- December 4, 2025
Pitcher Anthony Chirco hits a single in the season opener against the Matanzas Pirates. Photo by Michele Meyers
Anthony Chirco attempts a run to second as first baseman Benjamin Apfelbach yells for the ball. Photo by Michele Meyers
Anthony Chirco scores the first run of the game against the Matanzas Pirates. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jonathan Campbell scores the second run for Mainland at the season opener against the Matanzas Pirates. Photo by Michele Meyers
Buccaneer Kalyb Evans calls time out of the batter's box. Photo by Michele Meyers
Catcher Braden Russell and Buccaneer Kalyb Evans watch as the pop fly goes foul. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jordan Payne hits a fly ball out to center field against the Matanzas Pirates in the season opener. Photo by Michele Meyers
Pitcher Anthony Chirco. Photo by Michele Meyers
What do you mean, I'm out? Buccaneer Ty Moak questions the call as Matanzas players--Brady Novak and Gabriel Breckenridge watch the umpire. Photo by Michele Meyers
Catcher Austin LeCates scrambles for the ball. Photo by Michele Meyers
Win or lose, Buccaneers always prep the field after the game and Jonathan Campbell always has a smile on his face. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland head coach A.J. Mallory addresses the issues of the game with his players. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland Buccaneers break after a meeting with their coach following the game against Matanzas. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Mainland Buccaneers baseball team lost 17-2 to the Matanzas Pirates in their season opener on Tuesday, Feb. 22.
Mainland’s pitcher Anthony Chirco and short stop Jonathan Campbell had one run each scoring the only points for the Buccaneers. Due to the lack of pre-season games, coach A. J. Mallory put three pitchers to the test during the opener—Chirco, second baseman Ty Moak and Joey Scudiero.
“Rough start, yes,” he said. “We did not have any pre-season games so I’m not upset. We are learning. Like I told them, this is new Mainland baseball. They have to get used to playing hard which will turn into us winning. I expect us to get better day-by-day.”
“Every game is the game. We have to play like it’s the game. Forget all the others. We take care of that one. We can’t change this one today.”
A. J. Mallory, Mainland head baseball coach
Mallory graduated from Bethune-Cookman University in 2007 with a degree in public relations. Before becoming Mainland’s head coach last season, he worked for the News-Journal Center, the Daytona Beach HOG and the indoor arena football team, the Daytona Beach Thunder.
At the end of the game, Mallory advised his players to take it one game at a time.
“Every game is the game,” he said. “We have to play like it’s the game. Forget all the others. We take care of that one. We can’t change this one today.”
