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The Trinity Catholic Celtics traveled to Alachua to face the Santa Fe Raiders in Tuesday’s high school baseball matchup. The Raiders walked away with a commanding 10-5 win over the Celtics.
Santa Fe Coach Travis Yeckring shares his pregame thoughts on the Raiders’ matchup against Trinity Catholic@SFHSRaiderBSBL @TCCelticsBasebl @ESPNGainesville @GNVPreps @ThePrepZone @CooneyScarlett pic.twitter.com/WgfBYKVxST
— Shailey Klein (@shaileyklein) April 19, 2022
Celtics Strike First
The Celtics had strong momentum to start the first inning with junior Cade Hentz and senior Bryan Navarro both reaching home. The Raiders had no such luck, falling behind 2-0 at the end of the first.
The second inning was quiet for the Celtics, but Santa Fe’s Kyler Nowling hit a solo home run to put the Raiders within one.
Raiders Respond
The Raiders hit their stride in the third, with senior Devante Mitchum tallying his own home run to tie the game. Conner Brown slid home shortly after.
Devante Mitchum sends a hit out of the park for another Raider home run
Bottom of 3rd
Santa Fe: 2
Trinity Catholic: 2@SFHSRaiderBSBL @TCCelticsBasebl @ESPNGainesville @GNVPreps @ThePrepZone @CooneyScarlett pic.twitter.com/Sf3gEGdysO— Shailey Klein (@shaileyklein) April 19, 2022
Santa Fe kept its momentum through the bottom of the third inning with Logan Summers tallying a run off a hit from Zane Starling. The Raiders were up 4-2 at the end of the third inning.
Pitching Changes Won’t Stop the Raiders
The top of the fourth brought a pitching change for the Raiders, as junior Dawson Card took over on the mound.
The Raiders extended their lead 5-2 at the bottom of the fourth, with junior Ben Thompson reaching home on a Celtic wild pitch. The Celtics elected to make a pitching change, bringing senior Luke Wilkerson to the mound.
However, the Raiders’ scoring wouldn’t stop there. With Mitchum on third eyeing home plate, Wilkerson overthrew first base resulting in another Raider run.
Final Celtic Effort
In the top of the fifth, the Celtics responded with three runs of their own. Wilkerson and Patrick Plunkett reached home first, followed by Drew Meyer. The Celtics’ three-run fifth inning put them within two runs of the Raiders.
Cole Gonzales’ drive into left field brings Drew Meyer home for another Celtic run
Top of 5th
Santa Fe: 7
Trinity Catholic: 5@SFHSRaiderBSBL @TCCelticsBasebl @ESPNGainesville @GNVPreps @ThePrepZone @CooneyScarlett— Shailey Klein (@shaileyklein) April 20, 2022
Entering the bottom of the fifth inning with a 7-5 lead, the Raiders did not hesitate to tally five more runs. Conner Brown brought home Dylan Evans and Devan Mitchum to secure the Santa Fe victory.
Raider Offense Rolling
Santa Fe Coach Travis Yeckring said he likes what his team is doing offensively and hopes the Raiders will maintain this momentum heading into the rest of the week’s matchups.
Next Up
The Raiders travel to Williston High School to take on the Red Devils Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Bishop Verot High School out of Fort Myers concludes its three-game Alachua County baseball tour Friday night at Santa Fe at 6 p.m.
