“Pass-the-baton” philosophy for Sickles in lopsided win
By Chuck Frye
Correspondent
TAMPA – This season, Sickles has had a brutally effective game plan in dealing with opposing pitching staffs.
Wear. Them. Out.
“We come in with a plan and execute that plan,” Gryphons head coach Eric Luksis said after Friday’s 11-1, 4½-inning torching of district rival Leto. “We try to grind out at-bats and we have disciplined players to execute that plan. It’s nice to see them execute as well as they are.”
The philosophy that has delivered Sickles (now 11-1 and 2-0 in Class 6A-6 play) a .390 team batting average to date was on full display against Leto. The Gryphons racked up 27 plate appearances in just four innings, forcing four Falcons’ pitchers to throw a total of 127 pitches while drawing eight walks and a pair of hit batters.
They also tacked on eight hits led by juniors Connor Vance (single, double and hit by pitch), Hayden Yost (double) and Caden McDonald (single, double and walk), along with sophomore Cameron Guise (two-run base hit, run-scoring sacrifice fly) and senior Avery Bishop (two-run single).
“We know we’re a good, competitive team,” said McDonald, whose .735 batting average continues to rank in the top 10 nationwide. “When you know that, it allows you to play loose. You don’t want to press, you don’t want to make the moment too big. You treat it like just another game and just go right at them.”
Sickles junior Justin Allen (813Preps file photo).
Three-run bursts in the first and third innings set the stage for a five-run fourth where Sickles batted around. Justin Allen delivered the key blow, driving a three-run homer over the leftfield fence that kicked in the 10-run mercy rule.
“I kind of just wanted to get the job done for my team,” said the junior, who also walked twice and scored three times. “I really think it’s a team-first approach, a pass-the-baton mentality.”
The offensive generosity allowed McDonald, the Gryphons’ starting pitcher, to ride out a quick but rocky start where Leto (7-4, 0-1) scored its only run on leadoff batter Coltin Pizzio’s single, a throwing error and Denzel Martinez’s RBI ground out.
“Three times I’ve pitched we’ve had mercy-rule games,” said McDonald. “The offense backs you up like that. I know one mistake won’t hurt me. I try not to let it happen again and live for the next pitch.”
After yielding that run, McDonald retired the next 12 Leto batters in a row, finishing with a complete-game two-hitter while throwing only 58 pitches.
Sickles SP Caden McDonald (813Preps file photo).
Luksis appreciated the pitch economy and the offense’s excess production in this week’s stretch of three games in 3½ days.
“With two mercy-rule wins (by a 24-1 total margin), we were able to save some arms (for Saturday morning’s home bout with 7-3 Freedom). We’ll start (sophomore) Thomas Bly (against Freedom) and hopefully get enough out of our staff in a tough matchup.”
Leto, who turned a pair of double plays Friday sparked by third baseman B.J. Rivera and shortstop Pizzio, will next play Tuesday night at Brandon.
⚾⚾⚾⚾
(2) Sickles 11
Leto 1 – five innings
L 100|00x|x – |1|2|2
S 303|5xx|x – |11|8|1
W – McDonald (0-0); L – Arteaga (0-0); S – (0)
2B – Vance, McDonald, H. Yost (S); HR – Allen (S). Records – L (7-4); S (11-1).
