Class 5A State Semifinal Primer
Who: #4 Sebring (24-6) v #1 Jesuit (26-4)
When/Where: Monday, May 22, 1 pm;
Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile Cypress Parkway Fort Myers, Florida 33912
Admission: $9 per day if purchased in advance via GoFan, and $12 if purchased day-of
Parking: $10 for cars/$50 for busses (cash and credit cards accepted)
How they got here
Sebring won pitching battles against Zephyrhills (3-1 in the region quarterfinals) and Lake Wales (3-2 in the region final) and handled business 6-1 against Daytona Seabreeze in the semis. The Blue Streaks are in search of the baseball program’s first state title in 74 years (having won the 1949 Class B title against Winter Haven).
Already claiming district, region and Saladino Tournament titles this season, Jesuit attempts to win its seventh state title and second-straight (a rare feat the Tigers have not yet accomplished in it storied history) in 2023. An extra-inning walkoff (and now internet-viral) homer from Noah Sheffield pushed the Tigers to a 4-2 win against Naples in the only significant test Jesuit faced in the post season – outscoring its opponents 55-9 since the beginning of the district tournament. The Tigers won region quarterfinal and final games (against North Fort Myers and Seminole Osceola) both by a score of 12-2.
Tigers Players to Watch
Josh Hines, C
The Tigers backstop has driven in 14 and is hitting .298 while managing a team pitching staff with a 2.19 ERA – all while dealing with a partially torn ligament in his knee. Committed to Florida Southern, Hines drove in a pair of runs with a double in last year’s Class 5A state title win for the Tigers.
Grant Jordan, 3B
In Jesuit’s state title run a season ago, Jordan finished the year on a nine-game hitting tear that carried right into his senior season. The University of Tampa signee posted a .398 average as a senior with 39 RBI, 22 runs scored and five home runs.
Jake Kulikowski, OF
Hitting .315 with 32 runs scored and 19 RBI, the Miami-signed right fielder has had an incredible four-year stretch for the Tigers driving in a career 70 runs. In the region tournament, Kulikowski was 4-for-7 with a double, two RBI and six runs scored.
Wes Mendes, LHP/OF
An impact-player again for the Tigers, whether in the outfield, at DH or on the mound, the Ole Miss signee hit .417, with 41 runs, 36 RBI, eight doubles, and five homers. He went 4-0, with a 1.48 ERA, and 41 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings on the bump as well. Slow build after making his first appearance on the mound on March 31 due to some arm fatigue, Mendes hasn’t worked more than four innings on the mound this season. Last year, he dealt the Tigers to a Class 5A state title behind 6 2/3 shutout innings, with 11-strikeout and just three hits allowed against Melbourne Eau Gallie.
Blue Streaks Players to Watch
Rhett Vaughn, RHP: The Florida State committed junior is 7-0 on the mound, including region tournament wins against Zephyrhills and Lake Wales, and has a 1.27 ERA. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Vaughn has 104 strikeouts (11th-best in the state) in 60 2/3 innings on the mound, and has walked just 21.He is also hitting .278, with 26 RBI and five home runs.
Ben Bikar, Jr, SS/RHP: Hitting .297 with 27 runs scored, 13 RBI and 10 stolen bases, Bikar is a speedy, switch-hitting shortstop. The junior and Southern commit has 12 doubles on the year. Bikar has also made 14 appearances on the mound this season, striking out 31 in 23 innings, while posting a 2-1 record with a 1.83 ERA.
Clayton Evans, C: Another member of the Blue Streaks impressive Class of ’24, Evans is hitting .302, with 18 runs, 14 RBI, eight doubles and four triples. The 6-foot catcher is a Jacksonville University commit.
