Saladino Tournament Quarterfinal Roundup

The field of 28 teams is down to its final four in the 36th Annual Saladino Tournament. With action now moved to Tournament Headquarters at Brandon High for the remainder of the tournament, it was a full day of exciting baseball with four games played in all.

Some familiar faces made their way through, as the champions of the previous two tournaments in Alonso and Plant both advanced following wins. The Ravens kept their hot streak going to win their tenth straight, as Jordan Butler pitched a 7-0 shutout over the Robinson Knights.

The Panthers downed the Freedom Patriots 6-1 to return to the semifinal round for the second time in three years. The two clubs will play Thursday afternoon, with the winner still alive in pursuit of its fifth Saladino Tournament title.

The Riverview Sharks kept their winning streak alive by beating Strawberry Crest 3-1, improving to 9-6 with their fourth straight victory. The Sharks lost a tough pitching duel to Jesuit in last season’s quarterfinals, but now are sill alive to chase after their first Saladino championship.

Standing in the way will be a Steinbrenner squad that is on its own hot streak. The Warriors walked off 2-1 over Brandon in extra-innings to win their sixth in a row. Steinbrenner (10-3) advances to the Saladino semifinals for the first time in school history in its second attempt, after falling in the quarterfinals to Wharton in 2012.

At the conclusion of semifinal play Thursday night one thing will be certain, a previous champion will be facing a team competing for its first tournament title.

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