Andersen, Jesuit ring up Tampa Catholic, even season series
By Mike Camunas, Creative Director
TAMPA — Wilson Andersen had his bell rung.
So, Jesuit’s senior captain decided to ring up eight batters.
On just the second pitch of his first at bat as the Tigers cleanup hitter, Andersen — also the starting pitcher — took a pitch off the ear flap on his helmet, stumbling down in the batter’s box in a scary moment.
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“When he stumbled,” coach Miguel Menendez said, “you’re worried about a concussion, right? But the trainers checked him out, and he said he was good, but he looked good when he went out and had a good game.
“In hindsight,” Menendez added, “maybe (getting hit) kind of calmed him down because he can get himself worked up a bit (in games) and he was a little more calm, and had a really good night.”
Jesuit’s Samir Mohammed scores one of his two runs in the win. The junior slugger was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Though Jack Fults would courtesy run for Andersen, the latter would go right out for his seventh start of the season. Not only did he get a quick three outs, but would go on to throw a 5-inning gem (four hitless), strike out eight, issue a walk, just two hits and unearned runs as Jesuit downed its longtime rival Tampa Catholic 11-2 in our Week 8 Game of the Week presented by Water Genius of Tampa.
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It was the teams’ second meeting, splitting the two-game series this season after the Crusaders (18-4) defeated the Tigers (16-5) on March 7, 6-2.
“I definitely feel all right,” Andersen, who also drove in two RBI, said after the game. “I’m usually pretty focused in the game so I don’t think (the HBP had any effect on me). I was really just focused on the pitches and the zone and trusting my team behind me. … It’s always nice to get a win over (Tampa Catholic). We both compete hard against each other and once you’re in the box it’s all about the game.”
As for this game, it didn’t take long for Jesuit to build a 3-0 lead by the third, as the Tigers worked long counts and jumped at every chance on Crusaders starter Talan Miranda. The senior righty, making his second start of the series vs. Jesuit, would last just three innings (65 pitches), allowing three hits, three walks and three runs with just one punchout.
Tampa Catholic senior Talan Miranda lasted three innings against the Tigers.
It was a stark contrast from his previous start on March 7, when he shoved against the Tigers: 6.2 innings (100 pitches), eight hits, two runs and five strikeouts.
Additionally, Miranda, and the three relievers behind him, weren’t helped by their defense, which made a staggering five errors.
Tampa Catholic junior Blake Brown
Blake Brown came in relief in the fourth, giving up six runs, but only two were earned because of the errors. Dominic Cannizzaro gave up two more runs (just one earned) also in a relief appearance.
The Tigers racked up their 11 runs on 11 hits, with Andersen, Samir Mohammed and Ben Burke all driving in two runs, and Griffin Boesen and Brady Marshall each driving in a run apiece.
“(The outcome of this game) was so much better than the first one,” Marshall said. “We had to get it back because they came into our house and beat us, so we had to do it at theirs. (In the fourth), we were just piecing hit after hit together and when we do that, we’re hard to beat. Yeah, we have a really good pitching staff, but our hitters, they really don’t get enough credit.”
Jesuit junior Brady Marshall celebrates his leadoff double in the second inning. Marshall, the Tigers catcher, was 2-for-4 with an RBI in the win.
Aforementioned, Andersen carried a no hitter into the fourth, but Christian Serralles would reach on an error and Torey Thomas and Ayeden Popielarcheck picked up back-to-back singles for Crusaders’ first hits and loaded the bases.
Andersen would strike out Jayden Mera to get two outs with the bases loaded, but a throwing error by second baseman Christian Sheffield would allow two unearned runs to score.
“He was dealing,” Menendez said. “He was feeling it. Once we got up 3, 5, 7 nothing, he could just go out there and pitch and he probably should have a shutout and if we didn’t make a couple of errors, he might be looking at a no hitter.”
Jesuit’s Griffin Boesen (#12) is greeted at the plate by junior Jackson Menendez after both scored on a Wilson Andersen double in the sixth inning.
While the defense had a couple of blips behind Andersen, Marshall feels Andersen, and the rest of the pitching staff, can rely on the fielders.
“(Andersen has) been electric all season,” Marshall said. “He’s been coming out and letting the defense do the work and, he’s throwing strikes and if he’s getting swings and misses, he’s getting swings and misses, but if he puts the ball in play, he knows he has this defense behind him.”
Tigers senior Ben Burke drove in a pair of runs at the plate, then locked down the final two innings on the mound, issuing just one walk and struck out four.
While the Crusaders were held hitless for the rest of the game thanks to two near perfect relief innings from Ben Burke (no hits, 4K, BB), they did have one highlight that wowed the crowd and threw their dugout into a frenzy.
Tampa Catholic junior Chanz Scanio, making just his second appearance on the mound this season, struck out three of the five batters he faced.
Enter junior reliever Chanz Scanio in just his second appearance this season and with an unfortunate 7.00 ERA with his sidearm throws, which, at best, were breaking 60 mph.
And the change of pace worked on the Tigers.
Scanio would pitch 1 1/3 perfect innings with three strikeouts — including Hudson Rivera and Johnny Adams. But his first punchout of the season — getting Mohammed on six pitches, including fanning him on the last — erupted the crowd and his teammates, who rushed him and carried him from the mound to the dugout.
“Samir was talking to me at first base and said to me, ‘What do I even do with that (kind of pitch),’” Tampa Catholic coach Paul Russo, Jr. said. “(Scanio) has gone through a lot this year and to see him grind through the year and not have a lot of innings, and so whatever he does for us is outstanding.”
Tampa Catholic junior Chanz Scanio is recognized by his dugout after his strong relief performance.
Russo added the lopsided loss won’t be a setback, especially since the Crusaders have three games in three days next week.
“We had a good one against them over there at their place, and we got no hit for four here at our place, made some errors and played uncharacteristic of ourselves,” he added. “We know we’re better than that. I told the guys (after the game), we probably played our worst game of the year — it is what it is. You leave it alone, you gotta move on and get back to work.”
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#5 Jesuit 11
#2 Tampa Catholic 2
J 012|422|0 – |11|11|2
T 000|020|0 – |2|2|5
W – Andersen (5-2); L – Miranda (4-2)
2B – Andersen, Marshall (J). Records – J (16-5); T (18-4).
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Tigers senior Christian Sheffield (middle left) and Ben Burke (#8) meet up in the pregame introductions.
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Crusaders junior Blake Brown heads onto the field to start the game.
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The teams and umpires honor America during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner.
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Tampa Catholic’s Talan Miranda delivers a pitch in the first inning.
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Speed-up runner for the catcher Mason Greco takes a lead off third base in the second inning.
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While the game plays on, NASA’s Artemis II launches into orbit in the eastern sky.
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Jesuit senior Wilson Andersen took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. He’d finish five innings allowing two unearned and struck out eight en route to his fifth win on the mound this season.
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Ben Burke is fired up after driving in a pair of runs (which would prove to be the winning runs) in the third inning.
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The Tigers dugout welcomes Samir Mohammed back in after he scored on Burke’s single.
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Tampa Catholic head coach Paul Russo Jr. watches the action from the first base coach’s box.
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Griffin Boesen scores a run in the fifth inning.
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Jesuit head coach Miguel Menendez
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Menendez walks off the mound leaving his starting pitcher Wilson Andersen in a happy mood.
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Jesuit SS Nico Perez throws for an out to end the fifth inning.
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With a lunar halo above, Tampa Catholic’s Dominic Cannizzaro delivers a pitch in the sixth.
