- April 26, 2024
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Bulldogs look to win ‘freebie war,’ advance in playoffs
After losing to Sandalwood, 5-0, in the District 1-8A championship, the Flagler Palm Coast baseball team still advanced to the state playoffs and will travel to play Lake Brantley 7 p.m. Wednesday, in the regional quarterfinals.
Bulldogs coach Jordan Butler said things went as expected in his first season as FPC’s head coach.
“We had some highs and we had some lows,” Butler said. “We got better as the season went on. I think it’s hard for kids to adjust to a new system, but I am proud of how our guys adjusted. I tell them all the time that contrary to natural selection, it’s not the strongest that survive, but the ones who can make adjustments.”
FPC (13-11) has made adjustments this season, particularly with injuries. Three of FPC’s four starting infielders suffered injuries during the final week of the season. Several players, however, played out of position, leading the team to an 8-3 finish and advancing to the district championship, which secured a state playoff berth.
Now it’s win or go home, and Butler said as long as his team executes and plays hard, success will come. He also said his team needs to win the freebie war.
The freebie war is a chart FPC coaches use to track how many free bases are given up compared to how many free bases FPC takes. Free bases include walks, hit by pitch, errors, pickoffs, throwing behind runners, passed balls, dirt balls and taking a base on an outfield throw.
“If we are plus-1 or better in the freebie war, we are 12-2,” Butler said. “If we are minus-1 or worse in the freebie war, we are 1-9.”
FPC may not have a player on the roster who can hit the ball 400 feet or throw 90 mph, but Butler said all of his players will do whatever it takes to win.
“We have guys that will try to run and advance themselves 90 feet however they can,” Butler said. “We have pitchers that can pitch and will change speeds and locations to get hitters to hit weak balls, and we have guys that make the routine plays defensively. And in baseball, when you can do those things, you have a chance at winning.”
Flagler Attack competes at AAU state championships
The Flagler Attack wrestling team competed at the AAU Spring Wrestling Championships over the weekend in Lakeland. Highlights include Michael DeAugustino, who took first place in the 120-pound class for varsity high school wrestlers. DeAugustino is in seventh grade. Cody Brooks and Avery Holder also won state titles. Full results are as follows:
Elementary and middle school:
Cody Brooks, first place in Bantam Division (65 pounds)
Avery Holder, first in Schoolboy Division (100 pounds)
Seth Armstrong, second in Schoolboy Division (120 pounds)
Michael Martins, second in Schoolboy Division (130 pounds)
Chase Richards, third in Schoolboy Division (105 pounds)
Anthony Mascraella, third in Schoolboy Division (125 pounds)
High school — junior varsity
Eric Rosso, second (145 pounds)
Anthony Denson, second (182 pounds)
High school — varsity
Michael DeAugustino, first place (120 pounds)
Korey Bryl, second (145 pounds)
Rashaad Cooks, third (182 pounds)
Jackson Trivett, fourth (152 pounds)
Justin Boyle, fourth (160 pounds)
Youngsters compete in pitch, hit, run competition
Area youth competed Saturday, April 20, in the Flagler Sheriff’s PAL Major League Baseball pitch, hit and run competition.
The results are as follows:
BOYS
7-8 years old
Andrew Machado, all-around champion
Andrew Machado, pitching
Carson Latham, hitting
Josh Griggs, running
9-10 years old
Brantley Kato, all-around champion
Brantley Kato/Chance Barber, pitching (tie)
Brantley Kato, hitting
Cole Ansorge, running
11-12 years old
Aedan Celestino, all-around champion
Aedan Celestino, pitching
Tim Cuthbertson, hitting
Aedan Celestino/Jarod Araujo, running (tie)
13-14 years old
Jagger Haley, all-around champion
Austin Branning, pitching
Jagger Haley, hitting
Jagger Haley, running
GIRLS
9-10 years old
Lovie Haley, all-around champion
Lovie Haley/Sydney Latham, pitching (tie)
Lovie Haley, hitting
Lovie Haley, running
