Olympia bruised but confident
Olympia is limping into its most crucial stretch on the baseball schedule, beginning this week with a two-game district series against Lake Brantley.
The Titans, ranked No. 6 in the Sentinel Super Six rankings, host the No. 2 Patriots on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Friday’s game takes place at Lake Brantley, starting at 7 p.m.
“We’ll really see how good we are these next few weeks,” Olympia coach Chuck Schall said. “The kids understand this is the meat of our season right here.”
They’re also a bit banged up at the moment.
Starting pitcher Palmer Bittick was hit by a line drive on March 17 and is likely out until next week’s district series against Apopka.
Catcher Austin Vetter has suffered a dislocated finger and outfielder Preston Goodbar has battled back issues.
The Titans, led by four seniors and a core group of sophomores, have used several different pitchers this season.
Among the standouts on the mound is sophomore Jeslyn Whitehead, who along with senior shortstop Francis Villaman is also a major contributor thus far at the plate.
“These kids just have a lot of fun playing and they don’t put a whole lot of pressure on themselves,” Schall said. “I don’t think they had high expectations coming into the season. It’s just the more they play and win a few games together, the more confidence they get.”
The schedule gets no easier after facing Lake Brantley and Apopka as West Orange awaits for a two-game series that will help decide district seeding entering the playoffs.
Olympia is scheduled to play at West Orange on April 12 and then host the Warriors on April 14.
Lake Brantley, West Orange and Olympia each was ranked in the Top 10 of the Class 9A state poll last week.
Lefthander Jack Quayle added depth to the Lake Brantley pitching staff when he returned from labrum surgery and a layoff of 18 months on March 16 to pitch a no-hitter against Wekiva.
The Patriots dropped from the top spot in the Super Six after suffering their first loss last week during a 9-0 setback to Port Orange Spruce Creek.
West Orange moved to No. 1 after winning the Central Florida Spring Break Slam tournament.
No. 3 Hagerty advanced to the championship bracket of the 17-team Florida League High School Invitational Classic but lost its last two games.
Britt Crawford finished 4-for-14 with four RBI and four runs scored for the Huskies. 1. (3) West Orange (11-3) 2. (1) Lake Brantley (11-1) 3. (4) Hagerty (9-4) 4. (6) Orange City University (8-4) 5. (NR) Ocoee (11-1) 6. (NR) Olympia (11-3)
Bishop Moore, The First Academy, Trinity Prep, Apopka, New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange Spruce Creek)