By Rocco Garcia
The Ponte Vedra High School Sharks baseball team began their 5A District 4 tournament on Apr. 15 against the Orange Park High School Raiders. The Raiders came out hot scoring five runs in the top of the first. The Sharks responded when sophomore catcher, Caleb Stanton, scored in senior short stop, Jack Brady. In the bottom of the second, junior designated hitter, Storm Lickliter, scored on a wild pitch. Then in the bottom of the third, junior outfielder, Luca Candella, hit a fly out scoring senior first basemen, Cole Rambler making the score 5-4. The rest of the game was all Ponte Vedra. The boys overcame a five-run deficit and finished the game on top with a final score of 10-7.
“I have always been passionate about baseball and I understand that the more work I put into baseball, the better the results will be.”
cole rambler (12)
For the district title, the Sharks took played the Englewood High School rams on Apr. 17. To start, Stanton singled and scored sophomore outfielder, Maddox Tepper. In the bottom of the fourth, Candella singled and scored senior second baseman, Grady Hartman. Following that, senior outfielder, Aspen McAdoo grounds out and scores junior pinch runner, Luke Goerge. The rest of the game was all in the Shark’s hands. The final score of the game was 8-0 in favor of the boys. The Sharks won the 5A District 4 Tournament and hoisted the trophy for the ninth time in school history.
The boys took their talent to Lincoln High School to take on the Trojans on Apr. 23. The game was quiet for the first four innings until the Trojans added a run. The Sharks responded when Tepper hit a sacrifice fly ball and scored Aspen McAdoo knotting the score at 1-1. The Trojans retaliated by scoring two more runs in the very next inning. Concluding the game with a final score of 3-1 in favor of the Trojans. This regional game was a three-game series, the Trojans took the first game up in the series 1-0. The next game was at Lincoln High School on Apr. 24. This game was all Lincoln, sadly, the boys could not keep up with the Trojans. The final score of the game was 7-0 with the Trojans coming out on top and taking the series 2-0. The boys finished the year with a final record 15-11. The Sharks have seven seniors graduating this year, Ashtan Augusta, Roshan Patel, Jack Brady, Aspen McAdoo, and Dylan McAdoo. Two of the seven seniors will be attending college to continue their baseball career. Cole Rambler will attend South Georgia State College and Grady Hartman will continue his career at Vincennes University. Rambler stated, “I have always been passionate about baseball and I understand that the more work I put into baseball, the better the results will be.” The Sharks have a lot to be proud of and accomplished a great year.
Pictured: Roshan Patel pitching (@fenneysflics)
