On day two of the Farm Bureau Classic Tournament, the Mitchell Mustangs (7-7) dominated the Weeki Wachee Hornets (6-6) by a 17-2 margin in the afternoon slot at the Hornets’ Nest in Weeki Wachee. The Green and Black surrendered eight runs in the first inning en route to a run rule defeat at the end of the fourth frame.
Both teams had hoped to avoid a second consecutive loss during the competition, but it would be the visitors who would parlay a tough Tuesday loss into a big win on Wednesday. “We had a real tough punch-in-the-stomach type loss in extra innings last night,” said Mitchell Baseball Head Coach Howard Chittum. “Crystal River outplayed us, outcoached us, and deserved to win. It was just, I think, a bounce back for our club. They came out and did kind of what you’re supposed to do after you get beat the night before. I was proud of how the boys responded.”
Hornets Head Coach Patrick McHugh noted that his guys came out “flat” on Wednesday but gave Mitchell kudos for always being a tough matchup whenever the Mustangs come to town. “Mitchell is a good ball club,” Coach McHugh said. “They have always given us issues since I have been here as a coach. They are a good ball club. Howard is a good coach, and they are tough… We were flat today. I can’t really take any positives out of it…”
Mitchell junior Jacob Aponte (2 runs, 2 hits, 3 RBI) got the scoring going early with a midfield double that ran seniors Jonathon Rodriguez (1 run, 1 hit, 1 RBI) and Kyle Koslin (1 run, 2 hits, 1 RBI) home with only one out in the top of the first. On the next at bat, junior starting pitcher Matthew Maggio’s (2 IP, 2 runs, 3 hits, 4 RBI, 1 win) ground ball single delivered Aponte and senior Drew Weinberg (2 runs) across home plate as well.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
