High school roundup (April 3-8): Sarasota baseball thumps Strong Rock, now 14-3

THURSDAY

BASEBALL

Sarasota 12, Strong Rock Christian 2 (6 inns.)

AT: Sarasota

TOP PLAYERS: S, Ricky Morales 1-1, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Juan Perez 1-2, 2 runs; Alexander Barnes 1-2, run; Luke Verwhey 1-1, 2B, run; Luke Binswanger 1-3, run, RBI; Hayden McSwane 1-1, run; Bernard Barnes (WP) 5 inns., 3 hits, 2 runs-1 earned, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts.

RECORD: Sarasota 14-3

NEXT: Sarasota hosts Cardinal Mooney, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Lemon Bay 7, Lake Placid 1

AT: Lake Placid

TOP PLAYERS: LB, Madison Kinkade 1-4, 2B, run; Abigail Matheny 2-4, 3B, run; MacKenzie Vaughan 3-4, 2B, run, 2 RBI; Zoey Mills 2-4, 2B, RBI; Nyah Carson 2-4, RBI; Zoey Mills (WP) 7 inns., 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts

RECORDS: Lemon Bay 9-4, Lake Placid 6-9

NEXT: Lemon Bay hosts Ida Baker, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

BOYS TENNIS

Lemon Bay 7, North Port 0

AT: Lemon Bay

SINGLES: Steve Ethier (LB) d. Jacob Geier 8-1; Hunter Andres (LB) d. Cale Holmgren 8-0; Billy Rand (LB) d. Logan Earley 8-1; Gray Lowder (LB) d. Preston Douglas 8-1; Logan McGinty (LB) d. Jacob Mackey 8-3

DOUBLES: Ethier/Rand (LB) d. Geier/Holmgren 8-0; Lowder/Caleb Hutcherson (LB) d. Earley/Douglas 8-0

RECORDS: Lemon Bay 10-4, North Port 4-11

NEXT: Lemon Bay will host the boys Class 2A-Region 3 district tournament Monday and Tuesday. North Port will play in the Class 4A-District 8 tournament, hosted by Venice High, also Monday and Tuesday.

GIRLS TENNIS

Lemon Bay 6, North Port 1

AT: Lemon Bay

SINGLES: Parker Zautcke (LB) d. Autumn Geier 8-0; Radmila Djurich (NP) d. Rosey Lowder 8-3; Avery Shirley (LB) d. Keira Smith 8-4; Alaina Maday (LB) d. Jada Haynes 8-0; Mercedes Roesler (LB) d. Abigail Ramirez 8-6

DOUBLES: Zautcke/Lowder (LB) d. Geier/Djurich 8-2; Shirley/Maday (LB) d. Smith/Haynes 8-4

RECORDS: Lemon Bay 12-3, North Port 9-7

NEXT: Lemon Bay will host the girls Class 2A-District 11 tournament Monday and Tuesday. North Port will play in the Class 4A-District 8 tournament, hosted by Venice High School, Monday and Tuesday.

WEDNESDAY

BASEBALL

Sarasota 5, Braden River 4

SARASOTA − Tanner Crump admits his Sarasota High teammates frighten him during close games.

“I’ve been scared every seventh inning that I felt like we are going to lose,” Crump said.

And the Sailors always seem to come through.

After squandering a three-run lead in the top of the seventh inning, Sarasota pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to take a 5-4 victory over visiting Braden River High on Wednesday evening at Ronald K. Drews Field.

Crump started on the mound for the Sailors and gave his team six innings of one-run ball and departed with a 4-1 lead.

The Pirates (9-6) rallied against reliever Michael Bendever. After Matthew Schefer reached on an error, Jacoby Cox doubled and Nathan Hauck was hit by a pitch to load the bases, the top of the Braden River order came through.

Leadoff hitter Lexman Pirela Madrez singled in a run. Starting pitcher Rhys Klein plated two more with a one-out single to tie it at 4-all.

Bendever got out of the jam with a strikeout and fly out to limit the damage.

Then it was time for the top of the Sailors’ order to come through against Pirates’ reliever Joseph Pericozzi.

With one-out No. 3 hitter Rex Smith singled and went to third on a double by Bernard Barnes Jr. Rocco Depastino then hit a fly ball to right field that produced Smith with the winning run.

“I’m proud of the guys," Sarasota coach Greg Mulhollen said. "To blow a three-run lead and then come back and have a walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh is the makeup of a good team.”

“It’s a great feeling,” Crump said. “It gets me scared, but relieved after.”

Crump allowed five hits and hit two batters in six innings. He struck out six.

“Average outing,” the senior said. “I didn’t really have my slider. My changeup was off. I hit two batters. But it was a good day.”

HIs coach thought otherwise.

“Tanner Crump, another great outing,” Mulhollen said. “The kid just throws three pitches for strikes. He’s been a leader. He fell in love with baseball again. We know we are going to get a chance to win when he toes the rubber.”

Barnes’ two run single in the third gave the Sailors a 2-1 lead. The Sailors (13-3) then added what turned out to be two important insurance runs in the sixth.

With two outs Alex Barnes doubled and scored on a single by Bendever, who then stole second.

“That was huge,” Mulhollen said. “Bendever has been struggling of late and he stepped up. Good for him.”

With his second hit of the game, Luke Binswanger knocked in Bendever with the fourth run of the game.

“We didn’t hit the ball like we should have tonight,” Mulhollen said. “We’re working on things daily in practice and hopefully it clicks up and down the lineup.”

Braden River left six on base, four in scoring position. But it was the defense that failed the Pirates on this night, as they failed to come up with the routine plays at times.

“The defense is what killed us,” Braden River coach Gregory Creek said. “The pitching was good. We didn’t make the play we needed to the whole game.”

Klein, who surrendered 10 runs in three innings to the Sailors earlier this season, was much better this time. The sophomore left-hander gave up four hits and four runs in 5 ⅔ innings with three strikeouts and a walk.

“He pounds the zone,” Creek said. “He was hitting his spots and challenging them. If the defense makes the plays he gives up no runs.

“We always battle. We didn’t do enough defensively in the course of the game to hang in there unfortunately.”

Sarasota plays at 7 p.m. Thursday at home against 14-5 Strong Rock Christian of Locust Grove, Georgia. Braden River travels to Palmetto at 6 p.m. Thursday against the Tigers.

Lakewood Ranch 5, Venice 2

AT: Venice

TOP PLAYERS: LR, Andrew Schroeder 2-2, 3B, run, RBI; Jack Muller 2-3, 2B, run, RBI; Cole Wetherington 2-3, RBI; Cole Dement (WP) 6 inns., 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts. V, Nick Dunn 1-3, run; Jake Embury 1-3, RBI; Jeremiah Pachota 1-2, RBI; Jobe Fish (LP) 2.2 inns., 5 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts

RECORDS: Lakewood Ranch 9-5, Venice 10-7

NEXT: Lakewood Ranch hosts Riverview, Thursday, 7 p.m.; Venice hosts Calvary Christian, Tuesday, 7 p.m.;

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Cardinal Mooney 5, Charlotte 0

AT: Cardinal Mooney

Helena Hebda/Madeline Carson (CM) 21-11, 21-15; Gracie Page/Sawyer DeYoung (CM) 21-18, 21-14; Kate Montesano/Riley Greene (CM) 21-15, 21-15; Izzy Russell/Katie Powers (CM) 21-13, 21-19; Layla Larrick/Violet Weiser (CM) 17-21, 21-13, 15-13; Madi Robinson/Piper Carson (CM) 21-18, 12-21, 15-9

RECORDS: Cardinal Mooney 13-0, Charlotte 8-3

NEXT: Cardinal Mooney hosts Bradenton Christian, Tuesday, 4 p.m.; Charlotte at Mariner, Thursday, 4 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Lemon Bay 18, Island Coast 0 (3 inns.)

AT: Lemon Bay

TOP PLAYERS: LB, Madison Kinkade 2-3, 2 runs; Abigail Matheny 3-3, 3 runs, 2 RBI; MacKenzie Vaughan 1-2, run; 2 RBI; Baylee Goff 2-2, 3B, 2B, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Nyah Carson 2-2, 3B, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Chay Zalopany 2-1, 2 runs; MacKenzie Vaughan (WP) 3 inns., 0 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts

RECORD: Lemon Bay 8-4, Island Coast 3-9

NEXT: Lemon Bay at Lake Placid, Thursday, 6 p.m.

Sarasota 12, Venice 1 (5 inns.)

AT: Sarasota

TOP PLAYERS: S, Sommer Speers 3-4, 3 runs; Gianna Williams 3-4, 3 runs; Abbey Johns 2-4, 2 runs, 4 RBI; Brooke Bendel 2-3, 2B, run, 2 RBI; Miranda Gill 1-3, RBI; Christina Bowser 1-2, run; Addisyn Schwied 1-3, run; Ryleigh Bennett (WP) 3 inns., 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts. V, Emily Beam 1-3, run; Raionna Smith 2-2; Myah Purdy 1-2, RBI; Bailee Riggins (LP) 1.1 inns., 8 hits, 9 runs-7 earned, 2 walks

RECORDS: Sarasota 13-3, Venice 8-6

NEXT: Sarasota   Venice at Bishop Verot, Thursday, 6 p.m.; Sarasota at Parrish, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Parrish 6, Palmetto 0

AT: Parrish

TOP PLAYERS: PR, Julia Girk 2-3, 2B; Riley Little 2-3, 2B; Alex Call 2-3, 2B; Ella Torres 1-2, 3RBI; Isa Vega (WP) 7 inns., 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 17 strikeouts. PL, MaKenna Lee (LP) 3.2 inns., 7 hits, 6 runs-1 earned, 4 strikeouts

RECORDS: Parrish 14-2, Palmetto 8-8

NEXT: Parrish hosts Sarasota, Tuesday, 7 p.m.; Palmetto hosts Manatee, Tuesday, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY

BASEBALL

Out-of-Door Academy 10, Lemon Bay 0, 5 inn.

ENGLEWOOD − Appreciative of the effort turned in by the Out-of-Door Academy offense, Luke Geske wanted to do his part.

The Thunder pitcher finished the game as quickly as possible.

After Out-of-Door put up the 10th run in the top of the fifth inning, Geske struck out the side in the bottom of the inning finishing the Thunder’s 10-0 whitewash of Lemon Bay High on Tuesday evening at Jack Llewellyn Field.

“I got a lot of support offensively, so I couldn’t let them down,” Geske said.

In his abbreviated outing, the senior right-hander used his slider and fastball to allow three hits and two walks while striking out eight.

“Really locating the slider,” Geske said. “I was throwing it for strikes and not babying it. That’s what really helped me.”

Out-of-Door coach Mike Matthews has seen a more determined Geske in his past three outings.

“It seems like he’s focused in a little bit more,” Matthews said. “He’s attacked hitters more and because of that he’s done a really good job dialing it in and making it tough on the hitters.”

The support came early with a run in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Nevan Hernandez walked stole second and third and scored on an error.

The uprising came in the third when the Thunder sent 13 batters to the plate and scored eight times. Jack Hobson and Brandon Beasley, the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters in the lineup, each had two RBI singles in the inning.

Coming off a tough 4-3 loss Monday at Lakewood Ranch High where it struck out 14 times, Out-of-Door received contributions throughout the lineup.

“It feels great,” Geske said. “They’ve been working really hard. We kinda struggled offensively the past couple of weeks, but I’m really glad they were able to pull it off.

“It’s a good feeling in the dugout to bounce back especially after last night. That was really, really, really good.”

Giovanni Giulianni reached three times with two doubles and was hit by a pitch. He scored once and knocked in a run. No. 9 hitter Ryan Mohrmann was on base all three times with a single, double and reaching on an error. He also scored once and knocked in one. Carter Malartsik went 2-for-4 with a run scored and the run batted in to make it 10-0.

“It was a great way to respond for our team, a total team win,” Matthews said after watching his club strike out only twice Tuesday.

The Thunder (10-6) also flexed their muscles on the bases, stealing five bags, including third base three times, beating Lemon Bay at its own game.

“We talk about taking our game to the other team over and over and over again,” Lemon Bay coach Zach Gonzales said. “And that’s exactly what they did. They took our game and took it to us.”

Gonzales reeled off all the stats: eight strikeouts by the hitters, five errors by the defense and rough outing from starter Brady Ham.

“We were not competitive tonight,” Gonzales said. “I chalk it up to us coaches. We had a couple days off after a big break after our last game and we came out flat. It showed we had a few days off. We’ll get it corrected.”

There also were trends, some continued and some broken. It was Lemon Bay’s first home loss of the season in eight games. Out-of-Door had lost three of its past four, while the Manta Rays had a two-game winning streak snapped. It was the seventh time the Thunder scored 10 or more runs in a game.

And the most telling: Out-of-Door is 6-0 all-time against Lemon Bay.

Out-of-Door travels to Keswick Christian on Thursday afternoon in St. Petersburg. Lemon Bay (11-4) goes south to face Newmann on Thursday in Naples.

Parkview 3, Venice 1

AT: Venice

TOP PLAYERS: V, Carter Cox 1-3, run; Trent Adrian 2-3; Jackson Lucas (LP) 6.1 inns., 4 hits, 3 runs-2 earned, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

RECORDS: Venice 10-7, Parkview 18-4

NEXT: Venice hosts Lakewood Ranch, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Manatee 5, Palmetto 2

AT: Palmetto

TOP PLAYERS: P, Blake Willis 1-3, run; Michael Drouin 1-3, run; Edwin Lawrence 2-4, 2 RBI; Tyler Goforth (LP) 5 inns., 7 hits, 5 runs-4 earned, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts. M, Ozzy Lonzo 2 hits, run; Andrew Hyman 2 RBI; Rylan Jomisko (WP)

RECORDS: Manatee 7-10, Palmetto 5-10

NEXT: Manatee at Winter Haven, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; Palmetto at Key West, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Cardinal Mooney 5, Venice 0

AT: Cardinal Mooney

Helena Hebda/Madeline Carson (CM) 23-21, 21-6; Gracie Page/Sawyer DeYoung (CM) 18-21, 21-15, 15-4; Kate Montesano/Riley Greene (CM) 21-12, 21-12; Izzy Russell/Katie Powers (CM) 21-12, 21-13;Layla Larrick/Violet Weiser (CM) 21-9, 21-8; Madi Robinson/Piper Carson (CM) 21-17, 21-6

RECORDS: Cardinal Mooney 12-0. Venice 7-4

NEXT: Cardinal Mooney hosts Charlotte, Wednesday, 4 p.m.; Venice at Sarasota, Wednesday, 4 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Riverview 6, North Port 4

AT: North Port

TOP PLAYERS: NP, Kaitlin Kohlenberg 3-4, run; Jewelie Vanderkous 2-4, RBI; Elise Indico 1-3, HR, run, RBI; Jewelie Vanderkous (LP) 7 inns., 7 hits, 6 runs-2 earned, 13 strikeouts; R, Ella Trandem 1-4, 2 runs; Isabella Thompson 2-4, 3 runs, RBI; Isabelle Bain 2-4, 2B, RBI; Sierra Lipton (WP) 7 inns., 8 hits, 4 runs-2 earned, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

RECORDS: North Port 7-7, Riverview 3-9

NEXT: North Port at Charlotte, Monday, 7 p.m.; Riverview at Lakewood Ranch, Thursday, 7 p.m.

BOYS LACROSSE

Barron Collier 12, Venice 4

AT: Barron Collier

TOP PLAYERS: V, Jeffrey Alte 2 goals; Colby Francolini goal; Chris Legos goal; Alex Ptaszek 17 saves

RECORD: Venice 3-9

NEXT: Venice hosts Windermere Prep, Wednesday, 5 p.m.

BOYS TENNIS

Lemon Bay 7, Cypress Lake 0

AT: Lemon Bay

SINGLES: Steve Ethier (LB) d. Ryan Kendrix 6-1, 6-0; Hunter Andres (LB) d. Luis Celaya 6-1, 6-0; Gray Lowder (LB) d. Brandon Lee 6-1, 6-0; Logan McGinty (LB) d.Cypress Lake 6-1, 6-2; Hank Causey (LB) d. ColtonGulotta 6-1, 6-3

DOUBLES: Ethier/Billy Rand (LB) d. Kendrix/Lee 8-0; Caleb Hutcherson/McGinty (LB) d. Cypress Lake doubles 8-5

RECORD: Lemon Bay 9-4

NEXT: Lemon Bay hosts North Port, Thursday, 4 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS

Lemon Bay 7, Cypress Lake 0

AT: Lemon Bay

SINGLES: Parker Zaucke (LB) d. Carolina Solomon 6-3, 6-0; Rosey Lowder (LB) d. Orli Gottesman 6-4, 6-2; Avery Shirley (LB) d. Brigitte Maillakakis 6-0, 6-0; Alaina Maday (LB) d. Catelyn Holcomb 6-2, 6-3; Mercedes Roesler (LB) d. Devin Haddock 6-0. 6-0

DOUBLES: Zautcke/Lowder (LB) d. Solomon/Gottesman 8-2; Shirley/Marie Artigas (LB) d. Maillakakis/Holcomb 8-1

RECORD: Lemon Bay 11-3

NEXT: Lemon Bay hosts North Port, Thursday, 4 p.m.

MONDAY

BASEBALL

Parrish 13, Bradenton Christian 0

AT: Bradenton Christian

TOP PLAYERS: P, Eloy Serrata 1-3, 3 RBI; Logan Maguire 1-2, RBI; Tyler Cripe 3-4, 3B, 2B, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Calin Heath 2-3, 2 runs; Jonathan Maassen 2-4, RBI; Ayden Hinkel 2-4, 3 runs, 3 RBI; Jacob Traeger (WP) 4 inns., 0 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts. BC, Judah Galessiere 1-3; Samuel Heintz (LP) 3.1 inns., 5 hits, 8 runs-7 earned, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts

RECORDS: Parrish 12-3, Bradenton Christian 5-9

NEXT: Parrish at Riverview, Wednesday, 7 p.m.; Bradenton Christian at Sarasota Christian, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Cardinal Mooney 5, Sarasota 0

AT: Cardinal Mooney

Helena Hebda/Madeline Carson (CM) 21-3, 21-2; Ella Shuel/Sawyer DeYoung (CM) 21-9, 15-21, 15-7; Kate Montesano/Riley Greene (CM) 21-13, 21-12; Izzy Russell/Katie Powers (CM) 21-7, 21-; Layla Larrick/Violet Weiser (CM) 21-8, 21-15

RECORD: Cardinal Mooney 11-0, Sarasota 0-5

NEXT: Cardinal Mooney hosts Venice, Tuesday, 4 p.m.; Sarasota hosts Venice, Wednesday, 4 p.m.

SOFTBALL

North Port 15, Gateway Charter 0 (3 inns.)

AT: North Port

TOP PLAYERS: NP, Cailline Kelly 2-3, 2B, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Kaitlin Kohlenberg 2-2, 3B, two runs, RBI; Konstantine Belgrade 1-2, 2 runs; Payson Rumley 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; Rachael Harris 2-3, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Hailey Rachal 1-2, run; Caitlyn Paige 1-2, run, 2 RBI; Amayiah O’Neal 1-2, 3B, run; Jewelie Vanderkous (WP) 3 inns., 0 hits, 7 strikeouts

RECORD: North Port 7-6

NEXT: North Port hosts Riverview, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

BOYS TENNIS

Sarasota Christian 7, Admiral Farragut 0

AT: Sarasota Christian

SINGLES: Isaiah Ledford (SC) d. Elijah Winners 8-2; Donovan Beita (SC) d. Fnu Agaier 8-5; Alex Negron (SC) d. Borui Zhu 8-5; Trent Byers (SC) d.William Seeley 8-4; Noah Luna (SC) by walkover

DOUBLES: Beita/Negron (SC) d. Winners/Agaier 8-4; Byers/Luna (SC) d. Zhu/Seeley 8-3

RECORD: Sarasota Christian 10-5

NEXT: Sarasota Christian at Parrish, Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.

Venice 7, Fort Myers 0

AT: Fort Myers

SINGLES: David Siddons (V) d. Phillip Eastlund 6-1, 6-2; Josh Lim (V) d. Gabe Schoefeld 6-1, 6-2; Seth Neitlich (V) d. Ryan Bloom 6-1, 6-0; Aravind Rajeev (V) d. Joshua Kilpatrick 6-2, 6-2; Pranav Mayor (V) d. Rahul Mathur 6-0, 6-0

DOUBLES: Siddons/Neitlich (V) d. Eastlund/Kilpatrick 6-0, 6-0; Lim/Evan VanBuskirk (V) d. Schoefeld/Bloom 6-1, 6-1

RECORD: Venice 18-0

NEXT: Venice will be the host school for the Class 4A-District 8 boys tournament Monday and Tuesday

GIRLS TENNIS

Admiral Farragut 4, Sarasota Christian 3

AT: Sarasota Christian

SINGLES: Mya Clarke (AF) d. Emma Ferraro 8-4; Freddee Hendriks (AF) d. Maci Voigt 8-1; Haley Bolton (SC) d. Jordan Thompson 8-7 (7-3); Kaylan Weeks (SC) d. Gianna Rrgalla 8-6; Valeria Bilenka (AF) d. Marissa Weeks 8-3

DOUBLES: Clarke/Hendriks (AF) d. Ferraro/Bolton 8-4; Voigt/Brenda Bresciani (SC) d. Thompson/Rrgalla 8-1

RECORD: Sarasota Christian 7-7

NEXT: Sarasota Christian at Parrish, Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.

Venice 7, Fort Myers 0

AT: Fort Myers

SINGLES: Weronika DeLong (V) d. Gabriela Whitmer 6-0, 6-3; Christine Wu (V) d. Elizabeth Kremenchuker (V) 6-4, 6-4; Sandra Piskor (V) d. Madison Welsh 2-6, 6-4, 11-9; Joy Jia (V) d. Lauren Sawczyn 4-6, 6-0, 10-7; Tess Tchorbadjiev (V) d. Alexandra Bocanegra 6-0, 6-0

DOUBLES: Nicole Cierniak/DeLong (V) d. Whitmer/Sawczyn 8-1; Christine Wu/Tchorbadjiev (V) d. Welsh/Bocanegra 8-1

RECORD: Venice 17-1

NEXT: Venice will be the host school for the Class 4A-District 8 girls tournament Monday and Tuesday

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: High school roundup (April 3-8): Sarasota baseball rolls Strong Rock