McDonald deals and delivers Sickles to win over Jesuit

Sickles junior Luke Fikar celebrates the double-play to end the Gryphons 1-0 win against Jesuit, where the right-hander earned the save.

By Jarrett Guthrie
Editor

TAMPA – Six months ago Sickles junior Caden McDonald made a start on the hill as the Gryphons squared off against Jesuit in last October’s Steinbrenner Wood Bat Fall Classic final and announced himself on the county scene with a 10-strikeout performance, as his team took that tournament’s crown.

In the first four weeks of the 2022 season, McDonald showed that fall evening win was merely the snack before the feast. Tuesday, McDonald came to eat as he shoved on the mound for 6 1/3 innings of shutout baseball, and took care of business at the plate driving in a run as the Gryphons topped Jesuit, 1-0 in the Saladino Tournament Gold Division semifinal.

“It feels just as good as when I did it back in October,” McDonald said. “I gave them my best game, they fought with good at-bats, they scared us a couple of times, but this was a great team win.”

Jesuit starting pitcher Jamie Arnold.

The game started a bit delayed as planned Jesuit starter Ryan Denison felt some discomfort in his arm warming up, and the Tigers instead turned to staff ace Jamie Arnold on short notice. The two starting pitchers did not disappoint in a back-and-forth showdown, with Arnold going five scoreless innings, before allowing a one-out double to Connor Vance, who scored the deciding run on McDonalds ground ball single to center. The Florida State signee would pitch 6 1/3 innings, yielding just three hits, three walks and the lone run, while striking out six.

“Jamie is a great pitcher and he tossed a heck of a game,” McDonald said, “and I was just lucky to put a good swing on one and drive it back up the middle for a run.”

Unfortunately for Jesuit (8-4), McDonald matched his counterpart on the hill all afternoon. Allowing four hits, and walking three the 16-year-old righty struck out eight before reaching the pitch-count limit and being forced from the mound with the evener on first base.

Sickles junior righty Caden McDonald improved to 3-0 on the season.

Luke Fikar moved to the bump for Sickles (9-0) from shortstop and did his job, inducing a ground ball to third where Thomas Bly started a double-play, throwing to Cameron Guise at second, who then relayed to McDonald at first to end the game.

Not the first affective relay of the game for Sickles, as the Gryphons ended in the bottom of the fifth when Jesuit’s Carter French (2-for-3) doubled to left field sending Jacob Lozano around the bases. Left fielder Connor Vance ran down the ball and came up firing, relaying a throw into Fikar who sent a strike into catcher Justin Allen for the out.

“In the moment it’s kind of intimidating knowing someone is coming at you, but you just have to trust yourself,” Allen said. “You just let the play develop and trust that when the ball comes you will react.”

Sickles junior claps his dugout up after his double in the sixth. Vance, who was 2-for-3 and scored the winning run, had a big impact offensively and defensively for the Gryphons.

Vance, who had a pair of hits in the win and scored the decider, said that he was looking for any way to fire up his team, before coming up with two of the biggest moments for the Gryphons.

“I saw that I had to get it in quick because I knew it would be close,” Vance said. “Our bats have been rolling this year, but not today. So, I really wanted to do something to get us going.”

The momentum shift worked as Sickles responded with the winning run in the next half-inning, as McDonald picked up third win of the season, and upped his county-leading RBI total to 19.

Asked after the game if McDonald’s early-season accomplishments surprise him, Allen’s grin grew, saying: “Honestly, I want to say, ‘yes,’ but no. That’s just Caden. That is what he can do. It’s kind of crazy and we are all loving it. He is high-energy, and he just delivers.”

Allen threw out a pair of runners at second base, and made a smooth scoop and tag on a batter on a dropped third strike that rolled in front of the plate.

“I wouldn’t want another battery-mate in the whole state, country, wherever,” McDonald said of Allen. “I love having Justin back there because he makes big time plays, crucial for our team and he was crucial to this victory.”

Jesuit’s Dariel Pirela had the game’s first hit and added a second single, as he at leadoff and French in the nine-hole provided all four of the Tigers hits.

Sickles will face Plant, winners Tuesday 6-1 over Strawberry Crest, in Wednesday’s Saladino Gold Division championship, which will be held at Jesuit at 7 p.m.

Sickles skipper Eric Luksis addresses his team after the win Tuesday afternoon.

Sickles 1
Jesuit 0

S 000|001|0 – |1|3|3
J 000|000|0 – |0|4|0
W – McDonald (3-0); L – Arnold (2-1); S – Fikar (2)
2B – Vance (S); French (J). Records – S (9-0); J (8-4).

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