- April 19, 2024
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Flagler Palm Coast battled back to score six unanswered runs in the final two innings Tuesday night against Mandarin, but with two outs and runners at the corners, Gabby Cochran flew out to right field for the final out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
In a rematch of last year’s district title game, FPC lost to Mandarin, 8-7, giving the Lady Bulldogs another close loss on their young season.
“It seems like all year, it’s been that way,” FPC coach Ed Beckett said after the game. “We just fell short. But we’re young, and we don’t have a whole lot of varsity experience out there. We’re getting better with every game.”
Mandarin took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a two-out rally.
In the top of the fourth inning, Mandarin’s Dajia Jones launched a solo home run to left field to give the Lady Mustangs a 3-0 lead.
The lead was extended to 6-0 after a three-run fifth inning.
Mustangs starting pitcher Kayla Donker had a one-hitter through five innings, but the FPC bats came alive in the top of the sixth inning.
With two outs, FPC strung five hits together to cut the lead to 8-5, thanks in part to a Gabby Maynard single and a Cochran triple.
Junior Anna Hardy came on in relief of Maynard in the seventh and worked out of a jam to give FPC a chance in the bottom of the seventh.
With one out, Sam Mittel poked a ball to left field to put runners on first and second. Breanna Blackledge then hit a ball back up the middle that was misplayed by Mandarin’s center fielder, allowing FPC to bring home two.
But with the winning run at first base, Maynard struck out looking before Cochran popped out.
Mittel, Maynard and Addison Eggert all finished the game 2-for-4.
Being one hit away has been the theme for Beckett’s team.
The same thing happened earlier this season against Sandalwood when the Lady Bulldogs failed to knock in the tying run that was on second base.
With two close district losses to Mandarin and Sandalwood, FPC (1-4, 0-2 District 1-8A) is in an early season hole.
Beckett isn’t panicking, though. He said his team has a “brutal” schedule through the early part of the season.
So far, FPC’s opponents through the first five games have combined to go undefeated. He said the team isn’t worried about its record right now. Instead, he wants to see his team peak for districts.
“To go toe-to-toe with (Mandarin), as young as we are, as far behind as we fell early on and to battle back is always a good sign,” he said. “We just have to stop the falling behind part. I think with experience and with the players learning to make adjustments at the plate, that will happen.”
FPC will be on the road next week for two games: Tuesday vs. Atlantic and Thursday vs. Deltona.
“I’ve always believed that playing a hard schedule is going to get you ready for the district tournament,” Beckett said. “If you just play a bunch of (easy teams), that doesn’t prepare you for the tournament.
It’s all about being “tournament tough,” Beckett said. “Tournament tough means a lot, and you’re not going to be tournament tough if you just play easy games all year long.”
