Thu. March 7, 2013 | Joel Anderson
Baseball super seven
1. Jesuit (10-0): Including Thursday night’s matchup against Pinellas No. 1 East Lake, the Tigers have won their past five games by a combined score of 54-9. Spencer Trayner has been an early star, hitting .500 with 12 RBIs and a home run. He’s also won three games as a pitcher with a 1.08 ERA.
2. Steinbrenner (8-0): Withstood first serious challenge since the season opener, defeating Wharton 2-1 Tuesday. Gideon Dunn pitched the Warriors to the victory, surrendering five hits and striking out seven in little more than six innings.
3. Newsome (7-2): In one year, the Wolves have gone from worst to first in District 8A-7. They announced their arrival with an 8-1 win over Durant last Friday. Senior right-hander Erik Dowse went six innings in that victory, allowing four hits and striking out six.
4. King (6-1): Won past two by shutout, Armwood 9-0 and Tampa Bay Tech 10-0. Florida signee Brett Morales pitched a no-hitter in the five-inning rout of TBT and also pitched five shutout innings in a win over Sickles last week.
5. Durant (6-2): Now in a bit of a slide, the Cougars have dropped two of their past three. The lone win in that stretch came Tuesday at Brandon with Florida signee Tyler Danish pitching five strong innings.
6. Strawberry Crest (7-3): Reeled off three straight wins, including one over No. 5 Durant on Wednesday. Senior catcher Dustin Lawson singled in two runs in the third, lifting the Chargers to the upset victory.
7. Alonso (6-3): Bounced back from a shutout loss to Durant with a one-run win over district rival Plant last Friday. But their pitching faltered late in a 9-8 loss at Hillsborough on Tuesday.
In the conversation: Brandon (6-2) and Plant (6-2).
Statistics
Batting
(minimum 15 at-bats)
Player, school AB H BA
L. Gilcrease, Cam 20 11 .550
K. George, Spo 15 8 .533
L. Saile, Jes 21 11 .524
A. Hanson, Ste 21 11 .524
D. Portales, Jes 25 13 .520
R. McCullers, Jes 25 13 .520
R. Trajan, Cha 18 9 .500
T. Tyson, Gai 22 11 .500
S. Trayner, Jes 24 12 .500
M. Farley, New 18 9 .500
K. Tucker, Pla 16 8 .500
A. Sullivan, Bra 29 14 .483
R. Caldevilla, Jes 23 11 .478
R. Bernard, Hil 15 7 .467
C. Chatfield, Spo 15 7 .467
C. Gordon, Ste 20 9 .450
D. Leal, TC 20 9 .450
T. Bacon, Sic 29 7 .448
Z. Besece, PC 25 11 .440
M. Urso, Leto 23 10 .435
J. Mattox, Rob 23 10 .435
Home runs
4: L. Gilcrease (Cam), C. Chatfield (Spo), C. Gordon (Ste); 3: N. Eicholtz (Cam), T. Danish (Dur), R. Lawson (Wha); 2: N. Ballestero (Alo), T. Smith (Bla), D. Dibenedetto (Bla), B. Rivera (BD), H. Mesa (Cam), J. Kitchen (Fre), V. Miniet (Jes), M. Farley (New), P. Alonso (Pla), Z. Sabo (Rob), M. Cummings (Ste), M. Gonzalez (Wha)
RBIs
14: S. Trayner (Jes), R. Caldevilla (Jes); 13: D. Portales (Jes); 12: T. Danis (Dur), C. Gordon (Ste); 10: E. Dowse (New) A. Hanons (Ste); 11: R. McCullers (Jes), V. Miniet (Jes); 9: J. Kitchen (Fre), A. Atkinson (Fre), L. Saile (Jes), M. Farley (New), M. Giovannetti (Rob), E. Iglesia (Sic), M. Gonzalez (Wha); 8: W. Reid (Alo), J. Ambrosino (Blo), N. Eicholtz (Cam), J. Berg (Fre), C. Chatfield (Spo); 7: J. Ding (Alo), A. Faedo (Alo), L. Heyer (Dur), J. Keigher (Fre), O. Mercado (Gai), D. Johnson (Hil), Z. Besece (PC), C. Slagill (PC), T. Bacon (Sic), K. Merrell (Ste), S. Nelson (TC)
Pitching
(minimum 10 innings)
Player, school IP W-L ERA
C. Thompson, Bla 13 1-1 0.00
E. Hinostroz, Bra 16.2 2-0 0.00
S. Jeffcoat, BD 15.2 2-0 0.00
J. Kilichowski, Jes 12 2-0 0.00
N. Eicholtz, Cam 16 1-0 0.44
B. Caples, King 16 3-0 0.44
B. Morales, King 15 2-0 0.47
H. Henderson, Gai 14 1-1 0.50
A. Gonzalez, TC 13.2 1-2 0.51
C. Rankin, Rob 13.1 2-1 0.52
D. Key, Len 10 0-1 0.70
J. Pupo, Leto 18.1 2-0 0.76
K. Long, PC 18 3-1 0.78
C. Smith, SC 17 2-1 0.82
J. Woodford, Pla 16.2 1-0 0.84
L. Crouse, Blo 15.2 2-1 0.89
A. Velez, Bra 15.2 2-0 0.89
Strikeouts
39: T. Danish (Dur); 37: S. Jeffcoat (BD); 33: R. Tauscher (New); 27: J. Pupo (Leto); 25: A. Faedo (Alo), N. Eicholtz (Cam), S. Trayner (Jes), T. Bacon (Sic); 23: J. Kilichowski (Jes), K. Long (PC), C. Smith (SC); 21: A. Chase (Gai); 19: G. Dunn (Ste); 18: D. Bosnic (BP), M. Urso (Leto); 17: C. Crouse (Blo), K. Bruce (EB), C. Figueredo (Hil), B. Caples (King), J. Woodford (Pla); 16: C. Thompson (Bla), D. Moore (Hil), B. Morales (King), C. Colding (Riv), C. Smith (TC); 15: R. Shives (Alo), C. Beckman (Alo), J. Suskauer (Pla)