FORT MYERS – A simple step and throw sounds very simple but with a lot on the line and tons of pressure it can often be anything but simple.
Tied at eight in the bottom of the eighth with the based loaded with one out; Creekside senior reliever Joshua Emerson cleanly fielded a liner up the middle and just had to simply toss the ball to sophomore catcher Bryce Brindle.
Instead, Emerson hurried his throw and threw a errant throw past Brindle allowing Zac Calhoon to score easily from third allowing Venice to stun Creekside 9-8 in eight innings in the Class 7A state semifinals.
In a game full of several ups and downs, it was Venice who had the last blow.
The way things started though it didn’t appear Venice needed any kind of late rally.
Indians pitcher Orion Kerkering looked untouchable nearly striking out the side with two strike outs to start the game.
Venice immediately put pressure on Creekside right away as Calhoon knocked in the game first run with an infield single to give the Indians a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Creekside threatened in the top of the second inning, getting two runners on but Kerkering got out of the jam with a liner to second.
In the bottom of the second, Venice added to its lead as Marek Houston sent a liner up the middle and right off starter Mitchell Faigreves for a 2-0 lead.
Mac Guscette RBI triple scored Danny Rodriguez increasing the lead to 3-0 as the second inning ended.
Yet, despite the early deficit Creekside wouldn’t go away. A throwing error by Houston allowed the Knights to get on the scoreboard cutting the lead to 3-1 in the top of the third.
With Knights on the bags, Kerkering fielded a bunt and threw to first instead of home allowing two Knights to score tying the game at 3-3 still in the third.
A grounder to second allowed the Knights to complete the rally by taking a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the third.
Venice tried to tie it in the bottom of the inning as Calhoon singled to left center with two outs but was thrown out by Brindle on the throw to second to end the third inning.
With the based loaded and two outs, junior Jacob Topping delivered a 2 RBI single to center field to increase the Knights lead to 6-3 in the top of the fourth.
Junior Connor Hults followed with a RBI single through the right side of the infield making it 7-3, chasing Kerkering out of the game.
Per Venice Gondolier Sun sports writer Vinny Porterell, the most runs Kerkering had given up was three prior to today, yet the Knights roughed him up with seven runs.
Yet Venice wouldn’t go away either, as the Indians as Michael Robinson knocked in a run with a two out RBI single up the middle to cut the lead to 7-4 after four innings.
Clayton Callahan retired the Knights in order in the top of the fifth to keep it a three run game.
Venice loaded the bases in the fifth and cut the lead to two on Marek Houston infield single down the third base line and a based loaded walk cut the lead to one to end the fifth.
Creekside was able to get a runner on second in the top of the sixth, however he was picked off running the Knights out the inning.
Kevin Dubrule doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and Calhoon walked two batters later to load the bases for the Indians. A balk on the Knights pitcher allowed the Indians to tie it up at seven all and Rodriguez drew a based loaded walk to give the Indians the lead again at 8-7 still with one out.
Great defense by the Knights allowed the game to stay a one run game as the Knights rolled an untraditional 6-2-3 double play to get out of the inning trailing only by one run.
Down to its last three outs of the season, the Knights needed one run to tie it up again.
A leadoff double and sac bunt put the tying run on third for the Knights with one out to start the top of the seventh.
Down to its last strike, junior Farid Eljaiek laced a single up the middle and just under the glove of second baseman Marek Houston tying the game at 8-8 in the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Indians had a chance to walk it off but a pinch runner was picked off after over running second base to end the inning.
Reliever Jacob Faulkner retired the Knights in order in the top of the eighth to set up the wild ending.
The loss ends the Knights (23-7) fourth trip to the state semifinals and leaves them still seeking their first ever semifinal win after losses in 2013, 2014, 2016 and now 2019.
Meanwhile, Venice (25-6) will play Doral Academy (27-6) in the Class 7A state championship game tomorrow in Fort Myers seeking its sixth overall state title (2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018).
Ironically, this wasn’t the first time, the Indians have sent an area team home from the state semifinals. Four years ago, Venice knocked Bartram Trail out of the Final Four with a 5-0 win also in Fort Myers, on their way to their fourth state title.
While the stunning loss will no doubt leave another devastating mark on the players and coaches including skipper Kris King; perhaps they can look on the bright side and see outside of Trinity and Suwannee (who played earlier in the week or last week), they were the only area team left playing on the second to last day of the high school baseball season.
