Seniors lead Bulls to late-season win at Sickles
By Rick Cantor
Staff Writer
TAMPA – Thursday night’s contest between Sickles and Bloomingdale featured a highly anticipated matchup between two of the best starting pitchers in the county, Gryphon junior Caden McDonald and Bulls senior Jack Owens.
However, Bulls shortstop Colby Shelton made sure there would be no pitcher’s duel.
The senior stalwart lined the second pitch of the game over the center field fence for a tone-setting home run as Bloomingdale took down Sickles 9-4.
“We had a game plan going in and we knew Caden (McDonald) was going to try to get ahead with the fastball early” said Shelton “I was sitting on the fastball. I didn’t want to get late into the count and him beat me with the off speed. I got the fastball and put a good swing on it”
Bloomingdale (14-9) wasn’t done there, as senior Drake Harman (3-5, 3 RBI’s) lined an opposite-field double to left and came into score two batters later on an RBI single by younger brother Dawson.
Bloomingdale seniors Colby Shelton and Jack Owens (photo by Rick Cantor).
Owens (4 2/3ip, two hits, one earned run, four K’s) gave up a run in the bottom of the frame as Hayden Yost walked, stole second, moved to third on a single by McDonald, and eventually scored on a double-steal. A bases loaded strikeout of Cameron Guise limited the damage and staved off any momentum change.
“I was a little amped up in the first,” said Owens. “Thankfully I was able to settle down and get those outs.”
Bloomingdale extended their lead in the fourth inning with a two-out rally featuring RBI singles by senior Tephen Montgomery (2-4, RBI, run scored) and Alex Vasquez.
Sickles (19-4) caught a break in the bottom of the fifth when the usually sure handed Drake Harman misplayed a routine fly to center off the bat of McDonald, allowing Yost (two BB, two runs) to score and extended the inning. Thomas Bly followed by looping a single to center as courtesy runner Carter Christy came around and cut the lead to a run.
After an RBI single in the sixth by Drake Harman, Bloomingdale was looking for some insurance in the top of the seventh and received it on a two-run, bases loaded single by Shelton (3-for 4, three RBI) followed by a two-run single from Drake Harman. The now five run lead put the idea of a Gryphon comeback out of reach.
Although a big late season win over a high-quality team like Sickles could be viewed as a statement, the defending state champions have perspective.
“It was important win for us, but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves,” said Owens. “We have two more games to go, and we want to be in a good way going into the playoffs. Tonight was really just two good teams playing against each other.”
⚾⚾⚾⚾
(7) Bloomingdale 9
(6) Sickles 4
B 202|001|4 – |9|14|1
S 100|020|1 – |4|6|2
W – Owens (6-1); L – McDonald (6-2); S – Chappell (4)
2B – Da. Harman, Dr. Harman (B); Bly (S); 3B – Da. Harman (B); HR – Shelton (B). Records – B (14-9); S (19-4).
