TAMPA — Luis Medina’s hot streak at the plate started late last season and the sophomore catcher hasn’t slowed a bit in 2014.
That’s bad news for Hillsborough County pitchers.
Medina continued his torrid pace and his teammates got into the act as visiting Tampa Prep pounded Seffner Christian 20-2 in a game shortened to five innings due to the run rule.
“Honestly it started last year for (Medina) in the (district) tournament,” Tampa Prep coach AJ Hendrix said. “I have to give him credit because he works so hard every day. He’s a cage monster.”
Medina was a perfect 3-for-3 Friday and has hit safely in 9-of-10 games this season, running his average to .694. He also ripped a pair of doubles against the Crusaders, bringing his season total to eight.
“It starts with the small things and the cage is where I work it,” Medina said. “Like coach says, you practice like you play. I really take that to heart.”
Medina wasn’t alone Friday. The Terps (9-1) finished with 16 hits, including a towering home run to right from Sam Martin. Tampa Prep batted around in both the third and fourth, scoring 10 and six runs in those innings, respectively. Most of the Terps starters were gone after the third.
“Always a good thing to get some of the other guys in,” Hendrix said.
Martin also picked up the win on the mound and Matt Fulton added two hits. The victory was Tampa Prep’s third in a row. Max Plager finished 2-for-2 with a run scored for Seffner Christian (4-6) and teammate Rhett Hobbs clubbed his second homer of the year.