Sickles rallies for win in Top 2 tilt with Plant
Sickles coach Eric Luksis congratulates Caden McDonald as the senior rounds third for the plate after his fourth homer of the season.
By Chuck Frye, Staff Writer
TAMPA – The situation hit a little too close to home.
Hosting a streaking Plant squad on Tuesday night, Sickles used patience and power to surge to an early four-run advantage. But the Panthers, fresh off a huge victory last week against Jesuit, strung together six quality at-bats mid-game to surge to a 5-4 lead. A four-run fourth inning did it, just like last year against the Gryphons en route to a Saladino Tourney title that was one of a pair of come-from-behind victories head-to-head.
However, Sickles didn’t back down this time, hoisting huge lumber to quickly retake the lead and surge to a quality 8-6 victory in a matchup of the top two teams in this week’s 813Preps rankings.
After spotty starting pitching plus a two-run homer from senior Caden McDonald got the hosts off to a solid start. Plant (11-4) rode production from the bottom of its order to the lead.
Caden McDonald sporting Sickles’ home run chain.
A bases-loaded walk to pinch hitter Kirk Kolano scored Rocco DeMarinis (first of two singles) followed by a base hit from leadoff man and Gryphon nemesis Cash Strayer (five hits in last three games vs. Sickles) that brought home Trey Freeman (second walk of the night) and Tanner Swank (single). A fielder’s choice on Jack Meade’s infield grounder plated pinch runner Connor Fulmino and reversed the lead.
Plant reliever Rocco Demarinis (12).
It also caused Sickles to search its soul.
“We kind of got together (in the fourth inning) and tried to figure out are we the same team as last year or are we built a little bit different than last year,” Gryphons head coach Eric Luksis said.
The question was answered quickly and emphatically by Hayden Yost and Thomas Bly.
Plant second baseman Tanner Swank’s tag is too late as Sickles’ Hayden Yost slides in for a first-inning steal.
With leadoff man Connor Vance (two walks and a hit batter) reaching on a free pass, Yost (two hits) raked a blast over the right-centerfield fence to put Sickles (14-2) back on top.
Senior Hayden Yost is welcomed back into the dugout after his two-run homer gave the Gryphons the lead for good in the fourth.
“(Hayden’s) a guy that doesn’t hit for a ton of power but he’s got great hit tools,” Luksis said.
Plant almost wiggled out of the inning trailing by one but a two-out hit from Justin Allen followed by Jacob Dial’s hit by pitch set the stage for Bly’s heroics.
“Coach (Luksis) talked to me and got me looking fastball,” Bly said. “I trusted my hard work that something good was going to happen.”
Sickles third baseman Thomas Bly (22) retreats after taking rightfielder Jacob Dial’s throw and tagging out Plant’s Bryce Pelleriti (for a second-inning double play.
Luksis put it a little more simply: “(Bly) came right over and I told him that you’re sitting dead red. Ambush that fastball.”
And that’s what Bly did, rocketing a double down the leftfield line that delivered the eventual winning runs.
“I definitely didn’t expect it to be as big as it was, especially with two outs and two batters before I got up,” Bly said. “But the opportunity came and I delivered for our team.”
Connor Bly (17) congratulates Thomas Bly (22) as he returns to the bench following his two-run, fourth-inning double.
Plant chipped away for a sixth-inning run on Robert Satin’s two-out single, but closer Luke Fikar faced five batters, retiring the last four in order for the save that extended Sickles’ win streak to six.
“He had to get four outs which we haven’t asked him to do this season,” Luksis said. “We lengthened him a little bit but he’s our go-to guy in a close game late.”
“When we got up 4-0, most teams would have folded but Plant’s always a good, tough team to play,” Bly concluded. “They knocked us out of the Saladino (last year) but it feels good to beat Plant. It’s always good to beat (Plant).”
After seeing their seven-game win streak snapped, the Panthers look to rebound Thursday at home vs. Robinson. The Gryphons will send McDonald to the hill on Senior Night Thursday against a tough Alonso squad.
⚾⚾⚾⚾
#2 Sickles 8, #1 Plant 6
Check back Wednesday afternoon for our game story.
P 001|401|0 – |6|8|2
S 220|400|0 – |8|7|1
W – Gonzales (4-0); L – Gonzalez; S – Fikar
2B – Pelleriti (P); Bly (S); HR – McDonald, Yost (S). Records – P (10-4); S (14-2).
