Heights Meat Market presents:
1. Jesuit (2-0)
Jesuit senior RHP Kaden Waechter earned a three-inning save against Berkeley Prep on Friday.
The Tigers took care of business last week with wins against two 2025 state Final Four teams; first taking down Wesley Chapel 9-1 with Samir Mohammed striking out five in four innings and picking up the win on the mound; then Jesuit defeated Berkeley Prep 5-0 at Steinbrenner Field on Friday. In the win against the Buccaneers, senior Wilson Andersen worked four shutout innings and struck out seven, before giving way to Kaden Waechter, who worked the final three innings of no-hit baseball, and struck out six. Senior Christian Sheffield had RBI in both games last week. Jesuit welcomes Lakeland Christian (Tues), IMG (Thurs) and Plant (Fri) this week.
2. Bloomingdale (2-0)
Bloomingdale’s Mason Johnson dapped up by Bulls base coach Shawn Queen after an RBI single against East Bay.
We expected the starting pitching to perhaps have the edge for the Bulls to start the season, and it did not disappoint in wins against Lennard and East Bay in Week 1. But the offense hit the ground, the air, the warning track and fence as Bloomingdale hitters collected 21 hits in the first 13 innings. Mason Johnson was 4-for-5, with four runs scored and two RBI, and JJ Santiago has four RBI – including the game-ending two-run single against East Bay. Javier Navas-Hoyer delivered four shutout innings and six strikeouts in a 12-4 win at Lennard; and Vaughn Osting fanned a dozen in his six-inning shutout of East Bay. The Bulls are on the road for three games this week: Spoto (Tues); Steinbrenner (Fri); and Strawberry Crest (Sat).
3. Wharton (0-0)
… … … After the late announcement of some of our county schools being unable to field teams, Wharton found itself without a game in Week 1. So, the Wildcats will get things going this week when Chamberlain visits on Tuesday and Newsome comes to New Tampa on Thursday.
4. Jefferson (2-0)
Ethan Savinon struck out 11 in his season debut on the mound for Jefferson.
The Dragons are another offense that came out swinging in Week 1, taking down Armwood 7-1, and defeating Hillsborough soundly. Senior Sam Hyman was 4-for-6 on the week with four RBI, and got a win with five strikeouts on the mound; Kaiden Johnson went 4-for-7 with three RBI; and Ethan Savinon struck out 11 in five innings to earn the win at Armwood, before Kaleb Cherry struck out five in two relief innings. A trip to Alonso (Tues) and a visit from Chamberlain (Thurs) is on tap for Jefferson this week.
5. Berkeley Prep (2-1)
Berkeley Prep senior Parker Mitzel pitched three shutout innings on Friday against Jesuit at Steinbrenner Field.
Berkeley Prep made two first-inning runs stick in a 2-1 win against River Ridge to start the year, but couldn’t get things going against Jesuit’s arms on Friday. But the Bucs quickly got back to success again striking early in a 6-3 win over Georgia’s Whitefield Academy on Saturday. The Bucs are still likely a week or so away from full strength with some lingering preseason injuries still being worked out. Senior Parker Mitzel had three doubles at the plate last week, and pitched three scoreless innings against Jesuit; and Briggs Tibbals made pitching appearances in both wins, going 1-0, allowing just one run and striking out eight in seven innings. Berkeley goes to Lakeland Santa Fe Catholic (Tues) and Tampa Catholic (Thurs), then hosts Ocala Trinity Catholic (Sat) this week.
6. Tampa Catholic (3-0)
TC senior RHP Talan Miranda had nine strikeouts in his first regular season start.
The Crusaders cruised to a three-win first week, topping IMG’s Silver and Blue teams, and defeating Tampa Prep, 6-1. Senior Christian Serralles was 4-for-7 last week, with two doubles, a triple and six RBI; Talan Miranda struck out nine in 4 2/3 shutout innings against the Terrapins; and Jackson Giovenco allowed one run in four innings against IMG Silver, with seven punchouts. Tampa Catholic takes on two district opponents this week, heading to Bishop McLaughlin (Tues) and hosting Berkeley Prep (Thurs).
7. Plant City (2-0)
Raiders sophomore Alex Rodriguez
The Raiders make a solid jump from the preseason by winning an 11-inning thriller against Newsome in Game 1, and then taking a 3-2 win off neighborhood rival Durant. Plant City scratched back runs after Newsome took an early lead, forced extra-innings thanks to a great relief outing from senior Merrick Smith (7ip, 0 runs, 4 hits, 6 K’s) setting up sophomore Alex Rodriguez to walk off the win with his second homer of the game. District opponents visit this week, with Sumner (Tues) & Strawberry Crest (Thurs), and the Raiders travel to Tampa Prep on Saturday.
8. Strawberry Crest (3-0)
Nico Cappucci tripled in a run against Plant, and had three more hits on the week.
The Chargers won three games last week with hits from 10 different players. Newcomer Josh Cespedes went 5-for-7, with three doubles and three RBI; Nico Cappucci (double, two triples, 4 runs, 4 RBI) and Toby Highsmith (two doubles, 4 runs, 5 RBI) each had four hits; Zalen Hicks spun a complete-game gem against Plant; and Saxon Shah struck out eight in his win against Freedom. Crest has a three-game slate this week, starting with a visit from Brandon (Tues) and a trip to Plant City (Thurs), before wrapping up the week with a Saturday morning showdown with Bloomingdale.
9. Cambridge Christian (3-0)
Sophomore RHP Trigg Listerman earned the win in Cambridge Christian’s first game, going five shutout innings and striking out eight.
The Lancers made quick work of Lakeland Victory Christian in a home-and-away, outscoring the Storm 25-4, then held off Georgia’s Whitefield Academy for a 5-4 win to wrap up a three-game week. Eleven different Lancers got in on the 24 hits in Week 1, with Jaydin Jardine (4 runs, 4 RBI) and Blake Hafner (5 runs, 4 RBI) leading the way; and pitcher Trigg Listerman struck out eight and allowed one hit in his five-inning shutout in the season opener. Business picks up considerably for CCS this week facing off against two 2025 region finalists and a state semifinalist, as the Lancers go on the road to Calvary Christian (Tues), Naples Neumann (Fri) and Fort Myers Bishop Verot (Sat) this week.
10. Gaither (2-0)
Gaither senior Matt Altman had nine strikeouts in five shutout innings against Alonso, picking up the win as the Cowboys took a 3-0 victory.
Matt Altman started the Cowboys season with five shutout innings against Alonso, allowing just two hits and striking out nine as Gaither defeated the Ravens, 3-0. Carter Kindberg went 4 2/3 innings against Steinbrenner with six strikeouts in a 3-2 victory. Senior Jacob Butler’s RBI double in the third inning gave Gaither the edge against the Warriors. The Cowboys travel to Plant (Tues) and host Armwood (Thurs) this week.
On the Bubble …
11. Plant (1-1)
12. Alonso (1-1)
13. Sickles (1-1)
14. Durant (1-1)
15. Bell Creek (2-0)
