Nazar’s massive 7-RBI night leads Sickles blowout win

Sickles senior Jaden Nazar lets out a yell after clearing the bases with a double in the Gryphons nine-run first inning. Nazar went 4-for-5 in the win, added two home runs and drove in seven runs.

By Mike Camunas, Creative Director

CITRUS PARK — Jaden Nazar is, arguably, overlooked batting third in Sickles’ lineup.

Opposing teams, fans sitting in the stands, even the casual onlooker in line at the concession stand would think the Gryphons’ RBI leader, with his .367 average and team-high 41 hits would draw more concern.

Click here for more photos from this game.

But Nazar doesn’t for … reasons.

Perhaps one of them bats in front of him: Jordan Yost. Perhaps it’s because Nazar is still uncommitted despite a .384 average with 78 hits and 69 RBI and 19 doubles in two seasons.

Sickles senior Jordan Yost, already the Gryphons all-time hit leader, reached two more milestones in the win – surpassing 100 runs scored and 60 stolen bases in his career.

Or perhaps it’s just that Nazar is coach Eric Luksis’ secret weapon.

“J.J. is swinging a hot stick right now at the right time,” Luksis said. “He had a couple of big hits last week for us and had a great night tonight. He is seeing the ball real well and when he’s in that three-hole for us, I know (teams are) worried about Jordan, but they have to start worrying about other guys and that is really good for our offense.”

Sickles junior CF Jake Taylor runs down a fly ball in the first inning.

Sickles (25-9) and its offense should look very worrisome to other teams, especially Wharton (25-7), as Nazar led the way with a two-homer, 7-RBI night in which the Gryphons routed the Wildcats 18-8 in six innings for a Game 1 victory to kick off the Class 6A-Region 3 final series.

Wildcats senior Justis Meadows, who reached on a single – his 44th hit of the season – steals second base in the first inning.

A win tonight in Game 2 would send Sickles to the state final four in Fort Myers for the third time in four seasons. The Gryphons won a state title in 2023.

“We just always have a good approach to all pitchers (we face),” Nazar said. “We know what’s coming, so we make a game plan for every pitcher we see, and when you get the stuff you’re expecting, you usually have good success.

“(I’ve) never had a multi-home run game in high school,” he added, “but I was seeing stuff come out of their hands pretty well tonight.”

Wharton junior LHP Chase Andress

Nazar helped Sickles build a 11-0 lead through two innings, as the Gryphons roughed up Wharton starter Chase Andress to the tune of 10 hits, though just 1 earned run due to multiple errors. Andress would last just 1-plus innings over 56 pitches, walk four and strike out two.

In the first inning, Sickles battled around, sending 13 hitters to the plate, with Nazar capping off a nine-run onslaught with a two-out, bases-clearing double. The Gryphons would add two more in the second thanks to an RBI single by Connor Bly and a sac fly by Charlie Martz.

However, the Wildcats would not just roll over after that.

“It’s like we’ve told them all year — don’t give up,” Wharton coach Anthony Markle said. “Stay to your character, stick to the plan and show the people you’re not going to give up, and this is this time of the year. This is playoff baseball, so you’d expect it to be tough and test you.”

Gryphons senior RHP Brandon Gonzales

Wharton stormed back with a six-run third, getting to Sickles starter Brandon Gonzales, as the senior righty pitched just 2.1 innings (57 pitches), while giving up two hits, five runs (three earned), walking two and striking out three.
Mistakes allowed the Wildcats to get runs, including a HBP RBI from Antonio Fawcett and a walk RBI to Chase Anello. Braden Bodenstein doubled in two, Alex Johnstone hit a sac fly and a RBI walk to Alex Capezutti for the Wildcats’ own crooked-number inning.

“Yeah,” Luksis said, “that was one of those innings that we call a ‘Bad News Bears Inning’ and we’ve seen them a few times this year, so we basically called the guys in and said, ‘Look, we’re still up 5-0 in the third inning’ and if we were offered that before the game we all would have signed up for that.”

Jaden Nazar reaches the plate after one of his two home runs in the win.

Apparently, Nazar signed up for more runs.

Because after Sickles’ hit king, Yost, picked up his team-record (and counting) 104th career hit, Nazar launched one over the left field wall.

“My job is just to get on (in front of Jaden),” Yost said modestly. “(Batting in front of him) makes my job easier, 100 percent.”

Senior RHP Aaron Wonderley

Yost also hit two career milestones on the night. In scoring four times, Yost, a Florida Gator signee but possibly an early-round draft prospect, now has 102 runs scored in four seasons. Yost also picked up his 60th stolen base of his high school career, adding only to his .364 career average and 65 RBI — oh, and also a state championship.

“What else can Jordan Yost do for Sickles?” Luksis asked. “Find another year of eligibility.”

Despite all this, Wharton wasn’t done.

Wildcats senior CF Antonio Fawcett belted his school-record eighth home run of the season

Wildcats senior centerfielder Fawcett hit a two-run blast of his own in the sixth, adding his team-record 8th homer of the season with Justis Meadows aboard.

But Sickles would get to relief pitcher Aaron Wonderley and, with two outs, get the five runs to mercy-rule the Wildcats in the sixth, capped off by Nazar’s second homer, again with Yost on base. Gonzales, who had two RBI, drove in the final run.

Gryphons sophomore Peter Tsikouris pitched 3 2/3 innings of relief.

Even with a big night from Nazar, he was still impressed with his fellow senior, Yost, hitting in front of him.

“Hitting behind him, it’s really comfortable,” Nazar added. “He gets on, sometimes he’s on first, sometimes third, but just knowing that he’s always going to get on base, put a bat in my hands and let me see what I can do for our team.”

And what Nazar did in this game wasn’t overlooked.

⚾ Class 6A-Region 3 ⚾

Sickles 18
Wharton 8 – six innings

W 006|002|x – |8|5|4
S  922|005|x – |18|13|1
W – Gonzales; L – Andress; S – Tsikouris
2B – Bodenstein (W); Nazar, Ross (S); HR – Fawcett (W); Nazar 2 (S). Records – W (25-7); S (25-9).

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Gryphons C Emilio Salgado was 2-for-5 with an RBI in the win.

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Brandon Gonzales struck out three in 2 1/3 innings on Wednesday, allowing three earned runs on two hits and two walks.

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Wildcats senior Drew Cobb had a walk and a run scored.

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Wharton junior Chase Anello had an RBI and run scored.

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Wildcats senior Justis Meadows takes a lead off first after his single in the opening frame.

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Catcher Emilio Salgado offers a high-five to pitcher Brandon Gonzales, who ended the first inning with a strikeout.

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Longtime Gryphons assistant coach Bob Shaw collects some gear from Emilio Salgado after he drove in the game’s first run with a single.

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Running for the pitcher, Sickles junior Jordan Ortiz takes a lead off second base.

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Jaden Nazar watches as his three-run, first-inning double sails into centerfield.

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Wharton starting pitcher Chase Andress was charged with a loss, allowing 10 runs (only one earned).

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Senior Luke Sauer pitched four innings of relief for the Wildcats.

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Braden Ross motors toward third base and would score in the second inning. Ross was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored.

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Wharton SS Jeremiah Brown throws across the diamond as Connor Bly beats out an infield single to drive in a run in the second inning.

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Sophomore Chris Stroud scores a run in the third inning for Wharton.

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Jaden Nazar holds up the horns as he makes his way around the bases after his two-run homer in the third inning.

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Sickles junior Zach Dial makes a catch in left field.

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Gryphons reliever Peter Tsikouris tosses a ball to 1B Brandon Gonzales for an out.

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Justis Meadows trots around the bases after Antonio Fawcett’s two-run home run

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Then Meadows and Chase Anello celebrate Fawcett as he reaches the plate.

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Freshman pinch runner Chance Goode heads to third base, before scoring in the sixth inning.

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Senior Jordan Yost reached base and scored four times in the win.

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Jaden Nazar wore a path around the diamond tallying 14 total bases in his big game. 

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