Panthers pounce on Longhorns in 6-2 win
Panther cleanup hitter Jackson Cucchi slides home with the game’s first run in the second inning. Cucchi added a walk and scored twice in the win.
By Chuck Frye, Senior Staff Writer
TAMPA – With some new additions in the lineup from last year’s state finalist roster, Plant is still trying to find some consistency in its offense.
This wasn’t an issue Wednesday night, however, as visiting Lennard suffered a rare game-long series of meltdowns that yielded four unearned runs, more than enough for the Panthers in a 6-2 victory.
“We’ve had better nights,” mused Longhorns head coach Victor Martinez. “We’ve played good baseball, we’ve hit good and played good defense up until this week but we’ve gotten out of being the team we are. Taking care of the baseball is one of those things.”
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The bottom of the fifth inning turned a tight 2-0 ball game into a rout due to several errant throws. Plant (now 4-2) pieced together its best string of batting with some help from the bullpen of Lennard (3-3). Cleanup batter Danny Cerelli hooked a leadoff line drive base hit to left-centerfield followed by a walk to power-hitting Jackson Cucchi. After a strikeout, Matthew Midyett and Bo Allen were each hit by pitches to force home sophomore pinch runner Desan DeCamp.
With his back against the rightfield fence, Lennard senior Kevin Hunter pulls down Urban Ellis’ deep fly out in the second inning.
Then the wheels came off for the Longhorns as Connor Fulmino’s infield chopper was thrown past the first baseman into rightfield, allowing Cucchi and Midyett to cross the plate, and when the ball was delayed getting back to the infield, Allen sprinted home. Scoring four runs on just one hit locked up the victory for the Panthers.
Plant second baseman Tanner Swank exhales as he throws for the fifth inning’s final out.
“We brought back a lot of our infield from last year’s team,” Plant head coach Dennis Braun said. “(Experience with second baseman Tanner) Swank (who had two hits on Wednesday), Cash (Strayer, with a hit and two walks) stepped into shortstop and Rocco DeMarinis (Wednesday’s starting pitcher) usually at third, with Bo Allen there (against Lennard).
“Our outfield (Midyett, Fulmino and Cucchi from left to right) is new but better athletically than last year. They all run and throw the ball well and if they come along offensively, then we’ll be alright.”
Plant senior Rocco Demarinis came within two outs of a complete game, scattering five hits while yielding no earned runs.
DeMarinis (6.1 innings, no earned runs, five hits, three strikeouts, one hit batter) had no trouble letting his stellar defense do its thing as strong plays from first baseman Cerelli (diving catch in foul ground in the fifth), Swank and Allen (back-to-back strong plays to end the sixth) helped keep the Longhorns scoreless.
“They make all of the tough plays and that gives me more confidence,” DeMarinis said. “With them behind me, I can make better pitches.”
Plant’s Bo Allen slides home safely, clearing the bases on a fifth-inning Lennard throwing error that boosted the Panthers’ lead to 6-0.
Lennard was able to snap the shutout in the seventh when Cole Montgomery (three of his squad’s five hits) moved to third when Sebastian Rojas reached on a throwing error, and then Montgomery scored on a balk. Rojas scored on J.B. Bryant’s infield ground out.
“Cole has come into his own this year,” Martinez said. “He’s seeing the ball well and working hard at practice. He’s really dug into his approach, is trusting himself as a good hitter and is sticking to it.”
Lennard second baseman Sebastian Rojas flips a short throw to first to retire a Plant batter in sixth-inning action.
Plant opened the scoring in the second inning when Cucchi launched a double to the left-centerfield fence, moved to third on DH Urban Ellis’ deep fly ball and scored when Allen reached on an error. Midyett, who reached on a free pass and stole second, scored on Swank’s first single.
“The kids are checking themselves and pressing,” Braun concluded. “For the young kids, the pressure of walking in and playing for Plant has been a challenge. Once they get into the flow of the games, the offense will get better and we’ll be OK.”
Both teams will open Saladino Tournament play on Saturday afternoon with Plant facing a hot Jefferson squad, while Lennard takes on Plant City.
As centerfielder Connor Fulmino (4) jogs toward the infield, fellow Plant outfielders Matthew Midyett and Jackson Cucchi (27) elevate their high-fives after defeating Lennard.
Plant 6, Lennard 2
L 000|000|2 – |2|5|3
P 020|040|x – |6|4|1
W – DeMarinis; L – Martinez
2B – Cucchi (P). Records – L (3-3); P (4-2).
