Unselfish Farrar, confident Parmer lead Berkeley Prep to title
Berkeley Prep senior Riley Zinober is pumped up after extending the Buccaneers lead with a sixth-inning RBI single to rightfield. Berkeley took control in the third and never let up, defeating Tampa Catholic, 5-2, and claim the Class 2A-District 9 championship.
By Jarrett Guthrie, Editor
TAMPA – Berkeley Prep head coach Richie Warren said junior Lucas Farrar has the intangibles that don’t show up on the stat sheet.
And while that stat sheet is pretty loaded for Farrar (a .407 average and 28 runs scored), the junior’s unselfishness and talents on the field were on full display as he moved from his normal spot at shortstop to centerfield to cover for an injury, drove in the game’s first run and locked down a 5-2 win on the mound as the Buccaneers defeated Tampa Catholic to claim the Class 2A-District 9 title.
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“Lucas hates to lose, and a lot of kids say that, but with him you just know it,” Warren said. “Obviously, he’s our starting shortstop, but because of injuries he volunteered to play centerfield tonight – just a completely unselfish player. And when you get into the postseason you need that.”
Berkeley Prep junior Lucas Farrar makes contact on his third-inning RBI single to put the Buccaneers on the path to victory.
After Jett Walters locked down Bishop McLaughlin in a 5-0 semifinal win on Wednesday, it was fellow junior Nolan Parmer’s chance with the ball in the district final start. The righty limited the Crusaders to two runs over 6 1/3 innings, scattering seven hits and one walk to pick up his sixth win.
Berkeley Prep junior Nolan Parmer pitched 6 1/3 innings and earned his sixth win of the year.
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Tampa Catholic SP Talan Miranda
Don’t miss out on our full photo gallery from this game with more than 100 photos – click here.
The hosting Berkeley Prep (22-4), visitors as the No. 2-seed, made a third-inning Crusaders error hurt, getting to TC senior starter Talan Miranda (5ip, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K). Owen Schmitt reached second on a bad throw from short, moved up on a Riley Zinober (1-for-2, RBI) sac bunt, before Walters walked and Farrar lined a ball into center to score a run.
“I’ve had (Miranda’s) number since I first saw him back in (February 19th’s 11-7 TC regular season win against the Bucs) where I went 2-for-3,” Farrar said. “I felt like he couldn’t beat me. I’m laying off the sliders in the dirt and I’m just looking for a fastball to get that run in, and that’s just what I did.”
Senior Parker Mitzel lined a single to left to give the Bucs two more and enough to fend off Tampa Catholic.
Soon after extending the Buccaneers third-inning lead with a two-run single, senior Parker Mitzel hurried into third on an errant pick-off attempt at first base.
The Buccaneers started the season 4-4, hampered early by a slew of injuries – including Farrar, who missed the first four games – but found another gear starting in Week 3. Berkeley Prep has posted an 18-1 record since then, including winning the Bishop Gorman Invitational in Las Vegas, where Farrar was named tournament MVP.
On Wednesday, Berkeley slugger and starting centerfielder Josh Herrmann belted his fifth home run of the year, but injured his knee in the process. That’s when Farrar told Warren he was ready to make the move from shortstop
“Lucas is one of the best players in the country,” Warren said. “A lot of the intangibles he brings you can’t measure in rankings and that is what separates him … the level of compete in him is like some of the better players I’ve coached – the (Cade and Rivers) Kurland’s, the (Jesuit alum Lance) McCullers (Jr.) – that’s where he’s at in the terms of that level of ‘compete.’”
Tampa Catholic assistant coach Mike Wrenn gives Brayden Beauchaine the go signal after Christian Serralles’ sac fly was caught, scoring the Crusaders first run of the game.
Tampa Catholic (21-6) scratched back a run in the home-third, with a Brayden Beauchaine walk, a DJ Ford single on a hit-and-run, and Christian Serralles plating the run with a sac fly, but the Buccaneers defense kept things from spiraling from there.
And Parmer was steady, blending his arsenal well and keeping the Crusaders to just four more singles (including two from Jayden Mera).
“I wanted to work off-speed a lot and I think all three of my pitches were there,” Parmer said. “I was trying to pitch to contact, and it all just came together.”
Berkeley Prep freshman SS Owen Schmitt settles under a pop fly for an out.
“Nolan just competes,” Warren said of Parmer, “and he’s been doing it for the entire season. He’s a strike thrower, competes in the zone, throws multiple pitches for strikes in any count and initiates a lot of weak contact.”
Farrar was hit by a pitch in the fifth, stole second and third and scored on a Carson Binder single to left.
Berkeley Prep senior 1B Ben O’Brien drops to a knee to catch a ball for an out
Mera led off the home-half with a hit, but Buccaneers first baseman Ben O’Brien scooped up a hard ground ball, stepped on the bag and fired to Schmitt at second for a double play.
Mason Warren singled in the sixth and was replaced by a pinch runner at second base before Zinober extended the lead with an RBI single.
The Crusaders picked up a run in the sixth on a Cole Bitman groundball to score Serralles.
Senior Cole Bitman sent a ground ball to deep shortstop to drive in a run for the Crusaders.
But Parmer was in command with a cushioned lead.
“I love pitching with the lead,” Parmer said. “I know I just have to limit the damage and have room if they put up one run because the team had my back (with the early run support).”
Crusaders junior Jayden Mera collects one of his two singles in the game.
Parmer went out for the seventh to try and finish off his start, and Farrar did his best to help making a diving catch for the first out of the inning. Mera’s second single chased Parmer from the mound, but Farrar was up for the challenge moving to the bump and firing fastballs to lock down the save with two strikeouts.
“Nolan threw a gem, so I had to come in and back him up,” Farrar said. “I pounded the zone, I think I threw eight-out-of-nine for fastballs and just tried to overpower them.”
Lucas Farrar celebrates his game-ending strikeout, locking down his second save of the season.
Both teams with 20-plus wins this season are locks for the region tournament, and that could potentially setup another showdown between the rivals.
But for now, with eyes on a second-straight trip to Fort Myers and the state final four, the Buccaneers are focused on what they feel could be a magical ending.
“The brotherhood we share, from how we come out to practice, to the energy we bring to the games,” Parmer said, “we want to win it all – so we have to rely on everybody.”
Tampa baseball legend and Berkeley Prep assistant coach John Crumbley turns the cap around and brings the Bucs players in tight before setting the team off with a “district champs” holler.
And Farrar agreed.
“I think it’s the group of guys we have,” Farrar said, “we are knitted together and there is nothing that can separate us. As an entire team, we are playing the best baseball right now that we have all year.”
⚾ Class 2A-District 9 Championship ⚾
#2 Berkeley Prep 5
#5 Tampa Catholic 2
B 003|011|0 – |5|6|1
T 001|001|0 – |2|7|3
W – Parmer (6-2); L – Miranda (4-4); S – Farrar (2)
Records – B (22-5); T (21-6).
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The first of many smiles for Berkeley Prep head coach Richie Warren, here in the pregame plate meeting.
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The Crusaders battery of senior catcher Cole Bitman and senior starting pitcher Talan Miranda cover their hearts during the Star Spangled Banner.
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TC senior 2B Christian Serralless catches a throw from Torey Thomas for an out in the first inning.
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A great over-the-shoulder catch by Crusaders CF Brayden Beauchaine.
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Nolan Parmer delivers a pitch in the first inning.
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With plenty of speed, TC leftfielder DJ Ford made this shot off the bat of Ben O’Brien look like a routine fly out.
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Talan Miranda had four strikeouts over five-plus innings on the mound.
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Buccaneers senior 3B George Cook throws for an out.
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Crusaders junior Ty Fraga went after a low pitch for a single to rightfield in the second inning.
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Owen Schmitt put a ball in play and hustled down the line, getting to second base when a two-base throwing error setup the Buccaneers first run.
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Riley Zinober with a productive sac bunt to move Schmitt to third base.
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Jett Walters slides safely into third on Lucas Farrar’s RBI single in the third inning.
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Parker Mitzel makes it 3-0 Bucs with a two-run single to leftfield …
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… and lets the Berkeley Prep dugout hear it.
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Crusaders SS Jack Smythe throws for an out.
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Berkeley Prep senior Carson Binder celebrates after driving in a run in the fifth.
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Buccaneers sophomore Mason Warren started a productive sixth inning with a single on the ground to leftfield.
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TC reliever Ty Fraga underhands a throw to first on a sac bunt.
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Riley Zinober drives in the Bucs final run of the game with a single.
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Pinch runner Briggs Tibbals scores in the sixth.
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Jett Waltes singled in the sixth inning.
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Crusaders senior Christian Serralles lined a single to center, but advanced to third when the ball was over-run.
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Tampa Catholic reliever Ty Fraga allowed two hits in two relief innings, with one strikeout.
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The defense from sophomore 3B Torey Thomas was a bright spot for the Crusaders – here he catches the third out of the sixth inning after having made the first two outs with nice field-and-throws to first.
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Lucas Farrar locked down the save with a pair of strikeouts.
