Riedel fans 14 as CDS blanks Steinbrenner
Carrollwood Day senior Nick Riedel was effective and efficient in a complete-game victory over Steinbrenner, giving up only two hits while striking out a career-high 14 and walking none.
By Chuck Frye, Senior Staff Writer
TAMPA – Until the Carrollwood Day offense finds itself, thank goodness it has Nick Riedel.
The top arm on a senior-laden Patriots squad holding serious playoff ambitions, Riedel has effectively pounded the strike zone in the early going and silenced opponents’ bats in the process. Steinbrenner – a Class 6A program that’s a new addition to Class 2A CDS’ enhanced schedule – was the latest to find out on Monday night, dropping a 7-0 decision.
For more game photos, click here.
“My goal was to come in with my fastball first-pitch, get it in the zone and get ahead in the count,” Riedel said. “I was going first-pitch strike to see what (the Warriors’ batters) were looking for.”
The Carrollwood Day bench erupts as Christian Clarke slides home after a first-inning wild pitch.
Mixing his heat with an effective slider, Riedel kept Steinbrenner hitter off-balance all night, striking out 14, including a string of six in a row in the second and third innings, and a run of four-consecutive Ks in the fourth and fifth frames.
CDS pitcher Nick Riedel grabs a fourth-inning popped-up bunt and looks back a Steinbrenner base runner.
And just as important was the fact that Riedel begrudgingly yielded just two Warrior base runners, a perfect bunt base hit from Kelton Meares to lead off the fourth inning and a fifth-inning lined single from Ty Ciccarello, that Patriots second baseman Logan Mazur nearly caught on a spectacular dive.
In two appearances this year totaling 13 2/3 innings, Riedel has fanned 24 while giving up just six hits and walking only one.
“Nick is set up for a big season,” said Carrollwood Day head coach Tony Brewington. “He’s one of the hardest workers, he’s game-ready every time he gets the ball and he’s going to compete in the strike zone. He’s in a good place right now and we’ll get behind that guy any day of the week.”
Steinbrenner starting pitcher Kason Bell battled through 1 2/3 innings on the mound before leaving the game with a back ailment.
That compete-level will stand the Patriots (now 3-1) well as its bats are still relatively quiet from its 2024 postseason where, despite advancing to the regional final game, they could only produce three runs in a trio of contests.
“We’re still waiting to see a little bit of production from some of my upperclassmen,” Brewington said, “but I think everybody’s getting their timing and everybody’s playing team baseball. I think there’s still some bats that I would like to see get a little bit more action in the zone.”
Warriors first baseman Noah Fowler backpedals to grab a fifth-inning foul popup.
Luckily for the Pats, Steinbrenner (2-1) was feeling slightly generous starting in the bottom of the first inning.
Christian Clarke opened with a one-out infield single and moved to second on a throwing error on a pickoff. Julian Earle followed with another infield single to move Clarke to third then stole second. A wild pitch and passed ball followed to plate the pair and give CDS all the runs needed to prevail.
CDS senior Steven Vargo (8) slides past the tag of Steinbrenner catcher Ty Ciccarello for a fifth-inning run.
Called on to replace injured starter Kason Bell (back) with two outs in the second, junior Brooke Belisle impressed, working 2 1/3 shutout innings, giving up only one hit while striking out three and issuing no walks.
“Brooks came in and did his job and that’s what we asked him to do,” Steinbrenner head coach Chenzo Scanio said. “He goes one time through the order and he gives us a shot.”
Steinbrenner rightfielder Nick Osborne (7) tracks down a first-inning fly ball as second baseman Mason Koumas looks on.
But when the Warriors went back to the pen in the fifth, the game went off the rails. Three straight hit batters, two consecutive walks, an RBI single from Earle and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ashton Brown brought three runs home to seal the hosts’ victory.
“I think we have some top-end arms for sure,” Scanio said. “All those need to be able to get in there and get us some outs and (Monday) was a good test for that. We’ve got to play better defense and not give so many free passes.”
Junior Brooks Belisle did a fine job in relief for Steinbrenner, throwing 2 1/3 shutout, 1-hit innings with three strikeouts.
Carrollwood wrapped up its scoring in the sixth when a two-out double from No. 9 batter Logan Mazur – the game’s lone extra-base hit – delivered Evan Mazur all the way from first, with Logan later scoring on an infield error.
“The team hasn’t peaked and that’s a great thing,” concluded Brewington. “I think as you go throughout the season, you want to increase and get better. They continue to gel and grow together, the chemistry in the dugout and on and off the field works, and their accountability really matters in practice. We’re building and growing in the right direction to get to where we need to be.”
Warriors leadoff man Kelton Meares slides past Patriots second baseman Logan Mazur for a fourth-inning stolen base, the only Steinbrenner player to get into scoring position on the night.
Steinbrenner will get right back to work on Tuesday, sending senior Austin Liss to the hill as it hosts Gaither. Carrollwood will return to action on Friday when it hosts 1-3 Walker High of Marietta, Georgia for its finale of a two-game Florida swing.
CDS teammates Matt Porta (left) and Evan Mazur bump chests after Mazur scores a sixth-inning run.
#11 Steinbrenner 0
#14 Carrollwood Day 7
S 000|000|0 – |0|2|0
C 200|032|x – |7|7|0
W – Riedel (1-1); L – Bell (0-1)
2B – L. Mazur (C). Records – S (2-1); C (2-1).
