Vasquez, Chargers offense stay hot in win over Northeast

Chargers junior Ray Allen Vasquez was 3-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and a stolen base for Crest’s 9-3 win against St. Petersburg Northeast.

By Jarrett Guthrie
Editor

February 25, 2022

TAMPA – Junior Ray Allen Vasquez continued the scalding start to the year for Strawberry Crest’s offense, pacing the Chargers with a 3-for-3 showing at the plate in Thursday’s 9-3 victory against St. Petersburg Northeast.

So far Vasquez is hitting .800, with two runs scored and three RBI, which included his two-run triple to center pushing Crest to a comfortable lead in the fifth inning of yesterday’s early game of the 813Preps Bay Bash from Jesuit.

“I came into the year pretty confident about things at the plate,” Vasquez said, “and that has carried over into the first two games.”

Strawberry Crest (2-0) took an early lead in the second when Brandon Watts lined a single to right, but Northeast countered the next inning on a Nick Biddle groundball. The Chargers took the lead for good in the third, implementing the double-steal as Eli Vickers avoided the tag at the plate score his team’s second run.

Chargers courtesy runner Eddie Cruz slides into the plate to score a run.

Much like in Crest’s first win of the year – an 8-3 win against Seminole Osceola on Tuesday – defense was solid for the Chargers with a few new faces in new spots in the infield this spring.

Junior righty Zach Redner was affective, working five innings to earn the win, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits, and striking out four. Zach Vincent worked the final two innings of relief for the Chargers.

Strawberry Crest junior RHP Zach Redner earned the win.

“Defense always seems to be underrated,” Vasquez, the second baseman, said. “But you can’t get up to hit if you can’t catch the ball.

“Our pitchers are pitch-to-contact guys, so we know we have to be ready every pitch to do what needs to be done.”

Ethan Pues added an RBI double to his blistering start – hitting .429 on the year with two doubles and a triple.

Despite the 0-3 run for Northeast in the Bay Bash, senior leadoff hitter Cayden Evans produced a .545 average, including a 3-for-4 showing in the loss to Crest.

Vikings senior Cayden Evans had three hits in Thursday’s loss.

John Ingalls homered to left field in the sixth, and catcher Josh Sorensen singled in a run and made a few really nice plays behind the dish on defense.

Strawberry Crest finishes off the week tonight against Jesuit at 7pm from Hyer Family Park, while faces IMG Silver on the road next Thursday.

Strawberry Crest 9
St. Pete Northeast 3

N   001|101|0 – |3|6|3
SC 013|032|x – |8|9|01
W – Redner (1-0); L – C. Martinez (0-1)
2B – Pues (SC); Evans (N); 3B – Vasquez (SC). Records – SC (2-0); N (0-3).

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