore Remi Patry laid down a sacrifice bunt, Lee would groundout to send Ayers home for a 3-0 SCF lead.

The Stingers would then get on the board in the bottom of the second after an RBI double by freshman Charlie Corum. Two innings later, the Manatees would extend their lead again at the top of the fifth beginning with Lee getting hit by a pitch and steal second before advancing to third on a fly out by sophomore Rook Ellington. Lyons would then send a double to center and bring Lee home for a 4-1 SCF lead.

This would signal the end for Campbell as McDonald decided to send freshman Josh Patterson to the mound. After a single by sophomore Aaron McKeithan, Lyons would then score on a wild pitch before classmate AJ Fritz hit a single to left before McKeithan scored on a failed pickoff attempt for a 6-1 SCF lead.

At the top of the sixth, the Manatees would two more runs to their lead. After Steinberg began with a leadoff single, Lee would reach base on a drop third strike before Steinberg scored on a wild pitch. After a Ellington walk, McKeithan would hit a fly ball and reach on a fielding error to send Lee home for a 8-1 lead.

The Stingers would add three more runs after freshman Josearmando Diaz brought in a run on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the sixth and an RBI double by freshman DJ Sullivan and an RBI single by sophomore Cameron Dean, but it was all they could muster as the Manatees pulled away with the win.

Smith was the winning pitcher after throwing a complete game, giving up all four runs (two earned) on eight hits with 10 strikeouts. Smith is now 3-1 on the year.

Campbell would end up with the loss after giving up five runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in four and a third innings.

Steinberg would be main offensive leader for the Manatees as he finished 4-for-4 with an RBI, while Lyons finished 1-for-4 with two RBI. Steinberg was the only Manatee with a multi-hit game, while Lyons was the only one with a multi-RBI game.

Lee finished 1-for-3 with an RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases.

Dean was the only player for the Stingers with a multi-hit game as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

SCF vs East Georgia:
Hill II would send sophomore Justin Wrobleski to the mound, while East Georgia head coach Eric McCombie sent freshman Noah Coleman to counter.

The Bobcats would get on the board first at the top of the first after an RBI single by sophomore Conner Strickland. After being held scoreless in the bottom half of the first, the Manatees would answer back. After a two-out walk by Steinberg and single by Patry, the Manatees would tie the game at 1-1 after Steinberg scored on wild pitch. After Lee was hit by a pitch, Ellington would send a bunt single to bring in Patry for a 2-1 SCF lead.

In the bottom of the third, the Manatees would add another run after an RBI by Ayers sent McKeithan home for a 3-1 lead. The Manatees would then extend the lead in the bottom of the fourth beginning with back-to-back walks by Lee and Ellington and a single by Lyons to load the bases. McKeithan would into a double play leaving Ellington and Lyons in scoring position. After Fritz drew a walk to load the bases again, Malcom would send a single to left to bring in Ellington home. On a 2-0 count, Ayers would send Lyons and Malcom home with a two-RBI single for a 6-1 SCF lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Manatees would add the final two runs of the game beginning with a leadoff single by Lyons and a double by McKeithan. Fritz would then load the bases after a catcher interference for Malcom. On the first pitch, the Vanderbilt transfer would send a single to left and bring in Lyons and McKeithan for a 8-1 lead, which would end up being the decider for the Manatees.

Wrobleski would get the win after giving up one run on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings. Wrobleski is now 1-1 on the year.

Sophomore Tony Rossi threw two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out three batters.

Coleman would end up with the loss after giving up six runs on eight hits with six walks and one strikeout in three and two-thirds innings. Coleman is now 0-2 on the season.

Freshman Dawson Sorrells gave up two runs on three hits in two and a third innings.

McKeithan went 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Malcom and Ayers were both 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Lyons was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Strickland was the only Bobcat with a multi-hit game as he went 2-for-3 with the lone RBI.

Fun Facts (2012-present):
The Manatees are 13-4 against college teams that are not from Florida.

Up Next:
The Manatees will return home for the next three games as they welcome Pasco-Hernando State (8-8) on Monday, February 24 at 5 pm and February 29 at 1 pm and the University of Tampa JV team (2-3) Friday night, February 28 at 6 pm.