THE 8-1-3List Week 4
presented by The Hitting Academy

1. Jesuit (12-0)

The Tigers made it a dozen-straight in claiming the title of the 43rd annual Saladino Tournament with a 5-2 championship victory against Sickles on Thursday. Josh Hines hit .500 in the tournament, driving in three, with five doubles; while Derek Westfall pitched 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with a win and two saves, striking out five and allowing just two hits; and Aden Knowles earned tournament MVP honors picking up two wins on the mound, striking out eight and allowing two earned runs in nine innings. Jesuit welcomes St. Louis (Mo.) for a visit tonight, and will travel to St. Petersburg Hollins on Thursday.
Last Week: #1

2. Sickles (8-2)

The Gryphons rallied for Saladino pool wins against Jefferson and Robinson, before dominating a semifinal win against Alonso, but just couldn’t create enough late-inning magic to make up for a tough first frame against Jesuit in the tourney final. Senior Hayden Yost went 8-for-17 in the tournament with a pair of triples, five RBI and four runs scored. The Gryphons have a three-game week ahead hosting King (Tues) and Steinbrenner (Thurs), and traveling for a breakfast game at Freedom on Saturday.
Last Week: #2

3. Durant (8-2)

Durant senior C Dylan LaPointe.

Unable to get on the scoreboard against Sickles two Saturdays ago, the Cougars finished the Saladino with three-straight wins including a nine-inning thriller against Jefferson, 4-3. Gavin Florio struck out six in 7 2/3 innings pitched over two games last week, allowing just a single run; senior Dylan LaPointe and junior Blaine Rowland each had homers in the tournament. The Cougars roll into a three-game week with a trip to Leto on Tuesday, and home tilts against Lennard on Friday and Robinson on Saturday.
Last Week: #6

4. Jefferson (7-3)

The Dragons stay high up on the list, because Jefferson’s two losses in the Saladino came to the teams ahead of them – a two-run loss to Durant, and a nine-inning loss to the Gryphons. But the Dragons took care of business last week with a 5-0 win over Steinbrenner to close out the tourney. Senior Alejandro Aguilar and junior Cameron Mallo have led the offense with 10 hits apiece in as many games, with Aguilar’s eight RBI and Mallo’s nine runs (tied with Alliuq Troupe) pacing the team. After hosting during Saladino, the Dragons go on the road at East Bay on Tuesday, and at Alonso on Thursday.
Last Week: #3

5. Strawberry Crest (6-4)

Strawberry Crest senior Zach Redner.

The Chargers also went 2-2 in last week’s tourney, falling victim to an epic comeback from Newsome, and took a 3-1 loss to Durant in consolation play. But Crest did hand Bloomingdale its first loss of the season with a big three-run double from Alex Philpott, and with no chance of advancement the Chargers punished Steinbrenner with a mercy-rule win as Eli Vickers won his high school mound debut, Zach Redner drove in four, and the team had seven extra-base hits (read more here). Crest looks for some revenge when hosting Newsome on Tuesday, before welcoming in Chamberlain on Thursday.
Last Week: NR

6. Berkeley Prep (7-3)

The Buccaneers have won three-straight, including a smashing of St. Pete Catholic and a late-inning comeback at Clearwater Central Catholic with Jojo Troupe going 3-for-6, with two homers, a double, five RBI and three runs scored in the two games (we’ve got coverage of that win here). The Buccaneers close out spring break with two away games later in the week, traveling to Bishop McLaughlin on Thursday, and heading to Lakewood Ranch on Friday.
Last Week: NR

7. Armwood (7-2)

Armwood makes its season debut on THE List after ripping off five-straight victories en route to a Saladino Bronze Division title, defeating Spoto 7-3 (click here) in the final. That victory, avenged an earlier loss to the Spartans, as the Hawks have shown to be ready to break out for the second half of the season. Sophomore Chase Conti earned player of the game honors for the final, pitching six innings, allowing one unearned run and striking out nine, while going 7-for-13 in the four-game tourney with four doubles, a triple, eight runs and seven RBI; while senior Antonio Rodriguez had a hell of a ‘Dino as well, going 6-for-14, with five runs and eight RBI. We’ll see if the Hawks run can add some big wins this week traveling to Gaither on Tuesday, before hosting Steinbrenner on Friday.
Last Week: NR

8. Tampa Catholic

Tampa Catholic went 2-2 in the Saladino against four teams that were all ranked in our Week 3 Top 8 List, and when you consider it’s other two losses on the season went to a pair of Top 5 teams in the NATION, the Crusaders have shown the can stand with anyone. TC battled to a 10-inning win over Lennard on Monday, and fended off Bloomingdale 7-3 to close out tournament play. Senior Danny Lazaro struck out seven in six innings against the Bulls, allowing just two hits, while Bransen Angel and Alex Sotiropoulos combined to keep Lennard to a single run in pool. The Crusaders take on Seffner Christian this afternoon, before district games against Brooks DeBartolo (Wed) and Tampa Prep (Thurs).
Last Week: NR

Dropping out from last week: #4 Bloomingdale (7-3); #5 Plant (6-3); #7 Gaither (5-4); #8 Alonso (6-4).

“1” Team to Watch

Riverview (5-5)

Who says tournament’s are grueling slogs? Not the Sharks, who entered 1-4 on the year, before ripping off four-straight, including a 13-3 drubbing of King for the Saladino Silver Division crown (click here). Riverview put up 38 runs in the four-game stretch, as seniors Adrian Rolon (.467, nine runs, four doubles) and Farah Castillo (.393, 11 runs, eight RBI) have been leading the way at the plate.

“3” Top Performances

Wilson Andersen, Jesuit

The Tigers freshman made two appearances for the Saladino champion Tigers, pitching a total of 7 1/3 innings, striking out 13, and yielding just two earned runs on three hits, picking up a save against Wharton and providing crucial long relief for the comeback win in the semis against Newsome.

Evan Dempsey, Newsome

The senior went 6-for-13, with two homers, eight RBI, and five runs for the Saladino semifinalist Wolves, including a walk-off grand slam against Bloomingdale (read more on that here). He is now hitting .461 on the year with nine runs for the Wolves.

Victor Peinado, Riverview

The Sharks senior struck out 14 across two wins in the tournament for the Sharks, including a victory in the tournament final. Averaging more than a strikeout-per-inning, Peinado is 2-2 on the year with a 3.29 ERA.