last week’s Area District Finals
Class 7A-6
Durant 2, Newsome 1
This was the third time the rivals met this season.
The Cougars took the series this year by winning the one that mattered most.
Preston Rogers threw a two-hitter, allowing one earned run while striking out 11 to lead Durant on the mound.
Carlos Morales had a double, a homer and an RBI and Devin Suero drove in the other run for the Cougars.
Class 7A-7
Alonso 6, Plant 5
The Ravens, the No. 2 seed, won two of three meetings against the top-seeded Panthers this season.
Trailing 5-4 in the final, Alonso scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull out the win.
Christopher Morgan and Bryan Rivera Santiago each drove in two runs and Austin Kirsch and Juan Munoz each scored twice to lead the Ravens on offense.
Rivera Santiago also threw a five-hitter, allowing five unearned runs while striking out one.
Class 6A-5
Land O’ Lakes 17, Wiregrass Ranch 2
Thanks to an offense that produced 15 hits, the Gators beat the Bulls for the second time in three meetings this season.
CK Chalk led the way with two homers, a double, six RBIs and three runs scored. Ean Gimson also had three hits and Bradley Bloxsom, William Colon, Bradon Durfee and Corey Hodierne each had two for Land O’ Lakes.
Colon went four innings on the mound, allowing two runs (on earned) on two hits while striking out two.
The Gators head into the playoffs on an eight-game win streak.
Class 6A-9
Gaither 6, Armwood 3
The Cowboys, who have one of the deepest pitching staffs in the area, used their abundance of arms to beat the Hawks for the second time this season.
Michael Fernandez hurled five innings, allowing two unearned runs on four hits while striking out nine. Teammates Anthony Linares and Zach Callahan each threw an inning in relief and kept Armwood from making any significant rally.
On offense, Scout Simpson did the most damage for Gaither by going 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Antonio Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored to lead the Hawks.
Class 6A-10
Sickles 3, East Lake 2
Something had to give in this epic title game.
The Gryphons entered on a 16-game win streak. The Eagles had won 12 straight.
Hits, as well as runs, were difficult to manufacture due in large part to the talent on the mound.
After all, East Lake had recorded eight shutouts during its latest streak.
But Sickles showed why it is a defending state semifinalist by producing enough offense to squeak by.
The Gryphons had three hits. Two were from Caden McDonald, including a solo homer. Thomas Bly and Bryce Vance drove in the other two runs.
McDonald also did his part on the mound, allowing two unearned runs on five hits while striking out six in six innings or work. Luke Fikar threw a perfect inning in relief that included two strikeouts.
Daniel Spicher went 2-for-2 with a run scored to lead the Eagles on offense.
Class 6A-11
Bloomingdale 4, Lennard 1
The Bulls got off to a strong start to beat the Longhorns for the second time this season.
Bloomingdale scored one run in the first inning and added three more in the third for a four-run lead.
Johnny Delarosa went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Pierce Collins and Cooper Hinson ach had two hits to lead the Bulls on offense.
The lead was more than enough thanks to a solid pitching performance from Jacob Magadan, who went 6 ⅔ innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out seven.
Matthew Counts drove in Lennard’s lone run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Class 5A-8
Wesley Chapel 7, Zephyrhills 6 (nine innings)
In a game that featured plenty of ebbs and flows, the Wildcats rallied twice, scoring the tying run in the top of the seventh inning and the winner in the ninth.
Wesley Chapel had a 5-1 lead, then watched it slip away as the Bulldogs scored five runs in the sixth inning to go ahead 6-5.
That set up the Wildcats’ comeback.
Aidan Banda drove in two runs and Luke Fischer, Blake Gregory and Guillermo Rivera each had two hits for Wesley Chapel.
Austin Dobbins went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and Mark Santiago had two hits for Zephyrhills.
Class 5A-9
Jesuit 10, Parrish Community 1
The Tigers overwhelmed the competition for their 11th straight district title.
Jesuit, the top seed, beat Freedom in the semifinals and Parrish Community in the final by a combined 27-2.
In the title game, the Tigers had 11 hits, including two each by Vincent Decarlo, Grant Jordan, Joshua Hines and Jacob Lozano. Zane Pestalozzi provided the power at plate with a homer to go along with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Wes Mendes threw four scoreless, no-hit innings with four strikeouts for the Tigers.
Class 5A-10
Osceola 7, Seminole 1
Since losing to the Warhawks last month, the Warriors have been on a tear, winning eight of their last nine games entering the rematch.
Osceola kept the momentum going by exacting revenge against its rival for the title.
Sean Newton, Noah Ray and Benjamin Urdiales combined on a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts for the Warriors.
Vincent Ferell led Osceola on offense by going 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Nolan Fitzpatrick had two hits and Richard Stegbauer drove in two runs.
Tyler Saunders scored the lone run for the Warhawks.
Class 4A-6
Hernando 6, Nature Coast 2
The Leopards not only took home the title but also reached a milestone with coach Tim Sims’ 500th victory.
They did it by beating the rival Sharks for the second time this season to extend their current win streak to five games.
Michael Savarese stood out on the mound and at the plate. The senior threw a five-hitter, allowing two earned runs while striking out 10. He also went 2-for-2 with a homer and four RBIs. Teammate Patrick Green was 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Gavin McMurdo ended up going 2-for-3 and drove in one of Nature Coast’s two runs.
Class 4A-10
Jefferson 9, Robinson 4
The Dragons cruised to a title, beating King in the semifinals and the Knights in the final by a combined 12-4.
The offense was balanced for Jefferson with seven recording hits in the title game, including two each by Alejandro Aguilar, JaMarques Benton, Joseph Fritz and Cameron Mallo (both doubles). Alliuq Troupe also drove in two runs.
Tucker Wehrman led the Knights on offense by going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored to lead Robinson. Teammates Brady Capps and Garrett Hudson each had two hits.
Class 4A-11
Dunedin 14, Tarpon Springs 0
After closing the regular season with three straight losses, all to quality teams, the two-time defending state semifinalist Falcons put together at the right time to take home a district title.
Dunedin scored a combined 26 runs in two games during the tournament and matched a season high with 14 runs in the final.
Sammy Mummau went 3-for-4 with a triple, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored. Andres Cortes ended up going 2-for-2 with a triple and four RBIs. And Roc Helton finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for the Falcons.
Trey Beard, Brandon Kallas and Slayde Kizinger combined on a two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts.
Class 3A-5
Berkeley Prep 7, Tampa Catholic 2
The Buccaneers have been flying under the radar.
Since losing to the Crusaders last month, Berkeley Prep had won nine straight entering the rematch.
In the final, the Buccaneers got payback against their rival to extend their current win streak to 10 games.
Troy Reader went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs and Agustin Barrido, Wyatt Ewanowski and Josh Hermann each had two hits for Berkeley Prep.
Rivers Kurland threw a three-hitter, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out eight.
Tampa Catholic’s Rolando Jimenez and Charlie Parker each had two hits and Maddox King finished with a double and an RBI.
Class 3A-6
Calvary Christian 1, Sarasota Cardinal Mooney 0
The final became a pitcher’s duel.
That gave the Warriors an edge.
Possessing one of the most talented and deepest staffs in the county, Calvary Christian relied on its arms to get by with a win.
Landen Maroudis went five scoreless innings, giving up two hits and finishing with 13 strikeouts. Hunter Dietz came on in relief and struck out all six batters he faced.
Maroudis also had two of the Warriors’ four hits and Alex Monile scored the lone run of the game in the third inning.
Class 2A-5
Bishop McLaughlin 10, First Academy 0
After going 6-16 last season, the Hurricanes made significant strides this year with wins over Calvary Christian and Berkeley Prep, among others.
During the district tournament, Bishop McLaughlin completed the turnaround by taking home the title.
Travis Mabin led the Hurricanes by throwing a perfect game with eight strikeouts in a game that was called after five innings because of the mercy rule.
He had plenty of support on offense. Keith Jacobs had two triples and Larson Lott and Christopher Rodriguez each had two hits. Logan Gannon also drove in three runs and Rodriguez brought home two.
Class 2A-9
Northside Christian 3, Keswick Christian 0
Stellar pitching and timely hitting helped the Mustangs prevail in a tight, low-scoring final.
Ronald Causby threw 5 ⅓ scoreless innings, giving up one hit while striking out eight. Andreas Alvarez came in for 1 ⅔ innings of relief to preserve the shutout by allowing jut one hit and striking out four.
On offense, Northside Christian was led by Wil Gregory, who went 2-for-2, and Andrew Williamson, who had a homer and two RBIs.
Class 2A-10
Seffner Christian 4, Carrollwood Day 0
The Crusaders beat the rival Patriots for the second time this season to extend their win streak to 12 games.
Ethan Duncan threw a three-hit shutout with four strikeouts. Addy Scott led Seffner Christian on offense by going 3-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored.
Seffner Christian has now won 12 straight games.
This week’s area playoff schedule
Class 7A
Wednesday’s Area Region Quarterfinal Matchups
Region 2
No. 8 Sarasota at No. 1 Plant
No. 6 Alonso at No. 3 Durant
Class 6A
Wednesday’s Area Region Quarterfinal Matchups
Region 2
No. 5 Wiregrass Ranch at No. 4 Land O’ Lakes
Region 3
No. 8 Plant City at No. 1 Sickles
No. 5 Lennard at No. 4 Bloomingdale
No. 2 East Lake at No. 7 Riverdale
No. 6 Palmetto Ridge at No. 3 Gaither
Class 5A
Tuesday’s Area Region Quarterfinal Matchups
Region 2
No. 7 Zephyrhills at No. 2 Sebring
No. 6 Seabreeze at No. 3 Wesley Chapel
Region 3
No. 8 North Fort Myers at No. 1 Jesuit
No. 4 Seminole at No. 5 Naples
No. 7 Hollins at No. 2 Osceola
Class 4A
Tuesday’s Area Region Quarterfinal Matchups
Region 2
No. 8 Nature Coast at No. 1 North Marion
No. 5 Satellite at No. 4 Hernando
Region 3
No. 8 Estero at No. 1 Dunedin
No. 6 Robinson at No. 3 Jefferson
Class 3A
Tuesday’s Area Region Quarterfinal Matchups
Region 2
No. 8 Bell Creek Academy at No. 1 Calvary Christian
No. 5 Clearwater Central Catholic at No. 4 Fort Myers Bishop Verot
No. 7 Fort Meade at No. 2 Tampa Catholic
No. 6 Avon Park at No. 3 Berkeley Prep
Class 2A
Tuesday’s Area Region Quarterfinal Matchups
Region 2
No. 3 Orangewood Christian at No. 6 Bishop McLaughlin
Region 3
No. 5 Seffner Christian at No. 4 Sarasota Out-of-Door
No. 7 Carrollwood Day at No. 2 Northside Christian
