Though not first, Chargers score steadily to top Osceola

Strawberry Crest senior Ethan Pues connects on his first inning RBI triple. Pues was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

By Jarrett Guthrie
Editor

TAMPA – Strawberry Crest junior Eli Vickers said a big focus for the Chargers this preseason was to score first and set a tone.

Though in Tuesday’s season-opener for both the Chargers and Seminole Osceola in 813Preps Bay Bash play, it was the Warriors who cracked the scoreboard first when senior Luke Percifield (2-for-3, two runs) singled to open the top half of the opening frame, moved over on an error, and eventually crossed the plate on a Gavin Tuttle sac fly to left.

Osceola senior Luke Percifield scores the game’s first run.

“We talked about it all preseason, we wanted to be the team that scores first,” Vickers said, “but even if they get the first one we are going to come right back up and punch them in the mouth.”

The Chargers did just that in the home-half as Vickers sent a line drive to center field and motored around the bases for a clean triple. With barely a moment to catch his breath, senior Ethan Pues clobbered a first-pitch fastball for a triple of his own, setting off a four-run first for the Chargers, which also featured RBI singles from Ray Allen Vasquez (1-for-2, walk, run, two stolen bases) and Akhil Nimmala (2-for-3, triple, two RBI), and an RBI sac fly from Austin Pendino.

“I was just trying to one-up (Eli) right there,” Pues said smiling after the game. “Once someone starts hitting, everyone starts hitting – it’s contagious.”

From there, junior Luke Richardson punched the clock for five innings of work, throwing strikes, allowing just two hits as the Chargers defense backed him up. Richardson didn’t strike anyone out, but also didn’t issue any free passes to earn his first win of the season.

Chargers starting pitcher Luke Richardson.

Strawberry Crest’s offense applied the pressure throughout with six total extra-base hits (four triples, two doubles) adding a pair of runs in the third.

Osceola battled back late, cutting the lead in half in the top of the sixth as Crest had their only bad inning on defense. Two hit batters, two walks and an error set up Tuttle to add his second RBI sac fly of the game and another run scored on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Nick Fitzpatrick, but Vasquez turned in one more of his solid plays of the day to leave the bases loaded.

Osceola junior Gavin Tuttle makes a catch at first, and had a pair of RBI sac flies for the Warriors.

The Chargers answered in the home-half as Lance Highsmith added a two-out triple, Vickers singled him in, and Pues added an RBI double to his day.

“That hit by Lance, to get on third base, was a huge statement late,” Pues said. “Eli had a nice RBI and I knew I had to do my job to get another insurance run. I saw a fastball up, and put it right down the line for a double.”

Crest’s Lance Highsmith turns it on headed to third on his sixth-inning, two-out triple.

Vickers added how important it was to answer back following the Warriors sixth inning scores, continuing to play like it was the first inning the whole game.

“We know even if we put up four in the first inning, we have to keep playing with the same approach,” Vickers said. “We can’t allow teams to come back or put pressure on us without responding back.”

Zach Redner earned the save for Crest working an inning and a third, striking out one.

Strawberry Crest continues play in the Bay Bash on Thursday when the Chargers face St. Petersburg Northeast (0-2) at 4pm from Jesuit, while Osceola takes on Bloomingdale (1-1) in the nightcap at 7pm on Thursday.

Strawberry Crest 8
Seminole Osceola 3

O    100|002|0 – |3|3|0
SC 402|002|x – |8|9|2
W – Richardson (1-0); L – Roth (0-1); S – Redner (1).
2B – Redner, Pues (SC); 3B – Vickers, Pues, Ak. Nimmala, Highsmith (SC). Records – O (0-1); SC (1-0).

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