Alonso, Steinbrenner Advance To Saladino Championship

The Steinbrenner Warriors continued their historic run in the Saladino Tournament by advancing to Friday’s finals thanks to a 5-3 comeback victory over the Riverview Sharks at Brandon High. Bradley Hession doubled with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, scoring all three runners for the deciding runs.

The Warriors (11-3) have won seven in a row, and their last loss came against the same Alonso Ravens squad they will face in the finals. Alonso won behind a 6-0 shutout over Plant in the matinee semifinal on Thursday.

Senior Peyton Woble tossed the complete-game shutout for the Ravens (13-3), who also enter the 36th annual Saladino finales on the heels of a 13-game winning streak. After being used sparingly so far this season, Woble stepped up big in his first start of the year to face just four batters over the minimum. He struck out six while allowing three hits and a walk.

Alonso gets a chance to defend its 2015 tournament title, and it could also win back-to-back Saladino titles for the second time in program history. The Ravens did so previously in 2009 and 2010, becoming the third program to do so to join Bloomingdale (1994-95) and Sickles (2001-02).

The championship game will close out a week of exciting baseball across Hillsborough County, with first pitch expected at 7 PM Friday night at Tournament Headquarters at Brandon High.

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