- April 18, 2024
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It’s just four games into the season, but Flagler Palm Coast baseball coach Jordan Butler has already figured out his team in just his first year filling out the lineup card.
Butler has realized his roster is loaded with players who “battle,” and that’s exactly what happened Friday night when FPC (3-1) knocked off Mandarin, 5-4, in a District 1-8A matchup at a cold Bulldog Field.
“Every district game is always going to be a tough game,” a smiling Butler said after Friday’s game. “We have some tenacious kids who don’t feel pressured. They trust themselves, and they’re pretty good at playing baseball.”
Mandarin took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning Friday night before the Bulldogs’ bats woke up.
After a leadoff single, a walk and then a bunt for a hit by Lorenza Williams, Michael Ehman hit a hard ground ball to third base. The Mandarin third baseman booted the ball, and Cameron Heroux, who led off the inning with a single, scored — cutting the lead to 2-1.
Charles Tuccio roped a two-RBI single and Joseph Bernhard dropped down a sacrifice bunt to give FPC a 4-2 lead.
With two outs, Wyatt Seay knocked in another run on an RBI double to give FPC a 5-2 lead.
In the top of the seventh inning, starting pitcher Brett Cain was pulled after throwing 91 pitches. Reliever Matt Hillman came on to attempt he save, but he issued back-to-back walks to begin the inning.
Travis Bennett came on and issued FPC’s third straight walk.
It appeared as if Mandarin was set to either tie the game or take the lead.
The Mustangs (2-4) cut the lead to 5-3 on a bases-loaded single.
Still with no outs, FPC needed help. And Seay decided to take matters into his own by making back-to-back run-saving plays in the spacious right field.
Seay made a diving catch in foul territory for the first out of the inning, but Mandarin scored on the catch to make it 5-4. He then made a shoe-string catch for the second out.
With the tying run on third base, Bennett forced a weak grounder up the first-base line for the final out of the ball game. Bennett was able to extinguish the threat, saving Cain’s win.
“(Seay) single-handedly saved about three runs tonight out there in right field,” Butler said of his right fielder. “He was an absolute beast tonight.”
Although Cain didn’t have his best stuff, he was still effective on the mound for FPC, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings, with five strikeouts and two walks. Butler said Cain left pitches up in the zone.
“Brett was tough on the mound tonight,” Butler said. “He didn’t have his best stuff ... but he continued to battle.”
Butler said his team is built to play aggressively — on the bases, at the plate and on the mound.
“If we do a great job playing against the game, we have to accept the outcome,” Butler said. “I’m proud of my (players). They battle every day. ... I can’t say enough about them.”
