Baseball Splits at Panama City Beach Classic

By Pat Clines

Panama City Beach, Fla - The RV SCF baseball team (3-4) split their part of the three-day Visit Panama City Beach Classic at Publix Sports Park in Panama City Beach. They would fall to #8 Florence Darlington Tech (2-2) 10-9 and host Gulf Coast State (4-1) 3-2 before defeating #15 Wabash Valley College (1-3) 11-2 and Coastal Alabama - North (0-4) 9-3 to take home the bronze bracket. #12 Chipola College (6-2) defeated #22 Indian River State (7-1) 4-3 in the championship bracket.

SCF vs Florence Darlington Tech:

Head coach Tim Hill II sent sophomore Landon O'Donnell to open their part of the classic while Florence Darlington Tech head coach Preston McDonald went with redshirt sophomore Mike Joyce to counter.

The Manatees would open on the board first at the top of the first as sophomore Hayden Gustavson would bring in classmate CJ Richard home with a single to center. After the second inning went scoreless, the Manatees would extend their lead at the top of the third beginning with a one-out single by freshman Mattie Counts. After sophomore Allan Gil Fernandez reached on a fielder's choice to move Counts to third, Gustavson would bring Counts in with a sacrifice fly before Gil Fernandez scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 SCF. The Stingers would eventually get on the board in the bottom half of the inning as sophomore Patrick Evans would bring in the first run on a sacrifice fly.

At the top of the fourth, the Manatees would extend the lead further beginning with a leadoff double by sophomore Walker Vanecek before freshman Ben Ryan would bring him in with a triple. After sophomore Luke Boykin was hit by a pitch, classmate Connor O'Sullivan would send a single to center to bring in Ryan. After Richard loaded the bases with a walk, Counts would draw a walk of his own to bring in Boykin before O'Sullivan scored after a double play to make it 7-1 SCF.

The Stingers would then rally with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it 7-6 still in SCF's favor. The Manatees would add their final runs of the game at the top of the sixth beginning with back-to-back singles by Richard and Counts before Richard scored on a wild pitch. After Gustavson was hit by a pitch, freshman Myles Davis would hit an infield single to bring in Counts to make it 9-6 SCF before the Stingers rallied in the sixth and seventh to get the walk-off win to conclude day one.

O'Donnell and Joyce would both earn a no-decision. O'Donnell gave up up one run on on hit with five walks and three strikeouts in four innings, while Joyce gave up three runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts in three innings.

Sophomore Daniel Hartley would get the loss after giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits with two strikeouts in one and a third innings of relief, while classmate Frank Villella gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits with one walk in one and a third innings.

Freshman Asher Gross would earn the win after one scoreless inning with one hit, two walks and one strikeout in one inning of relief.

Three Manatees would have a multi-hit game. It was Counts that would lead the way as he went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Vanecek and Davis would round out the order as they each went 2-for-4. Vanecek added one run and Davis added one RBI.

Richard (1-for-2, two runs and three walks), Gustavson (1-for-2, two RBI), Ryan (1-for-3, one run and one RBI) and O'Sullivan (1-for-3, one run, one RBI and one walk) had the remaining four hits, while Gil Fernandez (one run) and Boykin (one run and one walk) also contributed in the game.

Evans lead the Stingers in hitting as he went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.

SCF vs Gulf Coast State:

To open the first game on day two, Hill II went with freshman Lochlan Radloff to open the first game, while Gulf Coast State head coach Tyler Younger went with freshman Jordan Martinez.

The Manatees would open at the top of the first inning with a run as Gil Fernandez would bring in Richard with a sacrifice fly. The Commodores would respond in the bottom of the second after an RBI single by Mitchell Dean tied the game.

After the scoreless third, the Manatees would take a brief lead at the top of the fourth after an RBI groundout by freshman Holden Brauner brought in Davis. The Commodores would respond in the bottom half of the inning as Dean hit a two-run double that would give them the lead and the win.

Radloff would be hit with the loss after giving up three runs on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts in five innings. Freshman Bernard Barnes would throw one scoreless inning of relief with one walk and two strikeouts.

Martinez would earn the win after giving up two runs on one hit with four walks and four strikeouts in four innings. sophomore Ezequiel Rojas would earn his second save after throwing one scoreless inning of relief with three hits, one walk and four strikeouts.

Richard (1-for-3, one run, one walk and one stolen base), Gil Fernandez (1-for-3, one RBI), Vanecek (1-for-2, one walk) and freshman Ryan Kaitz (1-for-1) had the Manatees four hits.

Dean lead the way for the Commodores as he went 2-for-3 with three RBI.

SCF vs Wabash Valley:

Looking to bounce back in the second game, Hill II went with sophomore Oscar Hernandez to the mound, while Wabash Valley College head coach Aaron Biddle went with redshirt freshman Jared Eisiminger to counter.

After the first inning went scoreless, the Warriors would get on the board first at the top of the second after a two-run home run by redshirt freshman Owen Cornett for his first of the season. The Manatees would respond back in the bottom half of the inning beginning with a leadoff double by Davis before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Boykin would then send Davis home with a sacrifice fly for the Manatees' first run. After Barnes reached first on a fielding error, sophomore Mario Trivella would send a triple right to bring in Barnes and tie the game at 2-2. One inning later, the Manatees would make it 3-2 as Gustavson would send a solo homer to left for his first of the season.

In the bottom of the fourth, SCF would extend their lead further beginning with a leadoff double by Barnes. After a single by Trivella, freshman Dominic Donatucci would send a single to right to bring in Barnes. Gil Fernandez would then get hit by a pitch to load the bases for Gustavson as he hit a single to short to bring in Trivella before Donatucci scored on a wild pitch and Davis single to right to bring in Gustavson to make it 7-2 SCF.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Manatees would put their final runs on the board. After a one out walk by Trivella and a single by Donatucci, Richard would show power as the transfer from Ohio State would send a three-run homer to center for his first collegiate home run before Gil Fernandez sent a solo home run to left for his second of the season to seal the Manatees' upset win for day two.

Hernandez would improve to 1-1 after giving up two runs on six hits with two walks in four innings. Freshman Aidan Ray would throw two scoreless innings of relief with two walks and four strikeouts.

Eisiminger would fall to 0-1 after giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits in three innings.

Four Manatees would have a multi-hit game: Gustavson (2-for-4, one home run, two runs and two RBI), Davis (2-for-4, one run and one RBI), Trivella (2-for-3, two runs, one RBI and one walk) and Donatucci (2-for-3, two runs and one RBI).

Richard lead the way in offense as he went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, while Gil Fernandez (1-for-3, one home run) and Barnes (1-for-4, two runs) had the remaining hits.

Sophomore Connor Christenson lead the way in hitting as he went 2-for-4 at the plate.

SCF vs Coastal Alabama - North:

Closing the end of the classic, Hill II went with sophomore Gavyn Bowen to start the game, while Coastal Alabama North head coach Keith Griffin went with sophomore Logan Marquez.

The Manatees would open on the scoreboard at the top of the first. After Counts and Gil Fernandez drew back-to-back one out walks and Gustavon loaded the bases after getting hit by a pitch, Counts would score off of a wild pitch before Davis brought in Gil Fernandez with an RBI groundout for a 2-0 lead. The Coyotes would then take the lead in the bottom of the second after an RBI single, an RBI groundout and sacrifice fly made it a 3-2 lead.

At the top of the third, the Manatees would tie the game at 3-3 after Vanecek would drive in Gustavson with a single to center. After a scoreless fourth, the Manatees would regain the lead at the top of the fifth beginning with Gustavson getting hit by a pitch before moving to second on a groundout. Vanecek would then send a double to bring in Gustavson before Ryan showed power as he towered a two-run home run for his first collegiate home run of the season made it 6-3 SCF. One inning later, the Manatees would put their final runs on the board at the top of the sixth. After a two-out single by Brauner and a walk drawn by Ryan, Trivella would pull off his power game again as he sent a three-run homer to left for his third of the season before sealing the victory for the Manatees.

Bowen would improve to 1-0 after giving up three runs on four hits with four strikeouts in four innings. Redshirt freshman Cole Dement would earn the save after throwing three scoreless innings of relief with three hits, one walk and six strikeouts.

Marquez would earn a no-decision after giving up two runs on one hit with two walks in one inning. Freshman Luke Vaks would be hit with the loss after giving up one unearned run on one hit with one walk and one strikeout in one and a third innings of relief.

Ryan and Brauner would lead the way in hitting as they each had two hits. Ryan (2-for-3) added two RBI, two runs and a walk, while Brauner added one RBI and one run. Trivella lead the way offensively as he went 1-for-1 with the home run, three RBI and a walk.

Gustavson (1-for-2, two runs), Vanecek (1-for-2, one run and one RBI) and freshman Clayton Evans (1-for-4) had the remaining three hits.

Freshman Jeremiah Gray lead the way in hitting for the Coyotes as he went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Up Next:

The Manatees return home to Wynn Field as they welcome back Pasco Hernando State (5-2) Tuesday night, February 4 at 5 pm.