- March 6, 2025
Seabreeze baseball players hang out before the game against Flagler Palm Coast on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze player Parker Bauknecht (right) escapes the tag by Flagler Palm Coast first baseman Marion Clayton (left) on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Flagler Palm Coast's Marion Clayton poses before the game against Seabreeze on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Clayton put the Bulldogs on the board with a home run in the sixth inning. Photo by Michele Meyers
Flagler Palm Coast players enjoy some laughs in the dugout before the game against Seabreeze on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Players in foreground Jordan Gonzalez (left), Brenin Striplin (second from right) and Adam Kleinfelder (right). Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze short stop Noah Katsikos (right) had two runs batted in during the game against Flagler Palm Coast on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC first baseman Marion Clayton (23) waits for the ball as Seabreeze runner Wrigley Zweifel (right) dives for the bag on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC's Marion Clayton (23) is out on third as Seabreeze short stop Noah Katsikos (3) motions it on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bulldog Logan Shudy pops the ball into the outfield during the game against Seabreeze on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Home run by Flagler Palm Coast's first baseman Marion Clayton in the game against Seabreeze on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze head coach Jeff Lemon claps after sophomore Jacob Imhoff (48) runs to third base successfully in the game against Flagler Palm Coast on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze batter Jake Deising (left) smacks the ball as FPC catcher Paul Bowen waits for the fallout on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze freshman Sam Hebert (left) sprints to third as FPC third baseman Carson Flis (right) tries to tag him out on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC junior Reginald Bass launches a pitch during the game against Seabreeze on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
FPC junior Reginald Bass launches a pitch during the game against Seabreeze on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze pitcher Tommy Hayes throws 35 strikes in the game against Flagler Palm Coast on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze defeated Flagler Palm Coast 5-1 in a baseball game at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex on Friday, Feb. 28.
Seabreeze sophomore outfielders Jacob Imhoff and Wrigley Zweifel each scored in the first inning to put the Sandcrabs up for good. Zweifel drove in Imhoff with a double to center field. Zweifel stole third on a wild pitch and ran home on Austin Upchurch’s grounder to Bulldogs shortstop Nole Hemmerle.
The Sandcrabs improved to 5-2 with the win. Seabreeze head coach Jeff Lemon said his players have shown they can “get out on the good side” of the first inning and not get complacent in the middle innings — not allowing their minds to mentally check out.
“They are doing everything we are asking them to do as far as staying in the game, staying engaged and picking up their teammates,” he said. “It could blossom into a really good culture as long as they stay together. The team dynamic is special because we have such a deep lineup. Whether they’re freshmen or seniors, guys don’t seem to be afraid to compete. It’s cool to watch.”
FPC first baseman Marion Clayton hit a home run to right field in the sixth inning putting the Bulldogs on the board. It was FPC’s first home run of the season.
Clayton and senior outfielder Logan Shudy are tied with five runs scored to lead the Bulldogs. Shudy leads the team with a .438 batting average and .591 on-base percentage.
It could blossom into a really good culture as long as they stay together. The team dynamic is special because we have such a deep lineup. Whether they’re freshmen or seniors, guys don’t seem to be afraid to compete. It’s cool to watch. - JEFF LEMON, Seabreeze head baseball coach
Lemon said he was not worried about the home run. He said his team reminds him of his senior year playing baseball for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2013 as a starting infielder. That year the Eagles won the Sun Conference Championship and ended their regular season 50-15.
“Top of the sixth, their leadoff hitter hit a home run and it’s one of those things that whenever you have a team that you feel is literally fighting every pitch and every inning, you don’t really get worried,” he said.
In the bottom of the sixth, FPC left-hander Reginald Bass was relieved by Adam Kleinfelder. Bass took position in left field. Seabreeze senior Jake Deising hit a single to left. Deising was replaced by pinch runner Parker Bauknecht who stole third and was caught stealing home. Seabreeze freshman Sam Hebert, junior Jacob McKinnon and Imhoff scored an additional three runs before Zweifel grounded out to FPC freshman second baseman Brody Youngman.
Upchurch came in for pitcher Tommy Hayes when he experienced pain in his bicep in the fifth inning. Imhoff replaced Upchurch in the seventh inning. Hayes faced 19 batters finishing with 61 pitches and 35 strikes. He had one strikeout and two walks.
Hayes has been a pitcher for six years. He said he felt good in the bullpen before the game.
“I think just going out there and getting one-two-three really sets the tone,” he said. “Defense sets us up and our offense is looking really good, right now. I think this is the season. Our main goal this season is to be the most winningest team in team history. Right now, it is looking good.”
The Sandcrabs improved their winning streak to five games with a 7-6 victory over Viera on Monday, March 4.
They were scheduled to play Pine Ridge on March 5 and visit Mainland on March 6. The Bulldogs will travel to Deltona Trinity Christian Academy on Thursday, March 6 and host Deltona on Friday, March 7.
