- February 24, 2025
Caysen Nobles hit a double and scored a run in FPC's win against Ridgeview. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Adam Kleinfelder pitched the middle three innings and struck out five in FPC's 8-5 win against Ridgeview. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Nole Hemmerle pitched a scoreless seventh inning and reached base three times in three plate appearances against Ridgeview. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC sophomore Kameron Roberts struck out six in three innings in his first start. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The pitching has been ahead of the hitting so far this season for Flagler Palm Coast’s baseball team. So, coach Kyle Marsh was pleased to see solid performances in both areas in an 8-5 home victory over Orange Park Ridgeview on Feb. 20.
“This is the beginning stages of the season,” Marsh said after the game. “We’re just trying to figure some things out. You get acclimated to the season. Our bats have started off a little slow, but it was good to see them come tonight.”
Down 4-1, the Bulldogs scored three runs in the third and four in the fourth to take an 8-4 lead. They collected seven hits and put 15 men on base with the help of three walks and four batters getting hit by pitches.
Brenin Striplin led off the fourth with a double over the center fielder’s head. Logan Shudy got hit by a pitch and Marion Clayton ripped a two-run single. Clayton scored on a wild pitch.
Caysen Nobles also hit a double in the game, and Paul Bowen had two hits and two RBIs. The eight runs are the Bulldogs' season high.
FPC's three pitchers, meanwhile, combined to strike out 13 Ridgeview batters. Sophomore Kameron Roberts made his first start and gave up two earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Senior Adam Kleinfelder followed with three strong innings, striking out five batters and giving up one run in the sixth. Nole Hemmerle closed out the game with a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts.
“This year, we got some depth when it comes to guys on the mound,” Marsh said. “So we're able to kind of move things around.”
The next night, both the pitchers and the hitters struggled in a 17-0 loss at Spruce Creek. Hawks pitchers Garrett Grant and Jack Costa combined on a three-inninng, one-hit shutout. Grant has committed to Florida Atlantic University next year, while Costa plans to play for St. Johns River State College. FPC’s three pitchers gave up a combined 10 earned runs on eight hits and 10 walks. The loss dropped the Bulldogs to 2-3 on the season.
“The biggest thing is having confidence,” Marsh said after the Ridgeview win. “I want these guys to have confidence. For tonight, it was just good to see us swinging the bat more.”
The Bulldogs are scheduled to host Viera on Feb. 25 with Seabreeze visiting FPC on Feb. 26. The Sandcrabs and Bulldogs will then meet again two days later at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
Seabreeze evened its record at 2-2 after splitting with Savannah (Georgia) Islands High School Sharks on Feb. 21-22.
The Sandcrabs will host Mainland on Thursday, Feb. 27, between their two games against FPC. They will be facing a hot Buccaneers ball team. Mainland is off to its best start since 2017 with a 3-1 record heading into a home game against Taylor on Feb. 25. The Bucs have scored 47 runs in their first four games.
