Jesuit baseball started out their season in dominant fashion against the Winter Haven Blue Devils, winning by a score of 8-1. Wake Forest commit, Camden Minacci, got the first start on the bump for the Tigers on Wednesday night. Minacci looks to be the workhorse in the Tigers' rotation this year with the departure of star pitcher, Jack Anderson, to FSU, and he started his season off on the right foot. Minacci worked three clean innings, only allowing 1 hit and walking none. The righty, who has been up to 90 mph on the mound, also struck out 6 batters in his 3 innings of work.
The Tiger lineup scored their first run of the game on a Brandon Incardona sac-fly that brought in Andrew Kynes, but the offense broke out in the bottom of the fourth. After going scoreless in the 3rd inning, the Tigers exploded for a 7-run 4th inning, including 6 hits and 2 free passes. The Tigers' big men trio of Cole Russo, Henry Politz, and Kynes started the inning off with a single, double, and a 2-rbi single (first hit of Kynes' varsity career). Jonathan Shoop then drove in Malachi Woodside, Shoop scored on a wild pitch, Incardona scored on a bases loaded HBP, Joe Casale drove in a run on a sac-fly, and lastly, Ethan Valdez scored on a steal of home during a run down with men on the corners.
Justin Clark (West Virginia commit) relieved Minacci in the 4th inning and worked 2 innings out of the pen. Clark gave up 2 hits and allowed an unearned run in his first outing of the season. He also threw 68% strikes, a good sign for the tall righty and the Tigers. Turner Thompson came in for Clark in the 6th, allowing 2 hits and and 2 unearned runs before Josh Mallitz (Ole Miss commit) closed out the win for the Tigers, allowing just an unearned run, while throwing 14 strikes on 18 pitches. The pitching staff did their job, making the Blue Devils put the ball in play, only walking 1 batter in 7 innings of work. The 4 pitchers also combined to give up zero earned runs on the night. The only cause for concern tonight, was the Tigers' defense, which made 6 errors. With time and more game action, the rust should come off, and the Tigers will be much better defensively.
Offensively, Kynes led the way with 2 RBI's, while Russo (1 2B), Shoop (1 2B), and Valdez all added multi-hit nights. The Tigers ended the preseason game with 10 hits on the night, and also added 2 walks and 4 stolen bases. It was a productive first night at Hyer Family Park for the Tigers' lineup, who will be back in action on Friday night at 7:30 against Wiregrass Ranch in their last preseason game before the regular season starts. Jesuit will see the Blue Devils again later this season, at Winter Haven on 3/14.
Final: Jesuit 8, Winter Haven 4