Heights Meat Market presents:
1. Bloomingdale (14-2)
The Bulls dominated Saladino Gold pool play, defeating Durant, Newsome and Lennard by a combined 37-3, then unseated both last week’s tied-No. 1 teams Gaither (in the tournament semifinal and avenging an early March loss) and Tampa Catholic (in the final) by two, 2-0 wins while claiming a second-straight Saladino title. Evan Plusquellic dominated offensively with three home runs and 12 RBI; Javi Navas-Hoyer was outstanding in the semifinal shutout, and Izzy Perez and Vaughn Osting locked down TC in the final. The Bulls will need to be focused as they travel to face Saladino Silver champions Sumner (and likely that tourney’s MVP Ethan DeJesus) on Tuesday, then host Plant City on Thursday.
2. Tampa Catholic (14-2)
The Crusaders were incredible during the Saladino, battling back for three of their four wins (including against Strawberry Crest in pool play and Sickles in the semifinal) before running into two lights-out arms in the tournament final. Senior Christian Serralles started at second base in all five games but moved to the mound to close each game out and finished with four saves; while also droving in four runs last week. Cole Bitman was 5-for-11 with a double and a three-run home run. No light week ahead for TC, as the Crusaders play four games starting with Cambridge Christian (Tues); IMG White (Wed) and Carrollwood Day (Fri) all at home, and a trip to Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (Sat).
3. Jesuit (13-3)
Jesuit senior Cannon Murtagh
The Tigers had an impressive Week 6. First, Jesuit picked up a rubber-match, 8-1 win against (MaxPreps Florida-ranked No. 3) IMG as Kaden Waechter (Win, 6ip, one run) and Samir Mohammed (1ip) struck out a combined nine Ascenders batters; next, battled No. 7 Jacksonville Trinity Christian for a 5-2 win as Wilson Andersen struck out 13 in a complete-game effort; then finally, then smashed Green Cove Springs Clay 12-0 by scoring 10, seventh-inning runs as Mohammed struck out 12. Senior Cannon Murtagh drove in four, scored four and had three doubles and a triple on the week, and ’26 classmate Ben Burke drove in five, scored four, last week and chipped two strikeouts in his one inning of relief against Clay. The Tigers head to the home of USA Baseball, Cary, NC on Wednesday to compete in the National High School Invitational, opening up against Louisville, Ky.’s Trinity (6-0).
4. Berkeley Prep (15-4)
Berkley Prep junior Lucas Farrar (right, #5)
The Buccaneers took all the house’s money in Las Vegas last week, claiming tournament gold in the Bishop Gorman Invitational defeating Cerritos, Calif. Gahr, American Fork (Utah) and Miami Columbus, before mercy-ruling five-time defending Class 7A Florida champions Parkland Stoneman Douglas, 12-2 in the championship. Junior Lucas Farrar was 5-for-11, with a double, six runs, an RBI and two shutout innings against Douglas with four strikeouts to take home MVP honors. Ben O’Brien drove in seven on the week; Owen Scmitt held Columbus to just two hits in his five innings; Mason Warren (two RBI) and George Cook (3-for-4, walk-off RBI) capped a four-run extra-inning rally to take down American Fork; and Jett Walters struck out seven, while allowing one run in six innings against Gahr. Berkeley welcomes last year’s 5A state runner-up Wesley Chapel on Friday and travels to Ocala Trinity Catholic on Saturday.
5. Gaither (13-3)
Gaither senior RHP Noah Lockler
The Cowboys shook off a pool-play loss to Plant to advance as a Saladino semifinalist with a 5-1 win against Jefferson. Gaither’s offense was quieted by Bloomingdale in a 2-0 loss, but the Cowboys have wins against all three teams that have defeated them this year (which includes Steinbrenner). Noah Lockler struck out seven against the Bulls, while allowing just one earned run; Ryan Deak had five hits, four stolen bases and strong defense; and Albert Antinori had a two-homer, six-RBI game against East Bay. Gaither visits Sickles (Tues) and hosts Wharton on Friday.
6. Cambridge Christian (12-4-1)
Cambridge Christian sophomore Ian Jansen.
The Lancers went 3-1 in the Saladino Gold Division, picking up wins last week against Alonso and Lennard while dropping a game to Sickles. Ian Jansen homered against Alonso and was 5-for-9 with six RBI last week; Alex Quintero was 5-for-8 with three runs scored; and Trigg Listerman went 5-10 with four RBI and four runs scored. The Lancers will be tested with a visit to Tampa Catholic on Tuesday; and visit a scrappy Tampa Prep on Thursday.
7. Strawberry Crest (11-5)
Strawberry Crest senior SS Nico Cappucci
After dropping its tournament opener to Plant City, Strawberry Crest went 2-1 in Saladino play last week with an 11-0 win against Wharton – keyed by a two-homer game from Nico Cappucci (three bombs last week) and Toby Highsmith with four hits and two RBI; a 3-2 win against Durant led by four shutout innings by Bubba Blount (one hit, three strikeouts); and a tough late-inning 4-3 loss to Tampa Catholic. This week the Chargers visit Hillsborough (Tues), host Chamberlain (Thurs) and travel to Newsome (Fri).
8. Sumner (11-5)
Sumner junior RHP Jaylin Chambers
Sumner handled its business to advance out of pool play with lopsided wins over Armwood and Hillsborough, before taking Freedom out by mercy-rule to claim the Saladino Silver Tournament title. Senior Ethan DeJesus struck out 11 and was the Silver MVP (2 wins, 9 2/3 innings, 2 hits, one earned run & 23 strikeouts if you add in his stats from the previous saturday); Jaylin Chambers was 3-for-6 with two doubles, three runs and three RBI, and pitched six innings against Armwood to earn a win, with one unearned run allowed and five strikeouts; and Braylon Disla hit two doubles, scored four and drove in three last week. Sumner hosts Bloomingdale in a showdown of Saladino champions on Tuesday, then visits Newsome (Thurs) and Spoto (Sat).
9. Sickles (11-5)
Sickles RF Zach Dial
After dropping Tuesday’s early game to Steinbrenner, the Gryphons took down Cambridge Christian, 13-3, behind Cole Shearer’s 3-for-5, five-RBI game. But Sickles fell in the Gold semifinals to Tampa Catholic. Lee Melamut went 5-for-10 last week; and Zach Dial drove in a pair and got the win on the mound against the Lancers. Sickles has a big week ahead welcoming Gaither (Tues), then going on the road against Jefferson (Thurs) and Freedom (Fri).
10. We are leaving this spot empty as (at the time of our writing) the FHSAA has not made a ruling on the Saladino consolation game between Jefferson (10-4) and Wharton (9-4), which was halted by the umpires after an on-field argument escalated non-physically, though multiple ejections were made. We weren’t there and understand the heat of competition can be intense, but this was an unfortunate and disappointing end of the tournament for two very talented teams.
On the Bubble…
Plant City (10-6)
Freedom (11-4)
East Bay (9-6)
Plant (10-8)
Alonso (9-7)
