BY GENE NARDI
The fifth-ranked Seminole Ridge High School varsity baseball squad traveled to Wellington on Friday, Feb. 28 in a much-anticipated matchup between the rival teams. The Hawks fell to the Wolverines 2-1 in a nail-biter.
Early in the first inning, it appeared that the Hawks were poised to drive in scores with runners on first and second, but the Wolverine defense stepped up to close out the top of the first.
Wellington’s Jake Summey managed a single, and during the next at bat, he aggressively stole second base. On third base, Summey tagged-up off a fly-ball and crossed the plate to give the Wolverines an early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Wellington’s Danny Bigtree smacked a double down center field, sending in Summey for the Wolverines’ second run, making the score 2-0.
In the sixth inning, Seminole Ridge got on the board when Carmine Cioffoletti ran in from third on a high Wellington throw at first. The Hawks closed in on the Wellington lead 2-1, but could not muster a second run.
After the Hawks were shut down in the top of the seventh inning, the game ended with a Wellington victory.
Summey went 2-for-2 with two runs. Wellington’s Spencer Stockton gave up one run and recorded four strikeouts. The Wolverines are 3-3 on the season. The Hawk’s Cioffoletti had one hit, a walk and a run. Jake Paez went 2-for-2. The Hawks are 5-3 on the season.
The Hawks traveled to Suncoast High School on Wednesday, March 5, but results were not available at press time. The team travels to Palm Beach Gardens High School on Tuesday, March 11 for a 7 p.m. game.
Wellington hosted the King’s Academy on Tuesday, March 4 and traveled to Glades Central High School on Wednesday, March 5, but results were not available at press time. The Wolverines travel to Jupiter High School for a 7 p.m. game on Friday, March 7.
ABOVE: Wellington’s Jake Summey slides into home plate to score the first run of the game.
