The Hurricanes of Coral Shores made the winning look easy last week, defeating three teams in four days, starting with Somerset Silver Palms on March 10. Donovan Thiery, AJ Putetti and Maykol Bonito had two hits each for the ‘Canes. Thiery tripled and drove in three runs, but it was his pitching that really raised eyebrows. The junior hurler threw 94 pitches in six innings, striking out 14 of the 24 batters he faced. He walked two and surrendered four hits before Campbell Lavoie sealed the Stallions’ fate in one inning of relief, 5-3.
The following day, the Hurricanes hit the Rays of Mater Bay nine times, with Lavoie leading the charge. The senior registered two hits, a double and a triple against Mater Bay. Bonito had a pair of base hits and Putetti wreaked havoc with his base running, stealing three of the team’s six bases in the win. Glade Harrelson, Derek Ramos, Riley O’Berry and Eddie Holly all saw time on the mound, combining for nine strikeouts, five walks and just two hits. Holly earned both the start and the 7-1 win for the ‘Canes.
It was more of the same on March 13 against Downtown Doral, with Putetti leading the hitting storm. Putetti added three hits, including a double, to his stats and stole another pair of bases. Thiery logged a pair of doubles and batted in four runs for the ‘Canes. Lavoie and Holly had two hits apiece in an offensive show that ended in 11 total hits and an 11-0 blanking. Lavoie went the distance on the mound, throwing six innings with five strikeouts, no walks and surrendering four hits. The win puts the Hurricanes at 10-1-1 on the season with a little under a month to go before districts.
Marathon improved to 9-6 in a week which would culminate in three games in as many days. The Fins were 2 for 3 on the week, winning two in a row. Up first was Somerset South Homestead March 13 in a three-and-a-half-inning mercy-rule win. Gavin Leal had the hot bat for Marathon, registering three hits including a pair of doubles. Dylan Williams, Leo Mendez, Reef Rella and Mason Thornton had two hits apiece in what would amount to 14 total hits for the Fins. Sophomore Shane Dieguez pitched four innings for Marathon, striking out three batters, walking zero and giving up just two hits in the 21-1 blowout win.
Next was Miami Country Day, which managed to make it five innings before the mercy rule applied. Roco Piscetello got the start for Marathon, earning the win by fanning eight, walking one and giving up just two hits on the mound. Williams, Bryan Broche and Gavin Leal each had a pair of hits for the Fins, who racked up nine in total. Thornton helped himself to four bases while Piscetello stole two in what would amount to eight in total for the Dolphins. Country Day did not do themselves any favors against the Fins, committing half a dozen errors, which allowed the Dolphins to take an early lead and never look back in the 10-0 romp.
On March 15, the tables were turned against the Dolphins, who hosted the Port St. Joe Tiger Sharks on a spring break trip from the panhandle to play in Marathon. It was anybody’s game until a disastrous fourth inning, during which the Tiger Sharks scored 11 runs. Port St. Joe outhit the Fins 11-3 and added more offense via seven walks and five hit batters. Jack Chapman, Broche and Williams each had a base hit and Piscetello drove in the Fins’ lone run in the 15-1 loss.
Key West hosted Lemon Bay for a pair of games last week, defeating the Manta Rays in the two-game series. In game number one, Caden Pichardo and Sam Holland led the offense. Pichardo was 2-2 with one RBI and two stolen bases. Pichardo had a single and a double and made his way on base a third time after being hit by a pitch. Holland also had a single and double, batting in two runs. Key West had seven hits in total to the Manta Rays’ five. Vinnie Moline earned the win, striking out five over three and two-thirds innings. Moline walked one and surrendered just a single hit before retiring to the bullpen.
The 5-3 win gave the Conchs momentum as they headed into game number two against the Manta Rays the following night. Cruz Holmes was masterful on the mound in what would amount to a pitchers’ duel. Holmes held the Rays to one hit and two walks, striking out six in the first five innings and effectively shutting down Lemon Bay’s offense. As for Key West’s offense, four hits were enough for the win. Holland doubled while Jackie Niles, Kade Maltz and Kaine Dickerson singled in the 2-0 win. Holland also drew two walks for a perfect average on the night.
