After a tough schedule to open the year, the Raiders entered the month of April with a 5-8 record and in dire need of a second half turnaround as district playoffs drew closer. Since a 3-2 loss at the hands of Lakeland Christian on April 4 dropped Plant City’s record to 6-9, a major turnaround is exactly what they’ve seen.
After back-to-back wins over Sumner and Brandon, followed by losses to strong Alonso and Sickles squads, the Raiders have bounced back with four consecutive wins — their most recent coming in the form of an 8-4 victory over Leto on Monday to elevate Plant City above .500 at 12-11 on the year.
After a strikeout opened the contest, senior Landen Robert drew a walk to give the Raiders their first baserunner of the game — quickly moving into scoring position on a passed ball. As senior Anthony Palestrini drew a walk of his own in the following at bat, a ball in the dirt on ball four then allowed Robert to move up to third to give Plant City runners on the corners with just one out. A base hit from senior Deven Gonzalez drove home Robert and the Raiders took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first.
Outside of Plant City’s typical 1-2 starters in senior Adan Longoria and Chase Mobley, senior Zane Wright took the mound for the Raiders in his second start of the year, coming off of back-to-back scoreless relief appearances in wins over Spoto and Wharton earlier in the month. With a fly out and a pair of ground outs, Wright opened the contest with a perfect bottom of the first. A walk from Wright in the top of the second and a bunt base hit from senior Ray Cowen ultimately put runners on first and third with one out, but a double play ended the Raiders threat before Wright worked through another scoreless inning in the bottom half of the frame.
Plant City managed just one baserunner in the top of the third with a walk from Gonzalez, but were unable to extend their lead before Leto knotted the contest up. After a one-out single up the middle, Leto’s baserunner moved up to second on a passed ball. A slow ground ball was then fielded quickly and thrown high, over the outstretched glove to Palestrini at first, allowing Leto’s first run of the contest to score and the trail runner to move up to second — tying the game at 1-1. Another misplayed ground ball put runners on first and third with one out, but the Raiders were able to escape the jam as a line drive was caught at second base and thrown on to first for the inning-ending double play. After a quiet fourth, the Raiders jumped back out in front in the top of the fifth. Despite two quick outs to open the inning, Palestrini reached safely with a base hit through the left side and Gonzalez subsequently reached on a walk in the next at bat. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Longoria loaded the bases with a walk. Senior Wyatt Fordham then looped a base hit into left, just out of reach for the diving Leto left fielder, to drive in two and give the Raiders a 3-1 lead with runners still manning first and second. A passed ball allowed the runners to advance to second and third and another quick passed ball pushed Longoria across the plate, giving Plant City a 4-1 lead, but Leto wasn’t done. After putting runners on second and third in the bottom of the fifth, a huge two-run double to right center cut the lead to 4-3 heading into the sixth.
In the top of the sixth, the Raiders continued to add insurance. After leadoff hitter Colin Pellicer reached first safely with an infield base hit, he appeared to be hung out to dry between first and second as he took off for second base as Leto’s pitcher picked off to first, but the ensuing throw to second was low and bounced into the outfield allowing Pellicer to additionally make his way to third. Robert was hit by a pitch and then stole second before Palestrini was intentionally walked to load the bases. Gonzalez was then hit by a pitch allowing Pellicer to score, Longoria drew a walk allowing Robert to score and a double to left center from Mobley pushed two more runs across as Plant City extended their lead to 8-3.
Wright allowed one baserunner in the bottom of the sixth but notched two outs before Plant City made a move to the bullpen, marking the end of his night.
Wright’s final line included 5.2 innings pitched, three hits and two walks allowed, zero earned runs allowed and four strikeouts as his earned run average dipped to 1.63 on the year.
Tanner Rollyson entered the game in relief, conceding just one unearned run on a base hit through the left side in the bottom of the sixth before striking out three Leto batters in the bottom of the seventh to seal the 8-4 victory for Plant City.
Now sitting at 12-11, Plant City will finish their regular season against 15-5 Plant on Thursday.