Jefferson explodes for region semi win at McKeel

Jefferson junior Alliuq Troupe sends an RBI double over the drawn-in left fielder, sparking a five-run fourth inning. Troupe was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

By Jarrett GuthrieEditor

Click here for our full photo gallery from this one.

LAKELAND – Jefferson junior Alliuq Troupe picked out the perfect moment to break out of a 3-for-17 mini-slump over the Dragons previous five games. In Friday’s Class 4A-Region 3 afternoon semifinal game at Lakeland McKeel, after the Dragons fell behind a run and failed to bring in three runners from scoring position through three innings, Troupe spied the Wildcats left fielder drawn in and made that slight hurt, burning the outfielder for a standup RBI double – sparking a fourth-inning offensive explosion as Jefferson cruised to an 11-2 victory.

“I was feeling great right there, honestly,” Troupe said. “As soon as I hit the ball, I knew we were getting a run. Before that I was struggling a lot. That was my first big hit in a good little minute.”

Alliuq Troupe coasts into second base.

Troupe would score on a throwing error by the catcher, and Joseph Fritz would drive in what would prove the deciding run with a single two batters later as the Dragons would bring in five.

The four-run lead was enough for Dragons senior John Valle, who made the start just three days after picking up the win in relief against Robinson in an extra-inning thriller in the region opener. The Cuban-born righty recovered quickly from a first-inning, unearned run, working five innings while allowing a single hit and walking three.

Senior John Valle pitched five innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit and struck out five. 

Though Valle was visibly feeling some lower-back tightness affecting his stride and delivery, he refused to yield from the mound and gave Jefferson (19-7) all he had while striking out five.

“I was just a little sore,” Valle said through interpreter and assistant coach Ramses Gonzalez. “I just went out there and didn’t think about it. I just threw the ball.”

Dragons head coach Spencer Nunez applauded the effort after the win: “John went out there and battled his butt off for five innings, clearly uncomfortable, but he got loosened up and should be good to go the rest of the way.”

Jefferson junior Cameron Mallo.

Junior Cameron Mallo was nearly unstoppable at the plate, crushing McKeel (19-8) pitching, going 4-for-5, including an RBI double to the left-center gap in the fourth, and a two-run single up the middle in the seventh to close the Dragons scoring.

“I was thinking, ‘just do a job,’” Mallo said. “It’s bigger than yourself, just do a job for the team. Whatever position I came up in this game, I knew I had to do whatever I could – no selfish at-bats – and it worked out pretty well.”

Cameron Mallo is all smiles, raising his fist in celebration after his RBI double. Mallo was 4-for-5 with three RBI.

Pretty well indeed, as Mallo upped his batting average to .429 and has 12 hits in his last 20 at-bats.

“That’s just how Mallo has been all year,” Nunez said. “He’s hitting .429 now, and whenever we need a big hit, whenever we have base runners, he’s there to do the job – offensively and defensively.”

JaMarques Benton connects on a hit. The sophomore was 2-for-4 with two RBI in the win.

Joining Troupe with two-hits for the Dragons was JaMarques Benton (2-for-4, two runs, two RBI) and Isiah Fernandez (2-for-4, RBI, three runs, two stolen bases), while Cameron Copple had a hit, scored a run, and pitched the final two innings. On the mound Copple allowed one run on two hits, while striking out a pair including one to close out the game.

Jefferson junior Cameron Copple. 

Ryan Walker doubled in the sixth inning for McKeel, advanced to third on a groundout and scored the Wildcats’ second run on a single into left by Joseph Mills.

The Dragons will travel to Dunedin (winners 2-0 against Wauchula Hardee on Friday) and take on the 20-7 Falcons from TD Ballpark next Tuesday at 7pm.

Dragons senior captain Joseph Fritz is fired up after his RBI single, turned into a three-bagger on a two-base McKeel error in the fourth. 

Class 4A-Region 3 Semifinal ⚾

Jefferson 11, Lakeland McKeel Academy 2

J 000|000|0 – |11|13|2
M 000|000|0 – |2|3|4
W – Valle (4-2); L – Howell (7-1)
2B – Troupe, Mallo (J); Walker (M). Records – J (19-7); M (19-8).

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