By: Henry Weitz
The Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS) Sharks baseball team started their week against the Bartram Trail High School (BTHS) Bears on Feb. 24. The Sharks hosted the Bears at Shark Park to start their three-game week with games on Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 as well. Junior pitcher, CJ McKenzie shoved six innings with thirteen strikeouts while only allowing three hits, two walks and two total runs. The Bears struck first with an RBI single in the third, and then another RBI single in the sixth inning. BTHS would have scored one or two more runs in the sixth inning but senior centerfielder, Luca Candella tracked a deep fly ball in the outfield and fully extended for the catch. Candella was awarded “Play of the Game” by local Jacksonville podcast “Where’s Home”. The Shark’s bats were quiet until the sixth inning until freshman infielder, Robert Kelly singled and was then scored by a Candella RBI single. PVHS fell to BTHS 2-1 at home and will play Cornerstone Classical Academy on Feb. 26 as the Sharks attempt to bounce back from a tough loss.
- SP – CJ McKenzie (6.0 IP, 3 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 BB, 13 K’s)
“It meant so much to me to be able to get the win for the team. This momentum boost is a great opportunity for us to make a run into the playoffs this year.”
Evan Rubocki (12)
PVHS took on the Cornerstone Classical Academy (CCA) Spartans on Feb. 26 for the Sharks second game of the week. Junior, Maddox Tepper took the mound for PVHS and pitched four innings while allowing five walks, a single hit, and striking out nine at the plate. In the bottom of the first, Storm Lickliter and sophomore shortstop, Jackson Miller each added RBI’s to give PVHS a 2-0 lead early. In the bottom of the third, PVHS lucked out with a bases loaded walk, and the RBI walk increased the PVHS lead to 3-0. In the fifth, CCA’s offense got hot after Tepper exited the game. The Spartans had a five run inning in the top of the fifth and held a 5-3 over the Sharks. Miller responded with a RBI sacrifice flyout and senior, Carter Lang grounded out for an RBI to tie up the game at 5-5. In the bottom of the seventh, Lang singled and stole second to put himself in scoring position for senior catcher, Evan Rubocki. The senior captain saw his moment and knocked a single into shallow right field to score Lang for the win. PVHS won 6-5 in dramatic fashion and with help from Rubocki, the Sharks were able to bounce back for a morale-boosting win. Rubocki said, “It meant so much to me to be able to get the win for the team. This momentum boost is a great opportunity for us to make a run into the playoffs this year.”
- SP – Maddox Tepper (4.0 IP, 1 Hit, 0 Runs, 5 BB, 9 K’s)
- C – Evan Rubocki (1/3 Hitting, HBP, Walk-off Single)
The Sharks game against Covenant School of Jacksonville (CSJ) was moved from Feb. 27 to Mar. 5 at Shark Park. McKenzie took the bump against CSJ and posted four innings with only two hits, one walk, and five strikeouts at the plate. As for the PVHS offense, the Sharks clobbered CSJ Warriors starting in the first inning. In the top of the first, Storm Lickliter RBI doubled and Miller singled as once again the duo got things going for a 2-0 lead. PVHS had more success in the second inning as Candella bombed a two RBI double and junior infielder, Stuart Streva scored on a wild pitch to secure a 5-0 lead. The Sharks blew the lid off in the sixth inning with a Candella RBI sacrifice fly, Miller RBI walk, senior, Luke Goerge RBI hit-by-pitch, senior, James Salvati RBI hit-by-pitch, a junior, Logan Kearney two RBI double, and a junior, Noah Wozniak two RBI double to cap off the eight run inning by PVHS. The Sharks dominated CSJ and will have tons of momentum going into their next game, a district matchup against Beachside High School on Mar. 6.
- SP – CJ McKenzie (4.0 IP, 2 Hits, 0 Runs, 1 BB, 5 K’s)
Pictured: Evan Rubocki (12) celebrated his walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning (@fenneysflics)
