Heights Meat Market presents:
1. Bloomingdale (19-2)
Bulls sophomore JJ Santiago
The Bulls won two against Plant last week, then mercy-ruled Wharton stretching Bloomingdale’s win streak to 12 games, as JJ Santiago went off at the plate going 6-for-10 with eight RBI. The Bulls finish the regular season with three games this week, heading to Newsome tonight, and Alonso on Tuesday, before wrapping up things with a visit from Sickles on Thursday
2. Jesuit (16-5)
Jesuit senior LHP Ben Burke
Wilson Andersen drove in a pair and struck out eight as the Tigers avenged an earlier loss to rival Tampa Catholic, winning on the road 11-2. Fellow senior Ben Burke also drove in two at the plate, and worked the final two no-hit innings on the mound, with four strikeouts. The Tigers have three home games this week, welcoming two teams from Ohio – Cleveland St. Ignatius (Tues) and Hamilton Badin (Wed), and wrap the regular season with a visit from St. Petersburg Catholic (Thurs).
3. Tampa Catholic (18-4)
Crusaders junior RHP Ty Fraga
Ty Fraga struck out 11 as the Crusaders defeated Clearwater Central Catholic 6-2 to start the week, but TC fell to Jesuit as the Tigers evened the season series between the two. Seffner Christian comes for a visit tonight, the Crusaders travel to Northside Christian on Tuesday, and close out the regular season with Brooks DeBartolo at home on Wednesday.
4. Berkeley Prep (17-5)
Berkeley Prep senior Parker Mitzel
Parker Mitzel went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI, while going four shutout innings on the mound, allowing one hit as the Buccaneers beat Lakewood Ranch 10-0 in five innings. Making up a rainout, the Bucs host Carrollwood Day, today at 3p; and host Brooks DeBartolo (Tues) and Parrish Community (Thursday).
5. Gaither (17-4)
Gaither senior RHP Noah Lockler
Cowboys ace Mathew Altman added two more wins last week to his county-lead as Gaither defeated Newsome and Strawberry Crest, and in the middle rallied for a win against East Bay as Dylan Shale, struck out six before handing things off to Noah Lockler, who struck out seven and picked up the win. Gaither hosts Durant on Tuesday and visits Sumner on Thursday.
6. Strawberry Crest (16-6)
The Chargers took care of things against Sickles (6-3 win) and Steinbrenner (6-2 win) with freshman Jayden Taylor earning a win in relief in the first and a four-inning save in the second; before dropping a game on the road at Gaither. Our rankings will be tested Tuesday as the Chargers welcome No. 7 Jefferson, and Crest closes out the regular season on the road at Plant on Thursday.
7. Jefferson (14-5-1)
The Dragons are looking for a spark heading to the postseason as the offense has slowed a bit, but Jefferson was able to pick up two wins last week, defeating King lead by three RBI from Elijah Benton, and escaped with an extra-inning bases loaded hit-by-pitch to squeak by Riverview. Business picks up considerably this week as the Dragons visit Strawberry Crest (Tues), then close out the regular season with a visit from Newsome on Thursday.
8. Sumner (15-6)
The Stingrays put two in the win column last week and jump up a spots. Sophomore Braylon Disla pitched a gem against Leto, going 6 1/3 inning, allowing one run and struck out eight; and Ethan DeJesus held Alonso to two hits, in an 11-strikeout, complete-game performance, where fellow senior Winston Pennant hit a two-run home run to give Sumner the win. The Stringrays visit King (Tues) and host Gaither (Thurs).
9. Cambridge Christian (13-5-1)
A strong relief outing by Jayden Jardine and a pair of errors, helped the Lancers to an extra-inning win against Bishop McLaughlin to start last week, and Cambridge kept the late-inning magic going to win a Sunshine State Athletic Conference State Championship semifinal, 3-2 against Casselberry Geneva with a walk-off hit from Ian Jansen. But the Lancers couldn’t win a second-straight SSAC state championship, falling 10-0 to St. Augustine’s St. Joseph in the final. The Lancers host Ohio’s St. Ignatius today, IMG Gold (Tues) and Carrollwood Day (Fri).
10. Bell Creek (13-3-2)
Winning 10-straight, the Bell Creek Panthers crack the Top 10 for the first time this season. William Miller bookended the week with wins on the mound – first with a 10-strikeout performance against Pinellas Park, then worked 6 1/3 innings against Seffner Christian in the finals of the Sunshine State Athletic Conference Class 3A championship. Evan Booker pitched a complete-game in a win against Sarasota Christian, and Joey Johnson hit his first two varsity home runs last week. Bell Creek visits IMG Blue (Tues) and wraps the regular season with Clermont’s Real Life Christian on Thursday.
On the Bubble…
Durant (12-6)
Wharton (13-6-1)
Sickles (13-8)
Plant City (13-9)
Freedom (14-7)
