Florida League High School Invitational Recap — March 21st, 2016

Tampa Prep, and IMG Academy were among several of the teams to come away with big wins to start the week. Home runs, small ball, and ambition also ruled an exciting, fun day of Florida high school baseball.

IMG Academy also made sure to pack their good pitching lotion, shutting out Winter Springs by a 4-0 final score. Striking out seven on the mound and allowing just three hits for IMG on Monday was Greer Holston, and designated hitter Collier Rutledge made the most of his opportunities as he went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and finished just a home run shy of the cycle.

Also recipients of a strong offensive output were the University Titans, who rode a three-run sixth inning to steal a 7-6 victory away from the Ponte Vedra Sharks. With his team in need of a spark as they were down to their final six outs, Titans right fielder Cameron Robinson singled and then scored on an RBI triple from second baseman Jackson Roberts, who himself came around to score on the play after an error. With the score locked at six, Nathan Peden reached base on a fielder’s choice and scored the go-ahead — and final — run when teammate Jimmy Neal doubled to right field.

This loss came in a wasted effort by Sharks second baseman Quinton Brehm, who had a three-hit showing on Monday afternoon. Michael Harkcom, who drove in a run of his own earlier in the game while starting in right field for the Titans, closed out the game with two shutout innings of one-hit ball.

Timber Creek paid a visit to the school of strong pitching on Monday as well, with starter Preston Schumacher allowing just four hits and no earned runs in the Wolves’ 5-2 victory against Royal Palm Beach. Throwing 66 percent of his pitches for strikes, Schumacher punched out four opposing hitters and walked two in a pitcher’s duel against tough-luck loser Sean Houck, who himself struck out five in his four-and-one-third innings of work.

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