CCC Marauders Beat Avon Park, One Step Closer to Championship

Behind a strong outing by pitcher Jeff Campbell, the Marauders beat the Avon Park Red Devils 8-0 Tuesday night. They play the Tampa Catholic Crusaders Friday.

Campbell pitched seven shutout innings, giving up four hits. The Marauders scored in the first inning, three runs in the second and dropped the hammer with four runs in the fourth.

The bottom third of the lineup continues to produce. Johnny Karaphillis, Benny Mendizabal and Ryan Hallam accounted for five hits, a double, and three RBIs.

“I always tell them, baseball is the one sport where the players dictate what happens on the field. The coaches can’t do anything until the players do,” coach Todd Vaughn said.

“They’ve been real productive. What we need is for guys to do their part, whatever we need in the course of a ballgame, they need to get it for us and they understand that,” said Vaughan.

The Marauders got it going in the first inning when junior Ray Fox smacked a single into right field. This moved senior Steven Arango to second base, setting the table for senior Eric Simone who drove in the first run of the game.

In the second inning, things started to open up. Karaphillis legged out an infield hit to lead off. Then Mendizabal singled to left and Hallan walked. This set the table for junior Carter Cashman - bases loaded and no outs. He hit a low liner that caromed off the pitcher’s mound and forced the play at second. Avon Park tried to turn two but the throw went wide and two runs scored. Arango added on by doubling to left, driving in the third run of the inning.

The game was about to break wide open.

Campbell led off the third with a single to center. Seth Paitsel drew a walk. Then Karaphillis poked a ball that was drifting away from him, just over the shortstop’s head, one run came across. Mendizabal yanked one down the third base line, doubling and driving in two more runs. Avon Park Skipper Mort Jackson made the call to the bullpen and brought in junior Brad Torres.

It didn't help. Hallan was awarded first base on catcher interference and all Cashman had to do was hit one far. Which he did. Cashman sent a pop fly to deep left, far enough to score another run.

But it was not all offense as the score would seem.

Campbell was getting it done on the mound. He had two strikeouts. Aside from a five batter first inning, Campbell was crisp. And so were the guys behind him.

Junior Ray Fox made some great plays at first base. In the third inning, he stopped a liner that had double written all over it and made the toss to Campbell. In the sixth inning he made a leaping catch of a line drive that too looked like a double down the line.

Hallam played stellar at shortstop, making some key throw outs and stopping a ball in the gap during the top of the fifth, not only keeping the runner at third but getting the force out at second.

“Fox made big plays all night long, scooping up bad hops," Vaughn said. "Hallan, that’s just desire the way he nailed down that ball in the fifth and got the force and Benny to be there."

Now the stakes are higher as CCC faces Tampa Catholic for the fifth time this year. All four previous games were nail-biters. The next game should be as well.

On Deck:

What: Clearwater Central Catholic plays Tampa Catholic

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: CCC baseball field, 2750 Haines Bayshore Road