“It feels great that we’re playing ball again after opening the season with two tough losses that were walk-offs,” said head coach Tim Hill II. “The first one we gave up seven runs in the final inning, while the second was a lot better, Miami Dade still got the walk-off win, so to bounce back on our home field for our home opener for the mark of a great program and a good season for our team is taking care of our home field and I thought the kids played with a lot of energy and did a good job.”
“It was a great win after a rough start to the season,” said redshirt sophomore Cole Ayers. “After dealing with two walk-off losses, we came out fired up today and we really put it to Miami Dade.”
“It was awesome that we can protect our home field and keep going at every time the opposing teams try to beat us.”
Hill gave the nod to the upcoming Cincinnati commit to start, while MDC head coach Adrian Morales sent redshirt sophomore Gabriel Figueroa-Hidalgo to counter.
The Manatees would take the bottom of the first with three runs thanks to strong offense by redshirt freshmen Tucker Mitchell and Jack Anderson.
By the bottom of the third, Anderson would bring in more offense for the Manatees as the Northwestern transfer took advantage of the wind factor and sent a two-run blast to left-center for not only his first home run in a Manatee uniform. In fact, it was Anderson’s first collegiate home run in his career.
“It was awesome,” said Anderson on hitting his first home run. “When I hit the ball and saw it come off the bat, I knew it had a chance to go over the fences and it was a great feeling to know I got some runs up there for our team to get off to a good start for the boys and it was awesome.”
The Sharks would finally get on the board at the top of the fifth after an RBI double by Erick Oberta and a home run by Ian Jenkins, by the Manatees would answer back in the bottom of the sixth after an RBI single by redshirt freshman Harrison Long before true freshman Brayden Woodburn hit a two-run shot of his own for his first collegiate home run.
“It felt pretty getting good getting my first collegiate home run of the season,” said Woodburn on the home run. “All season, I’ve been trying to go backside with it the whole time because I’ve been hearing a lot of things about how they (MDC) paint the outer half, so my plan was to go at it backside and he left me a fastball high enough for me to take a chance at it and went with it.”
Around the time, redshirt freshman David Barrett came in for Cole Ayers and despite giving up a run off of a sacrifice fly from sophomore Henry Wallen, his was able to seal the deal for the win.
Ayers would earn the win after giving up two runs on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings.
“Cole did a good job for the season opener,” said Hill on Cole Ayers. “It was his second time on the mound, so he was in a little better shape. I can’t say enough about him and him coming back to us with the goals that he has or himself. We feel pretty good every time he’s on the mound and know what we’re going to get from him. He’s going to compete his butt off and he has great stuff, so I was very pleased with him on his performance.”
Barrett would earn the save after giving up one run on one hit with three strikeouts in four innings.
Anderson would lead the way after going 2-for-4 with the home run and three RBI, while Woodburn went 1-for-4 with the two-run blast.
“Jack and Braden had a lot of power today and they swung the bat really well, said Hill on Anderson and Woodburn. Jack turned the wind around and the wind was straight in on a cold day and it was a no-doubter
Mitchell and Long each had an RBI, while redshirt sophomore AJ Fritz and redshirt freshmen Owen Ayers, Jacob Steinberg and Richard Rodriguez each had a hit of their own.
Jenkins was the only Shark with a multi-hit game as he finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored.
Although no spectators were allowed to enter the stadium, 10 to 12 scouts from other colleges and MLB teams were in attendance.
Up Next:
The Manatees will continue playing Miami Dade as they travel to Miami for a doubleheader. Hill has given redshirt freshman Daniel Batcher and redshirt sophomore Toni Rossi the nods for those two games.
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