1. Jefferson (7-0) ☝️2
Jefferson starting pitcher Mikey Marroquin
Jefferson took down Robinson, Chamberlain and Plant last week, and jump up to No. 1 for the first time this season. Senior righty Mikey Marroquin picked up wins against the Knights and Panthers, pitching in a combined seven shutout innings, allowing four hits, four walks and striking out five, improving to 4-0. Alliuq Troupe highlighted the Saladino Tournament opening win against Plant with a three-run home run, and went 3-for-7 with a double, triple and homer and five runs scored. The Dragons continue in Saladino Gold play with a Top 10 showdown against Bloomingdale tonight, and take on Wharton to finish pool play on Tuesday.
2. Sickles (6-1) ☝️2
Sickles junior shortstop Jordan Yost.
The Gryphons also jump up two spots on the list this week, handing last week’s No. 1 Gaither its first two losses, and picked up a win at Spoto as well. Carter LeBlanc’s six inning shutout of the Cowboys last Tuesday featured five strikeouts for the senior. Cameron Guise’s HUGE week – including a win on the mound vs the Cowboys on Saturday and three homers – earns him listing in our 8 Top Performers list below, while Jordan Yost (on a six-game hitting streak) was 5-for-5 on the week with two doubles, six runs, four RBI and three stolen bases. Saladino Gold play continues for Sickles down in Ruskin as the Gryphons face host Lennard tonight and Plant City on Tuesday.
3. Jesuit (4-2) ☝️2
Jesuit senior right fielder Zane Pestalozzi.
A washout down in South Florida postponed a big showdown with Parkland Stoneman Douglas, BUT the Tigers ripped off two quality wins defeating Miami Sunset and Newsome last week. Zane Pestalozzi was 4-for-6 in the wins, with a homer, double, three runs and two RBI; Jacob Lozano scored two and drove in three; and McCall Biemiller struck out six of the 10 batters he faced in the win against Newsome on Saladino Saturday. Jesuit squares off with Strawberry Crest (both 1-0 in Saladino Gold Division pool play) tonight in Dover, and will face Leto on Tuesday.
T4. Durant (5-1) 👇2
Everything was cruising for the Cougars in its Saladino opener against TC as Blaine Rowland (4-for-6, with two homers, 6 RBI) as he struck out 11, but Durant couldn’t hold off a sixth- and seventh-inning rally from the Crusaders and the team dropped its first game of the season and tournament. The Cougars took care of Robinson early last week, and the game at Bloomingdale was a washout. Durant needs some help to advance to the Saladino semis, and will face Steinbrenner this afternoon and Alonso on Tuesday (from Tampa Catholic).
T4. Tampa Catholic (5-2) ☝️4
The Crusaders scored nine runs in the final two innings to hand Durant its first loss of the season on Saturday, and defeated district opponent Berkeley Prep, 7-1 on Tuesday. A power outage stopped a game after 3 ½ innings with the Crusaders trailing IMG Black by five, which though unofficial keeps us from jumping the two-loss TC over Durant this week. Dominic Woodward struck out seven to earn the win over the Bucs, and Ethan Frame went 3-for-4, with a double and two RBI against the Cougars. Crusaders continue to host Saladino Gold pool play games, and take on Alonso (the pool’s other 1-0 team) tonight, and Steinbrenner on Tuesday.
6. Carrollwood Day (8-0) ☝️4
The Patriots look like world-beaters right now with another three-win week to remain undefeated and make a four-spot leap in the rankings. CDS took down Countryside as Logan Babb (4.2ip, two hits, five K’s) and Gabe Troya (2.1ip, no hits, two K’s) tossed a shutout; and added wins against Shorecrest Prep and Spoto (in Saladino Bronze Division play) with Christian Clarke (see below) driving in runs in all three wins. The Patriots are taking on Brooks DeBartolo as we post this, and wrap up the pool-play round against Bronze host Tampa Bay Tech Tuesday night.
7. Strawberry Crest (5-2) 👇1
The Chargers had a bit of a mixed bag last week, winning a battle with Hillsborough, dropping a game to Newsome and then opening Saladino Gold play with a lopsided win against Leto. Four of the Chargers top-six hitters through seven games are sophomores, so Crest is a young team still in the growing process. Toby Highsmith was 4-for-8 last week with a triple and two runs scored. Crest will face a steep challenge tonight hosting Jesuit, as the two 1-0 teams in this tournament pool; and get to run it back against Newsome on Tuesday.
8. Gaither (5-2) 👇7
Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug. After tearing through the first two weeks of play, the Cowboys ran up against a familiar hurdle dropping two to Sickles (the team that ended Gaither’s region tournament run a season ago) – including a forgettable Saturday afternoon, 18-2 drubbing. Gaither looks to shake off those losses with two more games in Ruskin in Saladino Gold action facing Plant City this afternoon and host Lennard on Tuesday.
9. Bloomingdale (4-2) ⭐
The Bulls are back in the Top 10 this week, taking care of business against Middleton and Wharton last week. Junior catcher Vinny Dinzeo drove in five runs for the Bulls over the two wins and was 4-for-5 raising his batting average to .462. Most importantly for the Bulls – all three pitchers used in Saturday’s Saladino Gold win are available to return today after all stayed below 35 pitches. A chance at a Saladino Gold semifinal berth will mean taking down top-ranked Jefferson tonight and Plant on Tuesday.
10. Seffner Christian (5-1) ⭐
Welcome to the Top 10 Seffner Christian! Crusaders senior Ethan Duncan pitched a combined 12 shutout innings last week, earning wins over IMG Silver (click here for our game story) and Sumner, while giving up just five hits and striking out seven. SCA also started off last week with a mercy-rule win over Hernando Christian. Seffner Christian paces the county with 11 home runs with four from Addy Scott (see our Top Performers list below), and three apiece from Kris Colondres and Cyrus Shokrani. Seffner Christian continues in Saladino Silver Division action with a game this afternoon against King, and Tuesday’s pool-play finale against Armwood.
⭐: New to rankings this week; ☝️: Moved up; 👇: Moved down; = : Same as last week
Dropping out this week: Alonso (3-4), Lennard (3-4)
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8 Top Performers
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1 Favorite Thing from last Week
Obviously, we love the Saladino Tournament and thoroughly enjoyed our three site visits on Saturday. But we couldn’t top the enjoyment our editor had watching Seffner Christian’s players celebrate veteran head coach Sal Giardina and assistant coach Bill Highsmith’s 100th win with the program after defeating IMG Silver. Parents supported the coaches with signs and a “100” light-up sign after the win. And you could really feel the love for and from the two coaches, who have been friends for nearly 30 years.
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3 Games to Watch this week
This is too easy:
Saladino Silver Division Championship – Wednesday at 7pm, at either Riverview or Sumner
Saladino Bronze Division Championship – Wednesday at 7pm from Tampa Bay Tech
Saladino Gold Division Championship – Thursday at 7pm from the University of Tampa
