Water Genius of Tampa GotW:
Andersen, Waechter blank Bucs under Steinbrenner lights
Jesuit senior RHP Wilson Andersen held Berkeley Prep to one hit and two walks over his four, shutout innings to earn his first win on the mound this season. Jesuit defeated the Buccaneers, 5-0, in a Week 1 showdown played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Spring Training home of the New York Yankees.
By Jarrett Guthrie, 813Preps
TAMPA – For two teams looking to make a return trip to a stadium atmosphere in May, the idea hatched by Berkeley Prep head coach Richie Warren, was an opportunity for experience unusual to gain in Week 1 of the high school baseball season. Jesuit skipper Miguel Menendez, already with one of the most impressive and difficult schedules in the state, could not pass up the offer.
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So, thanks to the New York Yankees, two of Hillsborough County’s best baseball squads got a Friday night under the lights with an electric crowd of around 1,000 fans at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“We are obviously very thankful the New York Yankees and (Yankees’ Tampa Business Operations VP) Vance Smith for helping put this together,” Warren said. “We’re hoping to make this a tradition every year where we play here the first Friday. This was a great event with probably the most people I’ve seen at a high school baseball game in this city since they (then-Legends Field) hosted the (state) final four.
“I hope this continues to grow the game in our city, and I feel like nights like this can only help that.”
Jesuit senior Ben Burke sends the game’s first hit into left field in the home-first.
Menendez echoed those sentiments, while eyeing the potential impact of this kind of stage for the two teams’ future – and another visit to a minor league complex for the state final four.
“I need to thank Richie – this was his idea and suggestion – and this was great for both of our guys to get to experience,” Menendez said. “Hopefully, we’ll both be playing in one of these stadiums again in May.”
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In Friday’s game, Jesuit’s offense pounced early and behind a duo of highly-touted right-handed arms, the Tigers cruised to a 5-0 victory over the Buccaneers.
Toeing the rubber for Jesuit (2-0), senior and Mississippi State commit Wilson Andersen (our 2025 All-813Preps Most Valuable Player for Classes 1A-5A) worked around a one hit and a pair of walks in his four-inning first start of the season, while striking out seven.
Jesuit senior RHP Wilson Andersen.
Jesuit got on the board in the first, but it took some effort. Ben Burke opened the home-half with a single flared into left, but was quickly erased on a groundball, double-play started by Berkeley Prep second baseman Mason Warren.
However, the Tigers weren’t done.
Jesuit loaded the bases for senior Jay Kirchner, who lined a two-run single to left to pick up his first RBI of the year and give his pitchers all they would need. Designated hitter Christian Sheffield (1-for-1, BB, HBP, RBI) scored from third on a passed ball to pad the lead.
“We talked about getting out early, that if Wilson could go out and put up a zero and we came out and scored a couple we’d be in good shape,” Menendez said. “(Kirchner’s) at-bat there was huge, especially with two strikes, he got a breaking ball and did enough with it. He’s waited his turn, he’s headed to Florida Southern, and I think Jay’s gonna have a really good year for us.”
Jay Kirchner sneaks a peek at his single into left, which would drive in the deciding runs for Jesuit in the first inning.
“That was huge,” Andersen said of Kirchner’s opening salvo. “I’ve been expecting it, he’s been making a lot of jumps and playing really well.”
The Tigers offense extended the lead in the third scoring two more runs in an inning that featured triples from Samir Mohammed (2-for-3, two runs) and Andersen, as well as an RBI single by Sheffield.
Tigers junior Samir Mohammed smashed this ball off the wall in centerfield and motored around for a triple to start a two-run rally in the third.
Berkeley Prep (1-1) junior Jett Walters struck out a pair while allowing four earned on six hits and three walks over three-plus innings, taking the loss.
Berkeley Prep junior RHP Jett Walters.
Buccaneers senior Ben O’Brien (Wofford signee) lined a single to right in the fourth for his team’s only hit of the game.
Buccaneers senior Ben O’Brien connects on his fourth-inning single.
After four innings and 55 pitches from Andersen, the Buccaneers got little respite as Jesuit brought senior and Florida State signee Kaden Waechter out of the bullpen to start the fifth.
Waechter lost the handle on his second pitch, a sinker, and hit Warren directly on the elbow, forcing the sophomore from the game after some strong defensive plays.
Berkeley Prep sophomore 2B Mason Warren makes a nice play on a weak ground ball before flipping to second for a force out.
But that brief erratic moment was it from the righty, Waechter, as he churned through the Bucs batters, striking out six and earning a three-inning save.
“I found my rhythm, made adjustments on the fly, which I was very happy with,” Waechter said. “I was able to attack the zone and execute all my pitches, so it was a great first outing.”
Senior Kaden Waechter worked three shutout innings of relief to earn the save for Jesuit.
The win marked the second of the opening week for the Tigers, which defeated last season’s Class 5A state runner-up Wesley Chapel, 9-1, on Tuesday. That game also featured strong pitching from the junior Mohammed, and seniors Ben Burke and Hector Rivera – all parts of a deep stable of talented arms for the Tigers.
“I love how we are all on the same team, figuratively and literally,” Andersen said. “Those are my guys, we root for each other like no other, and I think it ignites our team.”
Wilson Andersen throws a pitch in the fourth inning. The Mississippi State signee struck out seven in his four innings, allowing one hit to earn his first win.
“It has made every one of us better pitchers and better players,” Waechter said. “It is awesome getting to compete with a group of guys at this level, and not many schools have that. It’s pretty special.”
Waechter celebrates the game’s final out.
Berkeley Prep’s brightest spot of the night came from the season pitching debut of Rice signee and 2025 All-813Preps Hitter of the Year Parker Mitzel, who entered after a walk to start the fourth and held the Tigers to one walk, one hit batter and one hit over three scoreless frames. Mitzel finished with four strikeouts.
“He’s a good senior arm and someone we are going to have to rely on the rest of the year,” Warren said of Mitzel. “Hopefully this jumpstarts him into having a great season, because we are going to need him to get back to Fort Myers.”
Berkeley Prep senior Parker Mitzel pitched three shutout innings of relief, allowing one hit and one walk, while striking out four.
Berkeley Prep gets right back to it with a noon game against Georgia’s Whitefield Academy (2-1) today; while Jesuit will be back in action at home on Tuesday against Lakeland Christian to start a three-game week (which will include home games with IMG Academy and Plant).
Tigers 1B Samir Mohammed celebrates the win with Kaden Waechter.
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#1 Jesuit 5
#6 Berkeley Prep 0
B 000|000|0 – |0|1|0
J 302|000|x – |5|7|0
W – Andersen (1-0); L – Walters (0-1); S – Waechter (1)
3B – Mohammed, Andersen (J). Records – B (1-1); J (2-0)
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Jay Kirchner hauls in a catch in left field.
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Berkeley Prep Parker Mitzel tosses the bat after his first-inning walk.
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Buccaneers LF Trey Hyatt fields a ball in the first.
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Samir Mohammed takes the turn around third base on his way to scoring.
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Christian Sheffield dives in safely at third base.
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Jesuit’s Bryce Besece takes a cut.
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Jesuit first base coach Louie Martinez.
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Christian Sheffield drives in a run with a single in the third.
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Berkeley Prep C Carson Binder
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The follow-through on Wilson Andersen’s RBI triple in the third.
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Tigers 2B Hector Rivera settles under a Major League pop fly in the fourth.
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Jesuit SS Nico Perez throws across the diamond.
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Berkeley Prep head coach Richie Warren makes a pitching change in the fourth.
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A mid-inning warm-up pitch from Kaden Waechter
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Berkeley Prep’s George Cook and Jesuit C Brady Marshall watch a skied pop fly.
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Brady Marshall connects on a single in the sixth.
