- February 20, 2025
Matanzas left-hander Seth Avellar throws a pitch against Tocoi Creek. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Paul Trettner trots back to first after a pitch. Trettner had two of the Pirates' three hits against Tocoi Creek. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas' Daniel Reyes throws a pitch against Tocoi Creek. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The Pirates' Alonso Quintana fouls off a pitch. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas has a young baseball team with five sophomores and a freshman in the starting lineup. Fortunately, it’s long season with room for growth. But through four games, it may already feel like a long season. The Pirates were 0-4 heading into a home game against Atlantic on Tuesday, Feb. 18. They’ve struggled on the mound, giving up an average of 10 runs a game.
“We were pretty young last year, and it seems like we're not getting any older,” Matanzas coach Jim Perry said. “We were behind in almost every count (in an 11-0 loss to Tocoi Creek on Feb. 13). But Seth Avellar had good velocity on his pitches and his breaking ball was pretty good. And Dios Cruz has been pretty effective so far. But across the board we have to increase our strike-to-ball ratios. We want to throw two of the first three pitches for a strike. With a one ball, two strike count, the hitter is on the defensive.”
Flagler Palm Coast was 1-1 after two games with a 7-3 win over Deltona Trinity Christian and a 4-3 loss to New Smyrna Beach. Nole Hemmerle had three of the Bulldogs’ eight hits against the Barracudas. Hemmerle had two RBIs and scored a run. Logan Shudy went 2 for 3 with a double and a run.
Seabreeze was 0-1-1 heading into a home game against Trinity Christian on Feb. 18. Mainland is 2-2 and scoring an average of 10 runs a game.
