Sumner, Parson hold off Steinbrenner for 6-5 win

After getting a strikeout that ended the game, Sumner reliever Luke Parson spiked his glove and let out a primal scream as he walked toward his dugout.

By Chuck Frye, Senior Staff Writer

LUTZ – Ugly at times, stunning at other times, and thrilling at the end. Fans at Thursday’s regular season finale between Sumner and Steinbrenner certainly got their money’s worth.

A challenging commute causing a 23-minute delay didn’t cool off a Sumner squad that had won four of its last six. But neither did a generous streak by a Warriors team on a run of their own (eight wins in their last 11), chipping away at a six-run deficit while relief pitcher Jackson Winterberg held the Stingrays at bay.

Click here for a few more photos from this game.

Steinbrenner first baseman Dylan Kolsen ranged into foul ground to track down a first-inning popup.

The patient production almost was rewarded in the bottom of the seventh inning, but closer Luke Parson saved his best pitch for last, stranding the potential tying and winning runs in scoring position as Sumner walked away with a 6-5 victory, a .500 record, and lots of momentum for next week’s Class 7A-7 district tourney.

“I think 100-percent that we can do some damage, especially with the way we’ve been playing,” said Sumner starting pitcher Isaiah Welch. “With the team chemistry at an all-time high like it is right now, I think it’s going to be a very good playoff run and I’m very excited to see how it goes.”

Sumner’s Jaylin Chambers (14) is greeted by teammate Eric Farmer (4) after scoring on Isaiah Welch’s first-inning, two-run single.

Welch helped his own cause in the very first inning, making a two-out Steinbrenner throwing error hurt via his two-run single before scoring on the first of two Eric Farmer doubles for a four-run lead.

“We were fighting hard before the game, working in the batting cages,” Farmer explained. “The coaches gave us the mindset to hunt for the fastball and our guys came out ready to play.”

It’s green lights all the way for Stingrays courtesy runner Connor Adechoubou, rounding third and heading home on the first of Eric Farmer’s two doubles on the night.

Another two-out throwing error, a wild pitch, and Jesse Robledo’s run-scoring single added two more unknowingly crucial runs to the lead for the Stingrays (11-11) in the second.

“We’ve been hitting the ball a little more and our pitching staff has been doing a great job,” said Welch, who went four innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits with three strikeouts. “I just feel like everything’s coming together.”

Steinbrenner starter Carson Krueger was the victim of some shaky defense, yielding no earned runs in his three innings of work.

From there, things actually did come together, for the Warriors (14-11). First, Winterberg came in and totally slammed the door, throwing four perfect innings with two Ks.

“Two weeks ago, he might have had three innings pitched,” explained Warriors head coach Chenzo Scanio. “(Jackson) goes in there, does well, and we’re kind of riding his hot hand.”

Stingray runner Winston Pennant breaks for third, stealing the bag and drawing a wild throw that allowed him to score a second-inning run.

“We were up against Robinson (a week ago when we were losing a lead), I came in the last two innings, I did my job and we got the win,” the junior said of his 1 2/3-inning, four-strikeout effort. “I wasn’t really mad with not pitching at the beginning of the year. I just had to wait until (Scanio) gave me that shot.”

Senior Isaiah Welch drew the start for Sumner, working four solid innings of four-hit ball while striking out three.

With that support, Steinbrenner’s offense slowly clawed its way back. A third-inning Nick Osborne single scored Kason Bell (hit by pitch). The fourth saw Will Hoblitzell single and eventually score on Dylan Kolsen’s base hit. DH Chase Petker walked to lead off the sixth moved to second on an infield out and scored on two wild pitches.

“We had some bad luck, but I thought we took some good at bats offensively,” said Scanio. “At no point did I think we threw away any at bats so we just carried that into the seventh inning.”

Snaring rightfielder Winston Pennant’s perfect throw, Stingray third baseman Sebastian Peralta slaps the tag on Mason Kouman for a key fourth-inning out.

With one out, Bell reached on an error then moved to third on Ausitn Liss’ booming double. A walk to Ty Ciccarello loaded the bases for Osborne, who delivered once again with a single that brought home Bell and Liss. A long rundown erased a Warrior runner, but Osborne and Petker were able to move into scoring position. That was when Parson delivered his best pitch of the inning for a called third strike that ended the battle.

“Izzy (Welch) was a dude on the mound (four innings, two runs, four hits, three Ks), Jaylin (Chambers) did the job in the middle innings, and Luke has ice water in his veins,” Sumner head coach Kennedy Duran said. “We hung together and our pitching was spectacular.”

Jaylin Chambers moved from leftfield to pitch for the Stingrays, working two innings of one-run, no-hit ball with a walk.

At times, so was the defense, as second baseman Farmer dove to snag a low line drive with two runners on that ended the third inning while rightfielder Winston Pennant rifled a laser to erase a Warrior runner at third in the fourth.

Seeded sixth in the 7A-7 tourney, the Stingrays will take on No. 3 Alonso in the quarterfinals on Monday.

“They have great coaching, great pitching, great hitting, and great defense,” Duran said of Alonso. “It’ll be an uphill battle but I think we’re up to the task.”

Steinbrenner DH Chase Petker glides across the plate, scoring a sixth-inning run on a wild pitch.

Steinbrenner enters 6A-10 postseason play as the third seed, drawing a bye to Tuesday’s semifinal against No. 2 Gaither.

“I think we’re a team that no one wants to see,” concluded Scanio, who will send Kelton Meares to the bump against the Cowboys.

Despite a valiant try, Warrior baserunner Colton Meares couldn’t avoid the tag of catcher Daniel Dugarte during this seventh-inning rundown.

⚾

Sumner 6
Steinbrenner 5

Su 420|000|0 – |6|4|2
St  001|101|2 – |5|6|3
W – Welch (5-2); L – Krueger; S – Parsons (1)
2B – Farmer 2 (Su); Liss (St). Records – Su (11-11); St (14-11).

Categories

Archives