Baseball: Class 5A state final preview — May 24

State Semiinals

All games are played at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers. Tickets are $12 and are available via GoFan. Parking is $10 for cars and $50 for buses (cash or credit card).  

Class 5A

Plantation American Heritage (20-6) vs. Jesuit (27-4), 11 a.m., today

How they got here: Plantation American Heritage d. Rockledge 8-0, d. Pembroke Pines Charter 3-2, d. Fort Lauderdale Archbishop McCarthy 4-3, d. Lake City Columbia 5-2. Jesuit d. North Fort Myers 12-2, d. Naples 4-2 (nine innings), d. Osceola 12-2, d. Sebring 3-1.

Stat Leaders

CategoryAmerican HeritageJesuit
Batting averageJordan Rich, .427Wes Mendes, .404
Home runsMateo Serna, 7Two tied with 5
RBIsMateo Serna, 38Grant Jordan, 40
ERAKyle Rostock, 0.73Brooks Chamberlain, 1.22
StrikeoutsTalan Holiday, 83Wilson Anderson, 52

Outlook

The Tigers, who already are an established area powerhouse, can add to their legacy with a win in today’s final. They can become just the second Hillsborough County program to ever win consecutive state titles, as well as take home their seventh overall title, two behind rival Tampa Catholic for the overall local lead. Jesuit, ranked first in the class and eighth nationally, extended its win streak to seven with a 3-1 victory over Sebring in Monday’s semifinals. Wilson Anderson, Aden Knowles and Derek Westfall combined on a five-hitter with six strikeouts. The offense was led by Grant Jordan and Jacob Lozano, who each a hit and an RBI. The Patriots, ranked fourth in the class, are trying to win their first state title since 2012. They have won seven straight games, Two of the last three were decided by a run.