Seffner Christian holds off Carrollwood Day, 5-3
By Bob Bellone, Senior Staff Writer
SEFFNER – Ian Bast didn’t surprise anyone with his latest solid mound performance for Seffner Christian Academy, a 5-3 victory against Carrollwood Day School in a Tuesday matinee.
The senior right-hander managed to raise eyebrows with one pitch, however – the Logan Mazur fastball he redirected over the left-field fence in the bottom of the fourth.
The solo shot by Bast not only produced a key insurance run, but also made history by becoming the 10th homer of the season off a Crusader bat – a school record.
Bast, who came in with only one hit all season, was determined to make some noise with his.
“I was like, I’ve got to hit something. If I see a ball there, I’m swinging out of my shoes right now,” he said. “It was such a good feeling.”
No one had a better view of the blast than relief pitcher Austin Trimble, who was preparing to take over for Bast.
“I was cheering from the bullpen,” Trimble said. “When I saw that ball go up, I knew it.”
Bast had plenty to cheer about in the first inning, when the Crusaders batted around while building a 4-0 advantage.
Mazur hit leadoff batter C.J. Koenck with a pitch, then walked Ethan Duncan. Shay Dean drove in both runners with a double just over the head of fallen center fielder Julian Earle.
Collin McNeal reached on an infield error that allowed Dean to score. McNeal raced to second on the throw home and came around on a two-out single by Zac Werner.
“It was just a rough inning,” Mazur said. “I wasn’t hitting as many spots as I did the rest of the game. I left fastballs up the middle, and they were able to hit it. Just unfortunate.”
Carrollwood got on the scoreboard with a solo home run by Brennan Leonhardt in the second. The Patriots added two runs, one earned, in the fourth.
In the next inning, Bast was lifted after issuing a pair of one-out walks. Trimble silenced the threat with a strikeout, an intentional pass to Leonhardt, and a foul popout.
Austin Trimble
Trimble, a junior, earned the two-plus inning save without allowing a hit. He had four strikeouts to go along with five by Bast.
“I did what needed to be done, shut them out,” Trimble said. “In those scenarios, that’s all you have to do.”
Seffner coach Sal Giardina was impressed with Mazur, who went the distance and allowed only one hit – the mistake to his counterpart – after the first inning.
“That sophomore threw really well, kept us off balance,” Giardina said. “Our approach to the plate changed after the first inning.”
The Class 2A District 10 victory for the Crusaders (10-5, 3-0) was their fifth in a row overall. The Patriots slipped to 9-8, 1-1.
⚾⚾⚾⚾
Seffner Christian 5, Carrollwood Day 3
C 010|200|0 – |3|1|0
S 400|100|x – |5|4|2
W – Bast; L – Mazur; S – Trimble
2B – Dean (S); HR – Leonhardt (C); Bast (S). Records – C (9-8); S (10-5).
