Plant’s offense stays firing in decisive win over Wharton

By Mike Camunas
Creative Director

TAMPA — Suddenly, the Plant Panthers perplexingly pummell playing participants.

Alliterations aside, the Panthers (5-3) are on an offensive outburst, the latest being a 11-2 drubbing of Wharton in the Gold Bracket second round of the Saladino Tournament on Monday at the Hyer Family Park at Jesuit High.

“We’re finally getting some games under our belt and seeing some pitching,” said Plant coach Dennis Braun, who is in his 18th season at the helm. “We’re being more aggressive at the plate and that’s helped.”

In their past two games, the Panthers have outscored opponents 20-2, including their first-round 9-0 win over Alonso on Saturday.

“We’re just trying to see and get every fastball,” said senior outfielder Conley Strayer, who was 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored on Monday, “but it is Saladino though.”

Plant seems to be feeling all the highs that come with playing in the annual prestigious Hillsborough County tournament, especially the pitchers. This time around it was junior righty Michael Hawks, who would throw a complete game against the Wildcats (6-2), allowing just two runs on four hits, three walks and striking out four.

Hawks also added to his cause, going 2-for-4 with three RBI at the plate.

“Yeah,” Hawks said, “that’s a nice little boost from yourself.”

“Mikey really needed some innings because he hasn’t had many starts,” Braun said of Hawks’ complete game, “so we wanted to lengthen him out, so obviously (the complete game) happened, but he’s had some key hits for us.”

Plant jumped out to a four-run lead by the fourth thanks to Hawks’ two-RBI single in the third and then an RBI single by Strayer in the next inning. Wharton ace Ryan Fry lasted just 3 1/3 innings, allowing the four runs and three walks.

Strayer would drive home Jack Meade in the sixth, and Thomas Bolten would add two RBI by scoring Strayer and Bryce Pelleriti. Strayer added his third RBI in the seventh by bringing home shortstop Tanner Swank.

“He’s our old guy,” Braun said of the elder Strayer, a senior whose brother, Cash, is a freshman on the team. “We’re a young team, but he’s been in our lineup a long time and he’s the guy that, start to finish, gets it going and we really count on him for that.”

It wasn’t just at the plate that Strayer made a difference. While Cash was a part of an important late-game double play in the sixth, Conley made a diving catch in left field, robbing Justis Meadows of a base hit in the second.

“I’m glad we put up some runs early,” Conley added. “Wins in this tournament are never easy.”

Plant will travel to Strawberry Crest on Tuesday at 1 p.m. for the Saladino Gold Bracket semifinal game; Wharton will continue in consolation play at Durant against the Cougars at 1 p.m.

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Plant 11
(4) Wharton 2

P  003|104|3 – |11|11|1
W 000|002|0 – |2|4|2
W – Hawks (1-2); L – Fry (2-2)
2B – Bolton, Hawks, Con. Strayer, Meade (P). Records – P (6-3); W (6-2).