- April 26, 2024
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FPC reliever Isaiah Munoz threw submarine pitches in the seventh inning. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas starter Reggie Bass lasted 2/3 of an inning. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Connor May slides home safely with the Bulldogs' first run of the game. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Kevin Maya (13) talks to coach Kyle Marsh during a Matanzas timeout. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The Pirates have a conference on the mound in the first inning. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC starter Dalton Roberts allowed two unearned runs in five innings to get the win. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas' Seth Avellar relieved in the first and pitched 4 1/3 innings. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Connor May pops up to third base. May drove in two runs and scored a run against Matanzas. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Wyatt Reynolds scores on a sacrifice fly by Connor May in the fifth inning. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Adam Kleinfelder pitched the sixth against the Pirates, retiring the side on 11 pitches. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas' Braden Russell flies out to second base. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Nole Hemmerle reached base twice, scored a run and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC reliever Isaiah Munoz fires a pitch. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Isaiah Munoz follows through on a pitch. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas left-hander Seth Avellar pitched 4 1/3 innings against the Bulldogs. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Jordan Gonzalez steps out of the batter's box. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Cody Clymer takes a ball. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Cody Clymer scores a run on an error in the fifth inning. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC reliever Isaiah Munoz throws to first base in the seventh inning. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Flagler Palm Coast scored five runs in the top of the first inning and that would be all Bulldogs starter Dalton Roberts would need in a 10-3 win over cross-town rival Matanzas on the Bulldogs’ home field Thursday, March 14.
Roberts, pitching his first extensive stint of the season, gave up four hits and two unearned runs in five innings.
“Dalton did a great job,” FPC coach Kyle Marsh said.
The win gave the Bulldogs a sweep of the Pirates this season. FPC also defeated Matanzas 9-5 on March 8 at the Pirates’ field.
Matanzas, which fell to 6-6 with a 7-1 loss to Seabreeze the following night, has several young players in its starting lineup. The Pirates started five freshmen and sophomores at FPC, including pitcher Reggie Bass. The sophomore lefty had control issues, walking five batters in 2/3 of an inning.
Once runners got in scoring position, the Pirates changed their pitch signs on the fly, exacerbating the situation.
“It was unfortunate Reggie couldn’t get out of the first,” Matanzas coach Jim Perry said. “Reggie’s a sophomore and our catcher, Liam (Smith), is a sophomore. So, we're in the middle of the inning standing on the mound changing our signal system around. And that's a huge learning curve to do right in the middle of the game. Not only do you have to concentrate on throwing strikes. You've got to concentrate on dealing with the runner. Now, we got a concentrate on doing those two things and thinking about making sure I'm throwing the right pitch, I don't cross the catcher up, and that's a little bit different. But it is what it is. You got to go out and compete.”
FPC senior Cody Clymer, who came into the game with just seven at-bats, belted a two-run single to left field in the first. The Hillsborough Community College signee had off-season shoulder surgery and then tore a muscle in his back early in the season. He said he won’t be able to pitch or play in the field this year.
I hit pretty good last year. It's been hard trying to pick it back up, especially not being able to play the field.”
— CODY CLYMER, FPC senior recovering from shoulder surgery
“I have to take two months off (from throwing),” he said. “I might be DH’ing. It just depends on how I’m hitting. I hit pretty good last year. It's been hard trying to pick it back up, especially not being able to play the field.”
Clymer was the designated hitter against the Pirates. Besides the single, his second hit of the season, he also was hit by a pitch in the fifth and went on to score a run.
“It was good to see him out there taking advantage of opportunities and being able to contribute in any way he can to the team,” Marsh said.
The Bulldogs had just five hits in the game, including three in the first when they sent 11 batters to the plate, but they also took advantage of 10 bases on balls.
“It was good to see us come out relaxed when a guy on the mound was struggling with the command of his pitches, just to settle in and see some good pitches,” Marsh said.
FPC leadoff hitter Connor May had two runs batted in and scored a run. Marion Clayton scored two runs and drove in a run. Kevin Maya stole home in the third.
Roberts struck out four batters and walked one. Adam Kleinfelder followed the senior with a perfect sixth inning. Submarine-ball pitcher Isaiah Munoz pitched the seventh, allowing an unearned run.
The Bulldogs fell to 4-4 with a 6-4 home loss to Lake City Columbia the next night. FPC battled back from a 5-1 deficit. Matanzas played Seabreeze at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach on March 15 and was scheduled to play host to Ocala Vanguard at St. Johns River State College in Palatka on Monday, March 18.
“These are great experiences,” Perry said. “It’s early in the season, so we have a lot of opportunities to learn and grow, and we're excited about it.”
