Ponte Vedra will play host to Middleburg on Thursday, May 6, in the opening round of the FHSAA Regional baseball tournament. The Sharks’ 5-4 victory over Pine Ridge last Thursday earned the Sharks their fourth consecutive district title dating back to 2017 as last year’s playoffs were canceled due to Covid-19.
The Sharks had a more than favorable seed in the tournament as they earned a first-round bye as the seven-team district’s No. 1 seed. PVHS was originally scheduled to play Deltona in the district semifinals, but Deltona, which defeated Matanzas 8-4 in the district quarterfinals, was forced to forfeit its victory after its starting pitcher went way over the pitch count — a ruling now in effect for high school baseball. The forfeit gave the Sharks the win and a trip to the district championship game.
Pine Ridge was playing its third game in four days against the well-rested Sharks and nearly overcame this disadvantage when the Panthers’ seventh-inning rally came up one run short.
It appeared the Sharks would have an easy time with their opponents as PVHS jumped out to an early four-run lead in the first inning. The big blow in the inning was an RBI double by Sam Gabet, one of four hits amassed by the Sharks in the entire game.
Scott Griesemer picked up the win for the Sharks, giving up only one of the three runs scored by Pine Ridge. The University of North Florida commit struck out eight and allowed four hits in six innings.
Nursing a slim one-run lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Sharks tallied what would prove to be the winning run. Will Hynes began the frame by reaching first after being hit with a pitch. Freshman pinch hitter Sam Mazella was out on a fielder’s choice, but advanced himself into scoring position by stealing second base. Junior Tyler Bernstein then delivered a solid base hit to score Mazella to give the Sharks a two-run lead.
Freshman Matt Hoag earned the save for Ponte Vedra, but not before Pine Ridge made it more than interesting. After striking out the first batter he faced, the next two batters delivered base hits to score one run. With one down and a runner at first base, the Panthers’ Tyler Hoppe, who had earlier connected on a triple and a single, hit a hard smash up the middle. Fortunately for the Sharks, the baserunner on first was running on the play. Bernstein nailed the hot shot near the bag, stepped on second and threw to first to complete a game-ending double play.
Thursday’s matchup with Middleburg, will pit veteran Sharks head coach Tom Stanton against his former high school, where he was a star catcher for the Broncos in the middle 1990s. Ponte Vedra has a 3-1 series edge, but the game will be the first between the two schools since 2015. The winner will advance to the regional semifinals against the winner between Pine Ridge and Stanton Prep.
