By Marshall Tempest
Reporter
The Apopka Blue Darters dominated crosstown rival Wekiva, 16-1, on Friday, March 28, to improve to 2-0 in the friendly confines of their new home field. After defeating the Mustangs for their fourth straight win, the Blue Darters faced off against South Lake and Winter Park.
As of Wednesday, April 2, the Apopka baseball team is 12-6, 1-1 in district matchups, and ranked 119th in the state. The Blue Darters sit third in 7A District 4, below Lake Brantley and West Orange but above Lake Mary, Ocoee, and Seminole (Sanford). Apopka has scored 116 runs and allowed 54 for a positive scoring differential of 62 this season.
Apopka vs. Wekiva (16-1) Win
“When you get hitting, pitching, defense and base running like that, it’s hard to lose,” head coach Bobby Brewer said after the win.
Apopka scored 16 runs in just four innings, and the game was called due to the run rule. The Blue Darters scored one run in the first inning, five runs in the second, four in the third, and six in the fourth.
Apopka’s first run of the game came in courtesy of Wyatt Jaggers, who laced a line drive to center field that turned into a triple. Jaggers was left on base as no one could bring him home in the bottom of the first. Apopka went into the second inning up 1-0.
In the second inning, everything started coming together for Apopka. The Blue Darters’ Reef VanKuren brought in the second and third runs for Apopka on a line drive single to left field. Aiden Rieli followed with an RBI single to extend the Apopka lead to 4-0 with no outs. Jaggers brought in the fifth run with a bases-loaded walk, and Jez Hamrick closed out the scoring with an RBI fielder’s choice.
Wekiva answered in the third when Jaden Graham lined an RBI double to left field, but that would be the Mustangs’ only score of the night.
Apopka went back to work in the bottom of the third. Chance Saunders reached on an error that brought home a run before Ty Livingston scored two more on a single to center field. Peyton Neeley put Apopka on top 10-1 with a sacrifice fly.
The Blue Darters put the last nail in the Mustangs’ coffin with six more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Apopka’s 11th run of the game was another force run as Livingston showed discipline at the plate to take a walk and send in a run with the bases loaded. Jaggers sent in the next two runs with a line drive single to right field. Livingston was then sent home due to a balk. The game’s final runs came from the bat of Camron Pennock, who smoked a line drive double to right field that cleared the bases for two more runs.
Brewer praised his team for the win and credited the young and inexperienced Wekiva team.
“We’re a young team, but they are even younger than we are,” he said. “We’ve been swinging the bats really good lately. Coming off (spring) break, we came out swinging the bats, and we haven’t stopped yet.”
The Blue Darters had a terrific offensive game, with Jaggers, Livingston, Pennock and VanKuren leading the way. Jaggers went 2-for-2 at the plate, collecting four RBIs, a triple and a run scored. Livingston went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Pennock went 1-for-2 at the plate, including a double and two RBIs. Van Kuren went 1-for-2, scoring one run and driving in two.
The Blue Darters also stole nine bases, with Nico Posluszny and Saunders accounting for three a piece. Livingston stole two bases, while VanKuren collected one.
“We got a lot of guys that can really play,” Brewer said. “I could start mentioning names, but I’d be pretty much mentioning the whole ball club.”
In the win, Jarred Goodson, Maddox Stinson and Ben Decker were on the mound for Apopka. Goodson started and pitched a scoreless first inning. Stinson came on in relief and pitched the next two innings, allowing two hits and one earned run while collecting four strikeouts in two innings of work.
Decker closed out the game with a scoreless, hitless fourth inning.
Brewer praised his pitchers in the win and said he’s pleased with their performances on the mound all season. He is also beyond happy with Apopka’s fielding and defense, which have controlled the pace of the games.
In the field, Apopka was once again perfect in the win with no errors. Apopka had 12 putouts on 12 total chances in the field. VanKuren led the defense with nine putouts on nine chances.
Brewer told me after the game that he’s most impressed with how his players have attacked at the plate when the team needs a hit.
“When we are in a critical moment when we really need a hit – we get a hit,” he said. “The kids just seem to sense it right now. They have a little bit more killer instinct at the plate now than they did before the break.”
Apopka vs. South Lake (Postponed)
On Tuesday night, Apopka’s skies were littered with lightning and dark clouds, which prevented many sports from happening in the area. Because of the weather conditions, Apopka’s game against South Lake was postponed to Thursday night.
The Blue Darters didn’t even get to finish the first inning because the weather hit so fast. The game was paused in the bottom of the first inning as Apopka was up 3-1 with one out to go.
South Lake was able to secure one run in the first, but Apopka went on to score three in the bottom of the inning before the postponement. Apopka’s first run of the game came in from Collin VanFleet on a line drive single to right field. Tyler Spaid followed with a line drive single to right field to plate two more runs, but VanFleet was tagged out trying to score on the play.
Officials then called the game due to lightning. It was moved to Thursday evening, after press time, to continue. Bobby Brewer told me after the lightning postponement that the team looked really good to start out the game, and he was glad they got to continue it later in the week.
What’s next
After this week’s matchups, the team has just three games left in the regular season. Next week will be the final week of the Apopka baseball team’s regular season as they prepare for the district tournament. Apopka hosts University on Tuesday, April 8. After that, The Blue Darters will travel to Horizon on Wednesday and St. Cloud on Thursday to finish the regular season.
In the Class 7A District 4 Tournament, Apopka will compete against Lake Brantley, West Orange, Lake Mary, Ocoee, and Seminole for the district title and a state championship playoff berth.
