Tampa Bay High School Baseball
Gardyn Web

Wharton Downs Strawberry Crest To Win 8A-4 Championship

The Wharton Wildcats celebrate their district championship.

From first pitch to final out, Wharton was in command of Thursday’s 8A-4 championship game. The Wildcats took the lead in the top of the first inning and never looked back, shutting out top seed Strawberry Crest to earn their second district championship in five years.

Pitching was key to Wharton’s win over the Chargers. Starting pitcher Tyler Garam threw six innings of flawless baseball, allowing only four hits, three walks and striking out four. Closing pitcher Tyler Hathcoat finished the game with two strikeouts of his own in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 4-0 victory and the championship.

Nerves were not a factor for Wildcat ace Garam, who pointed to his coaches and the adrenaline rush as the reason he had a flawless night in such a big game.

“The coaches told me to do what I normally do, hit my spots,” Garam said. “Then Adrenaline kicks in and everybody knows we don’t want the season to end.”

Behind the ace, defense was also clicking on all cylinders. Wharton turned two double plays in the game, including a heads-up play by first baseman Zack Ware, who caught a line drive in the fifth and quickly stepped on the bag for the second out. On the other side of the field shortstop Drew Erhard had the entire left side covered, moving from left to right all night, including a diving stop in the second inning to get the force at second base after a lead-off single by the Chargers.

On the other side of the ball the Wildcat offense set the tone for the game in the top of the first. Leadoff hitter Duncan Pastore hit a single through the gap on the very first pitch of the game. Erhard then hit a single of his own to put runners on first and second with one out. Catcher Scotty McGuire hit a blooper to right, driving in the first run of the game.

Tyler Garam throws a pitch early in Thursday’s District Championship Game.

“My first hit really got the game going,” McGuire said. “I actually told Duncan that if he got the first hit we were definitely winning the game. He got the hit, I drove him in and we won the game.”

Strawberry Crest allowed three unearned runs. A balk early on brought in the first unearned run. A passed ball brought in a run in the fourth and a couple of wild throws in the fifth led to a third unearned run.

The Chargers struggled on offense as well, sending only one base runner to third all night and stranding four runners in scoring position. It was something that Chargers manager Eric Beattie was very frustrated with and looks forward to working on as the playoffs progress.

“This is a very hard loss. They came out and played flawless and we didn’t, that was the difference in the game,” Beattie said. “But tomorrow we have to get out there and prepare for regionals.”

Smiling ear-to-ear, Wildcats manager Victor Hoffman was extremely proud of his team and excited to finally win the district championship after being runner up for the last three years.

“Its a big win because now we have the advantage, our home field for the start of the playoffs,” Hoffman said. “We have been here five years in a row and this is the second time we won, and winning is contagious.”

Leave a comment using your facebook account!

Today's Games
Latest Scores
Scores for Thursday, March 28, 2024
Maret School, D.C.
Manatee Hurricanes (12-3)
1
4
Final
Lakewood Ranch Mustangs (7-6-1)
Braden River Pirates (7-7)
7
5
Final
Oasis Christian Lions (6-4)
Foundation Christian Panthers (7-2)
9
6
Final
Tampa Prep Terrapins (8-6)
Seffner Christian Academy (11-2)
1
9
Final
Lakewood Ranch Prep (0-3)
Sarasota Christian (5-4)
2
12
Final
Palmetto Tigers (8-6)
Inspiration Academy
12
9
Final
Tampa Catholic Crusaders (10-5)
Cardinal Mooney Cougars (6-6-1)
4
2
Final
Discovery Spartans (11-6)
Lake Gibson Braves (1-10)
9
3
Final
Seminole Warhawks (12-3)
Boca Ciega Pirates (2-12)
7
2
Final
Sickles Gryphons (12-3)
Dunedin Falcons (9-4)
7
1
Final
Brooks DeBartolo Phoenix (4-10)
Bell Creek Academy (9-2)
0
2
Final
Sumner Stingrays (8-4)
Palm Harbor University (10-1)
0
0
4:00 PM
Central Bears (6-7)
Mitchell Mustangs (3-9)
0
0
4:00 PM
Weeki Wachee Hornets (7-7)
Bishop McLaughlin (9-5)
0
0
4:00 PM
Lakeside Christian Lions (1-6)
Keswick Christian Crusaders (5-6)
0
0
4:30 PM
St. Francis, NY
Santa Fe Catholic Hawks (9-4)
0
0
6:00 PM
Sarasota Sailors (7-10)
Venice Indians (13-1)
0
0
7:00 PM
Spoto Spartans (3-11)
Wharton Wildcats (5-10)
0
0
7:00 PM
Calvary Christian Warriors (11-1)
Countryside Cougars (9-5)
0
0
7:00 PM
Upper Arlington, OH
Lakeland Christian (8-2)
0
0
7:00 PM
Bartow Yellow Jackets (5-7)
Lakeland Dreadnaughts (11-2)
0
0
7:00 PM
Frostproof Bulldogs (4-8)
Kathleen Red Devils (2-10)
0
0
7:00 PM
Sebring Blue Streaks (13-1)
Avon Park Red Devils (8-5)
0
0
7:00 PM
Sunlake Seahawks (4-7)
Carrollwood Day (13-2)
0
0
7:00 PM
Clearwater Tornadoes (5-9)
Pinellas Park Patriots (5-7)
0
0
7:00 PM
Indian Rocks Christian (6-7)
Clearwater Central Catholic (6-6)
0
0
7:00 PM
Plant City Raiders (6-8)
Alonso Ravens (6-8)
0
0
7:00 PM
Brandon Eagles (1-12)
King Lions (5-7)
0
0
7:00 PM
Chamberlain Storm (4-10)
Blake Yellow Jackets (1-8)
0
0
7:00 PM
Jefferson Dragons (11-4)
Bloomingdale Bulls (8-5)
0
0
7:00 PM
Lake Wales Highlanders (5-8)
IMG Academy Royal
0
0
7:00 PM
Leto Falcons (5-8)
Hillsborough Terriers (6-7)
0
0
7:00 PM
St. Petersburg Green Devils (4-8)
Largo Packers (7-5)
0
0
7:00 PM
Steinbrenner Warriors (6-8)
Riverview Sharks (2-11)
0
0
7:00 PM
Durant Cougars (11-2)
Gaither Cowboys (9-5)
0
0
7:00 PM
Winter Haven Blue Devils (11-2)
McKeel Wildcats (12-1)
0
0
7:00 PM
Tampa Bay Tech Titans (4-8)
Freedom Patriots (3-10)
0
0
7:00 PM
Lake Region Thunder (6-5)
Fort Meade Miners (8-5)
0
0
7:00 PM
Greenbrier West, WV
Tarpon Springs Spongers (8-6)
0
0
7:00 PM
Plant Panthers (11-3)
Newsome Wolves (11-3)
0
0
7:00 PM
Middleton Tigers (0-8)
Robinson Knights (8-7)
0
0
7:00 PM
DeSoto County Bulldogs (0-10)
Mulberry Panthers (9-6)
0
0
7:00 PM
East Lake Eagles (11-1)
Nature Coast Tech (10-2)
0
0
7:00 PM
Victory Christian Storm (3-8)
Auburndale Bloodhounds (2-11)
0
0
7:30 PM
View All League Line Scores
Tampa Bay
×
Teams» Players
Player Search» College Signees» College Prospects»
Schedule» Stats Leaders
Batting Leaders» Pitching Leaders» Batting Stats Table» Pitching Stats Table» Team Batting Stats» Team Pitching Stats»
Skills Leaders
Top GPA» Top Batting Exit Velocity» Top 60 Times» Top 30 Times»
Power Rankings» Player Honors
All-HSBN Teams» All-District Teams» Senior All-Star Teams»
Team Admin» High School Baseball Network HSBN Websites
HSBN Broward» HSBN Jacksonville» HSBN Miami-Dade» HSBN North Central Florida» HSBN Orlando» HSBN Palm Beach» HSBN Panhandle» HSBN Southwest Florida» HSBN Space Coast» HSBN Tampa Bay» HSBN Leagues» HSBN Tournaments»
HSBN Stats Leaders
Batting Leaders» Pitching Leaders»
HSBN Skills Leaders
Highest GPA» Best Batting Exit Velocity» Fastest 60 Times» Fastest 30 Times»
HSBN Power Rankings» HSBN Team Search» HSBN College Prospects» HSBN College Signees» HSBN Events Schedule»
Gardyn Web

Home

Standings

Scores

Players