By: Ross Van De Griek
CLEARWATER- One of the most anticipated matchups in the Tampa Bay area took place on Thursday night, between Venice & Calvary Christian at Victory Field in Clearwater.
It was the second matchup of the season, where Venice took care of Calvary Christian, 6-2 back on February 28 at Venice High School. The host Warriors took care of business in the second matchup of the season, 9-2.
Junior right hander & South Florida verbal commit Tyler Dietz, took the mound for the host Warriors & got the game started with a quick 1-2-3 inning. Dietz was opponed by senior right hander & Princeton signee Jacob Faulkner.
In the bottom of the first inning, the scoring started with senior Samuel Gordon scoring on a wild pitch, to give the host Warriors the early 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Butler signee Charles Stevens roped a 2-run double to right-center, that increased Calvary Christian's lead to 3-0.
In the second inning, Dietz would pitch a scoreless inning as he set the Indians down in order. TCU signee Pierce Chambers drove in a run, in the bottom of the second on an RBI single to left field, that gave Calvary Christian a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, Venice got on the board as Tyler Dietz walked Florida Gulf Coast commit Zac Calhoon, with the bases loaded that made it 4-1 Calvary Christian. However, the Indians would leave the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Calvary Christian senior Kyle Flynn hit an RBI single, to push the Warriors' lead back to four (5-1). Later in the inning, Pierce Chambers worked a walk with the bases loaded, that pushed the lead up to 6-1.
In the top of the sixth inning, Venice senior Zac Calhoon reached on a throwing error (E-5) that allowed their second run to score, that would eventually exit Tyler Dietz from the game. Junior pitcher Jack Cebert (USF commit) would get out of the jam, to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Calvary Christian's Jack Speights would add some insurance runs, as he hit a 3-run HR to straight-away center field. The host Warriors would not look back, as they would hold on for the 9-2 win.
BOX SCORE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total
Venice 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
Calvary Christian 3 1 0 0 2 3 0 9 7 1