4A, D2 Semifinal: Dylan Simmons Shuts out Providence
Dylan Simmons went the distance without allowing a run, and he got just enough offensive support, as the Class 4A’s #6 team, the Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors, defeated the #5 Stallions from the Providence School of Jacksonville in the Class 4A, District 2 semifinal Tuesday afternoon.
Simmons (W: 6-2, 2,78 ERA) scattered eight hits over seven innings while walking only one Stallion – intentionally – and striking out seven. He had only two innings in which he allowed multiple base runners and made big pitches – including inducing two double plays and a strikeout to end the fifth – when he needed to most.
Simmons’s lone walk came in the top of the seventh when Jacksonville’s leading run producer Nathan Hickey (14 HR, 40 RBI) stepped to the plate with two runners at the corners and two men out. Davis Griffin had reached on an error to start the inning, and Cutler Cannon singled his way aboard with one out. Trinity then got a force out at second that put runners at first and third.
Trinity intentionally walked Hickey to load the bases with two outs. Simmons then induced a routine fly ball to center field, where Dawson Fietsam – battling a sore leg after getting hit by a pitch earlier – made the catch to end the game and secure the win for the Conquerors.
Trinity scored twice in the bottom of the first. Bryan Muniz led off with a double and scored on Conner Aldrich’s sacrifice fly. Aldrich is #10 in RBI in the city with 21. Noah Couch, the courtesy runner for Simmons (single) then scored on a two-out error off the bat of Matt Crump.
Trinity added an insurance run in the third when Crump drove in Couch (Simmons lead-off double) with a base hit.
Providence’s Tyler Callihan took over on the mound for Cannon with two outs in the first. The possible MLB first-round pick then pitched 5-1/3 innings in relief, allowing one earned run on only three hits while walking three and fanning nine. He got a diving catch in the right-center-field gap from center fielder Tucker Talbott to rob Muniz of 3 RBI and end a big threat after Trinity loaded the bases.
The game was a bit surprising to have occurred before the title game, but Trinity came in as the #2 seed, and Providence was #3. Bishop Snyder earned the top seed with wins over both Trinity and Providence to finish 4-1 in district play during the season. Trinity was also 4-1, which included a win over Providence (3-2 district record) during the season.
Simmons was 2 for 3 at the plate to help lead the Conquerors, and Cannon had the same line for Providence.
The Conquerors would go on to face #4 Episcopal who defeated Bishop Snyder in their semifinal.
Trinity Christian Wins 4A, District 2
A three-run first inning and a brilliant pitching performance from Justin Parrish led the Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors to the 2019 Class 4A, District 2 championship with a 5-1 win over Episcopal Thursday evening.
The Conquerors’ first three hitters all reached and scored to give Trinity a quick 3-0 lead. Bryan Muniz reached on an error to lead off. He advanced first-to-third on a wild pick-off attempt and scored on a base hit from Dawson Fietsam. One out later, Matt Crump drew a bases-loaded walk to force home Fietsam. Jared Donald completed the early rally with a run-scoring ground ball to bring in Conner Aldrich, who singled his way aboard.
Crump extended the lead in the bottom of the third with his second RBI of the night. His base hit to left plated Dylan Simmons (lead-off double) to give Trinity a 4-0 lead.
Episcopal scored in the top of the fifth on a wild pitch. Langston Hardy singled to open the inning and advanced to second on a throwing error on the same play. Jared Matey beat out a bunt to put runners at first and third, and two outs later, Hardy scored when the ball got past the catcher and hit the back screen.
Trinity’s Matt Luxenberg squeezed home Fietsam (lead-off double) in the sixth to put up the game’s final run.
Parrish (W: 5-3, 1.63 ERA) struck out 10 Eagles in 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, during which he allowed five hits (all singles) while walking two. He had trouble in only two innings. The Eagles loaded the bases in the first on two one-out singles and a two-out walk. Parrish got a fly ball to end the threat and allowed only five base runners from that point on. Parrish then got out of that fourth inning with a ground ball and later struck out the side in the sixth. He finished the night with five strikeouts among the last seven hitters he faced.
Bryce Janney got the final out when Muniz ranged into outfield grass in left to flag down a short fly ball.
Episcopal’s Layton Perry pitched very effectively in relief after entering with one out in the first. Perry allowed just one earned run on four hits while walking one and striking out two. Five Eagles had base hits, and center-fielder Clayton Hodges ran down two Trinity drives in the gap – one to each side of the field. Right-fielder Cab McIver threw out a runner trying to score on a base hit to end the bottom of the sixth.
Crump finished the night 1 for 2 with a run scored, a stolen base, and two runs driven in for the Conquerors. Fietsam and Aldrich each had two hits and scored a run to lead the Trinity offense.
Trinity (20-7) will begin the regional playoffs at home versus Panama City’s North Bay Haven Academy (7-20) at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14. Episcopal (16-12) will travel to Pensacola Catholic (20-6) on the same night. If both Trinity and Episcopal win, they will meet again on Friday, May 17, at Trinity Christian Academy for the right to go to the Class 4A Final Four on May 24.
Featured Image Courtesy of Trinity Christian Baseball
