Riverview holds off Spoto in wild finish
By Bob Bellone
Senior Staff Writer
RIVERVIEW – Riverview coach Jason Smith threw everything but the kitchen sink at host Spoto in a midseason collision of one-win teams in a Saturday matinee. A couple of late pitching changes threatened to let a seemingly insurmountable lead go down the drain.
Ultimate relief for Smith and the seven pitchers he employed came in the form of a 9-6 victory.
The contest was tied at two entering a chaotic seventh inning, when both teams batted around. Spoto ace right-hander Cullen Cairns had to be lifted after delivering 93 pitches through six, and Smith was glad his Sharks finally got into a depleted Spartans bullpen.
“C.C. is a good pitcher. I love that kid, and he’s only a sophomore,” the opposing coach said. “He’s not a kid that’s going to come in and blow it by you, but he just pitches well. He hits his spots. He’s able to live low-outside.”
Cairns gave way to Chris Baez, who was repositioned from left field, and Riverview capitalized on every break it received. The list included two walks, a hit batter, two errors and elusive pitches in the dirt to go along with four singles.
Cairns, who struck out nine in a no-decision, was hardly amused by what he saw.
“We need to win the game mentally before we step on the field,” he said.
Then came the equally eventful bottom half of the inning. With two quick outs, the bases empty and a seven-run advantage, Smith kept a promise to position player Fisher Weeks and handed him the ball.
The first two batters reached on infield errors, and Chase Wink followed with an RBI single. Ryan Butner took the mound next and walked four consecutive batters. Abel Jimenez, who led off the inning with a groundout, came up again with the bases loaded. This time representing the potential winning run, he worked the count to 3-1 before being called out looking at a pair of borderline pitches to end it.
“We get him on base, my top of the lineup was right behind him,” Spoto coach Stephan Knight said. “It would have gotten very interesting if we would have gotten to the top.”
Weeks – who stood out offensively going 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI – explained his rare opportunity to abandon his outfield spot for a pitching opportunity.
“Before the season started, Coach said he wanted to get me like an inning this year.”
What an inning it was.
Both teams have road games set for Tuesday night. Riverview (2-9) will visit district foe Plant City, while Spoto (1-8) heads to Braden River.
⚾⚾⚾⚾
Riverview 9
Spoto 6
R 002|000|7 – |9|8|3
S 010|100|4 – |6|8|3
W – Rolon (1-1); L – Baez
2B – Rolon (R); Baez (S). Records – R (2-9); S (1-8).
