Foundation launches 3 consecutive homers
Lyman’s Foxx tosses no-hitter, becomes the third player to repeat as a Florida League MVP
Lyman junior Jalen Foxx pitched a no-hitter and Foundation Academy blasted three consecutive home runs during a tightly contested matchup between father-son coaches last week in separate spring-break outings.
Foxx became the third player to repeat as a Florida League MVP when he came away with the top award among pitchers in “The Challenge” tournament.
He joins former Orange City University standout and current Cleveland Guardians pitcher Logan Allen as the lone Florida League honorees to be named a most valuable player one year and most valuable pitcher the next.
Foxx, a South Carolina commit, struck out 12 batters for the Greyhounds (4-9) while allowing five runners via walk or hit-by-pitch in the 7-1 no-hit win Thursday vs. Horizon (4-7) at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium.
Bishop Moore (9-5) gave up two runs in the bottom of the 6th inning Friday during a 4-3 loss vs. West Boca Raton (9-5) in the championship game.
The Hornets landed Aaron Reabe, Devon Elmendorf, Kai Lwin and Kort McLean on the all-tournament team, which includes 13 area players.
Other all-tournament selections are Carter Stahl of Lyman; Noah Johnson, Blake Manley and Josiah Van Horn from Sanford Seminole; and Brandon Cruz, Luke Helms, Ben Rothfeld and Sebastian Vargas from Horizon.
Eustis (7-5) had Jayden Wise, Couper Gatch and Braden Barnes named to the Florida League’s “Classic” all-tournament team two weeks ago. That team also features Montverde Academy pitcher Christian Borbely.
Deltona (4-8) was scheduled to open the 8-team “Showcase” tournament late Monday against Miami Palmetto (6-5).
Single-day admission to this week’s games in Sanford is $10 for adults and $5 for students via cash or credit card at the stadium gate. Tournament passes are $35 for adults and $15 for students.
TFA tourney
It took a tie-breaker to decide the champion of the O-Town Classic at The First Academy after four teams finished with 3-1 records at the 7-team event.
Oviedo (9-5) edged TFA (9-4), Foundation Academy (13-1) and West Orange (10-3) for the top spot by way of allowing the fewest runs (9) throughout the week. TFA placed second with 11 runs allowed.
Oviedo lost 2-1 against West Orange and registered wins over Apopka (7-6), Edgewater (1-11) and Dr. Phillips (1-13).
Foundation, which lost for the first time this season 3-1 vs. West Orange, ended its week by rallying for a wild 4-3 win against the host Royals on back-to-back-to-back home runs.
It was the second regular-season matchup between TFA coach Scott Grove and son Dakoda Grove, who is in his first season as head coach at Foundation. TFA defeated Clermont East Ridge 4-0 last April in their first father-son outing.
The Lions trailed 3-0 in the 4th inning when Coby Vallee connected on a 2-run homer to left field. Rylee Gibson and Luke Garrison followed in order with home runs to center to put Foundation in front for good. Vallee allowed just 3 hits, 1 walk and no runs in 5 innings pitched.
West Orange junior Brooklyn Hicks hit a double and scored a run in Monday’s win vs. Foundation. Joshua Bell had an RBI single and a run scored and Parker Hohnstock struck out 8 batters in 5 innings to record the win.
The Warriors returned just three starters to a team that went 15-10 last spring and are in their first season under head coach Michael Scudero, who went 35-38 the past three years at Wekiva.
Around the bases
Winter Park (5-8) entered the week winners in 4 of their past 6 games since falling into a 5-game losing skid late last month. The highlight came last Saturday when the Wildcats pulled out a 7-5 win vs. Mississippi state champion Magnolia Heights (12-4-1). Senior Joed Martin-Hernandez finished with 2 RBI, one double and one run scored.
A single in the bottom of the 10th inning by JD Rojas gave Lake Brantley (10-2) a 1-0 win vs. rival Lake Mary (10-2) on March 14. Seniors Isaac Padilla and Ashton O’Quinn combined for 11 strikeouts, 3 hits and 2 walks allowed. The Rams won the first meeting 8-4 two days earlier.
A walk-off double in the 12th by senior Braeden Weckman scored two runs for Winter Springs (7-6) during a 2-1 win on Tuesday vs. Windermere High (9-3). Weckman finished 2-for-5. Aiden Smarrito and Andrew Lepine combined to pitch 11 innings of shutout ball. Windermere’s Aiden Reyes went 3-for-4.
Hagerty (9-2) swept a 2-game series with Oviedo two weeks ago when Austin Jacobs went 4-for-4 with 2 RBI, 3 stolen bases and one run scored during a 5-4 win. Talen Bell added an RBI single. The Huskies won the first game 7-0 as Bell struck out 6 batters while allowing 1 hit and 2 walks in 6 innings pitched.
Ryan Burgoon went 3-for-4 with a double and game-winning RBI for East River (7-5) as the Falcons rallied for a 3-2 win vs. Bishop Moore on March 7.
Junior Michael Senay struck out 12 batters while allowing 1 hit in 5 innings pitched.
Mason Mojica finished 2-for-4 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI for Olympia (7-3) during a 9-5 win vs. Cypress Creek (3-7) on March 14. Seniors Madden Bourst and Adonys Velez each had a double and 2 RBI.