Robinson edges Riverview with fifth-inning rally
By Chuck Frye
Correspondent
March 4, 2022
TAMPA – Looking to build an aggressive, pressure-inducing offense almost cost Robinson short-term.
Having four runners thrown out at third base over four innings hurt the host Knights, allowing Riverview to tie the game in the top of the fifth.
But Robinson persevered and junior DH Jeremiah Henderson delivered when it counted most. Slapping a two-out, opposite-field single that was misplayed by the Sharks’ leftfielder, Henderson’s hit emptied the loaded bases, leading to a 4-2 Knights victory on Friday night.
Robinson’s Jeremiah Henderson.
“I just tried to stay calm, cool and collected,” Henderson said of his moment to shine. “Work the count, put pressure on the pitcher … I just know I needed to do what I do best.”
Henderson finished with a pair of singles and three RBIs, driving in Jan Gonzalez (double) for an early lead in the second.
But a Riverview squad that is youthful (only two seniors) and undermanned (missing hard-hitting junior Farah Castillo to a high ankle sprain) wouldn’t back down, drawing even on sophomore Elijah Tishman’s slicing base hit that delivered junior Trey Miranda (fielder’s choice) from second.
“This is the first game I’ve really seen them have a little fight,” Sharks head coach Jason Smith said of his now 0-5 squad. “We’ve been down early and our mentality and hope goes way down. (On Friday) we had an error that was deflating but we hung in there and responded.”
Lucky for Robinson (2-2), junior lefty Nathan Jennewein silenced the Riverview offense, yielding just two hits over five innings while striking out six, walking two and adding a couple of runners picked cleanly off of first base.
Robinson P Nathan Jennewein.
“I learned (my pickoff move) when I was eight, I’ve been doing it all of my life,” Jennewein said. “I’ve been training for a while now so I’m almost in mid-season form. I’m ready to go out there, compete, and have a great season.”
“Smart is the key word for Nathan,” said Knights coach Alex Barron. “He only missed one question on his SATs and he’s drawing interest from some Ivy League schools. He’s matured and he’s confident in a game that beats you down mentally.”
And rest assured, Barron and Robinson plan to remain aggressive.
Riverview 3B Aiden Mena holds up the glove for the umpire after making a tag at the base (photo by Chuck Frye).
“I’ll definitely take the attitude and the relentlessness on the bases at this point of the season,” Barron said. “We’ve just got to get a little more polished as we approach the playoffs.”
Russell Sandefer pitched the final two innings for the Knights, allowing one run and striking out two to earn his first save of the season.
For Riverview, juniors Victor Peinado doubled in a run in the sixth, and Adrian Rolon was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
The Sharks and Knights will run it back next Saturday in the opening game for each teams’ Saladino Silver Division tournament games, but first Riverview hosts Plant City on Wednesday; while the Knights host Jefferson Tuesday, and travel to Tampa Bay Tech on Thursday.
⚾⚾⚾⚾
Robinson 4
Riverview 2
Ri 000|011|0 – |2|3|2
Ro 010|030|x – |4|9|2
W – Jennewein (2-0); L – Mena (0-1); S – Sandefer (1)
2B – Peinado (Ri); Gonzalez, Akins (Ro). Records – Ri (0-5); Ro (2-2).
