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Scores
Gaither 9, TBT 7
Leto 2, Bloomingdale 1
Jefferson 2, Durant 1
Newsome 7, Lennard 1
Pitchers of the day
Leto’s Felix Dieguez (2-2) went all seven innings, with three walks and one strikeout, and he gave up just one earned run on three hits. The win helped the Falcons clinch Pool D on a coin toss. …Jefferson’s Jonathon Diaz (1-2) went the distance, giving up just one earned run on three hits while striking out four and walking three. …Durant’s Bryce Gainer (2-1) also went seven, striking out three and walking one on six hits and just one earned run.
Hitters of the day
Randy Oliva hit a two-run homer in the seventh to give Gaither the go-ahead runs. Teammate Tyler Tyson was 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. …Leto’s Gian Carlos Lopez was 3-for-3 hitting and scored the go-ahead run when Adrian DeArmas batted him in in the sixth. …Newsome’s Daulton Donini went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Donini also stabbed a hot line drive with a leaping effort to get out of the second inning.
Defensive gem of the day
In the top of the fifth against Durant and clinging to a one-run lead, Jefferson — with runners on the corners — went for a pick play at first. The runner from third took off for home but Pedro Hernandez sent the ball to the plate and the Dragons cut the runner down.
Did you know?
Gaither trailed Tampa Bay Tech 6-2 into the seventh inning. …Jefferson and Durant combined for 15 put outs and one error. …Leto’s Pool D win only postponed coach JJ Pizzio’s plans to go to Disney World today. Instead of a 10 a.m. meetup, the Pizzios plan to hit Disney at 3.
Dugout chatter
“It came down to a coin toss; we’ll take it. A lot of the kids and parents don’t understand what this tournament is about; they’re starting to get it now.” — Leto’s Pizzio
“(Diaz) is a strong kid and he was doing so well we just went batter by batter those last two innings, and it turned out okay.” — Jefferson coach Pop Cuesta