Eagles Fall to Barracudas in Game 2 of Quarterfinals

SPRING HILL – The Springstead Eagles (16-11) fell 7-5 to the New Smyrna Beach Barracudas (14-10) in game two of the 5A Baseball State Championships Regional Quarterfinals.

The Red, White, and Blue were building momentum late but fell just short of the comeback and the quarterfinal sweep. This was despite a strong offensive showing (two home runs) from Senior OF/P Dalton Williams. Eagles Head Coach David Cazanas explained why after the game.

“We run-ruled them yesterday, so I told these kids we got to be ready for them to fight back,” Coach Cazanas said. “We came to this game maybe a little with a chip on the shoulder thinking we were going to run-rule them again. Unfortunately, it did not work that way.”

Over the first three and half innings, the Barracudas outscored the home team 7-1, nearly icing the game midway through the action. This was thanks to an initial pop of three runs in the top of the second, before the visitors tacked on two runs in the third and two more in the fourth.

It was not until late in the fourth frame the Eagles started to make some noise when Williams blasted his first ball past the outfield fence.

“Defense was not on our end either,” said Coach Cazanas. “We know we made a few errors. We didn’t have momentum probably until the fifth or sixth inning […] We were struggling a little bit mentally. They are young. They are still in high school, so that mental strength is not where I want it to be.”

Despite the less-than-inspiring start, the senior’s pair of home runs in the third and sixth frames helped to keep hope alive and put Springstead just within striking distance. Following Williams’ second dinger, the home team loaded the bases with only one out.

A Sophomore Billy Ward walk would advance Senior Nathan Marsh across home plate and Sophomore Carlos Vega’s line drive single ran another home with bases still loaded. With momentum building, Sophomore Nathaniel Sabino’s hit would be caught out to end the run.

After retiring three straight ‘Cudas in the top of the seven, Williams almost played hero again. A single put him on base before he stole his way to third, and Senior Joey Rief (the potential tying run) followed closely behind on second.

Unfortunately for Springstead, it would just be too little too late. With two outs and runners on second and third, Junior Pitcher Rocco Giordano struck out Senior Taryn Henrickson to seal the victory for New Smyrna Beach.

Despite the tough outcome for the Eagles, they fought hard until the end. In nearly pulling out the comeback, the home team showed they possess mental toughness. They just have to continue to build it.

Now that his squad is officially in win-or-go-home mode, Coach Cazanas noted that “we just got to put it on them” in game three. The Red, White, and Blue will need to bring the right mentality when they travel to take on the Barracudas in the rubber match on Saturday.