Sarasota Wins 8A-8 Pitching Duel Against Palmetto

8A-8 action Tuesday night featured a match up between the Palmetto Tigers and visiting Sarasota Sailors. Each team got superb pitching that held the offenses at bay, but it was the Sailors who broke through and held on to win this all important district match-up, 2-1.

The two deciding runs for Sarasota came early. In the first inning, Nick Winkelmeyer came around to score after reaching base on an error by the infield. Then, in the third, senior Nick Derr scored on a double to center-field by infielder Nick Long.

Phil Shore started the game for the Sailors (6-1, 2-1), who looked to avoid their first losing streak of the season after a tough loss within the district last week. Shore gave the Sailors exactly what they were hoping for, pitching five and two-third innings, giving up just the one run on six hits. Shore showed good control all night, throwing 65% of his pitches for strikes.

The only blemish for Shore came in the bottom of the third when senior Brandon Lam scored on a sacrifice fly by Hunter Finner.

The Tigers (5-4, 0-3) sent sophomore Jacob Josey to the mound in search of their first district win of the season. After a promising start to the year, the Tigers came into the game on a three-game losing streak. Hoping to avoid a fourth straight loss, Josey pitched a solid outing, scattering eight hits over a complete-game effort. Josey threw 72 pitches over his seven innings of work. He struck out five and allowed one earned run.

In the sixth, the Sailors turned to Leo De La Torre to close out the game. De La Torre came in and faced five hitters, allowing just one to reach and no one to score to preserved the victory for the Sailors.

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