King stacks runs early, fend off plucky Brandon

King stacks runs early, fend off plucky Brandon

King junior Xavier Gori singled in the game’s first run, starting off his third straight game with three RBI as the Lions defeated Brandon on Thursday.

By Jarrett Guthrie, Editor

TAMPA – Fighting for their playoff lives, King jumped out early on Brandon on an emotional night where the Lions, past and present, saluted veteran head coach Jim Macaluso on his 50 years of service prior on his final game at home.

King slugged out 11 hits and came away with the win, but Brandon met the challenge and despite digging an early hole, battled to the very end answering each Lions scoring inning with runs of its own. Brandon put up two in the final frame and made their opponents squirm before finally falling to the Lions 12-6.

King senior Jonathan Williams walked and stole second, then takes a moment to gather himself after scoring on Xavier Gori’s line drive hit to centerfield in the first inning.

Run-scoring singles from Xavier Gori (1-for-3, who later had an RBI sac fly) and Alex Hernandez (2-for-5, run) sparked a five-run first for King (11-12).

“This was awesome to have the opportunity to get this win for Coach Mac,” said the Venezuelan-born Gori. “He’s a cool guy and a good coach, (who) has done a lot for us. So, I was happy I could bring in those runs for the team.”

Alex Hernandez drives in a run with a single in the first inning. The Lions junior was 2-for-5 with a run scored in the win and had the defensive play of the game, making a diving play in left field to end the fourth inning with a runner on third.

Brandon (7-17) trimmed the deficit immediately in the second when an error scored two runs after the first two Eagles batter reached on a line drive double screamed into rightfield by Francis Ovalles and Jeremy Pacheco (2-for-4, run, RBI) was hit by a pitch.

King added another five-spot in the third, with starting pitcher Owen Leever (2-for-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI) helping himself out with an RBI single and Nicholas Brown tripled in a pair of runs.

King junior backstop Nicholas Brown was 1-for-4 with a two-run triple.

Older brother Nico Brown was 2-for-4 in the win with a run scored. After the win, the Florida A&M signed senior said giving Macaluso a final win at home was a joyous occasion, but had a touch of melancholy as it also meant his time playing with younger brother, Nicholas at King is nearing its end as well.

“This means the world to me, a great 50 years for Coach Mac, and for me a wonderful four years,” Brown said. “Every time I’ve set foot on that line, he’s been behind me, supporting me every way he can so I could be the best player I could possibly be.

“It has been awesome playing with (Nicholas), but these are probably the last times playing with him. Travel ball, Little League, high school, he’s helped fix my swing when I’ve needed it. It has been really great, really special to play with him the last three years, and with the Macaluso Family.”

Senior 3B Nico Brown throws for an out in the first inning.

Brandon scratched back one in the fourth with Pacheco singling, taking second on an error and scoring on a Jacob Sjerven (2-for-4) single to right.

Brandon senior Charles Revi Rodriguez collects one of his three hits in the game.

Charles Revi Rodriguez would collect three hits for the Eagles, including a leadoff single in the seventh and score his second run among the two last-inning tallies for Brandon.

Leever earned the win for King, pitching three innings, allowing two unearned runs and striking out three, Caden Harrier allowed one earned run over three innings with two strikeouts, Jonathan Williams was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, and Gabriel Guillot and Torey Thomas had RBI.

Brandon sophomore Robert Elder entered with the bases loaded and provided steadying relief, holding King at bay across nine outs.

Robert Elder provided three strong innings of relief for the Eagles, allowing four hits, no earned runs and striking out two, and Carlos Mesa had two RBI.

King will open the Class 3A-District 9 tournament on Monday as the home team against Lakeland Teneroc (0-19) at Jefferson; while Brandon will host Middleton (4-18) in the first game of the 4A-District 9 tournament on Monday.

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King 12
Brandon 6

B 020|110|2 – |6|9|2
K 505|002|x – |12|11|3
W – Leever (5-3); L – Revi Rodriguez
2B – Ovalles (B); 3B – Nico Brown (K). Records – B (7-17); K (11-12).

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