If offense wins you games and defense wins you championships, the Saints (25-18, 14-7 Mid-Florida Conference) seem a likely bet to win the MFC this season.
Santa Fe College defeated Lake-Sumter Community College 12-1 after eight innings during its final home game of the season Monday.
"We hadn't scored against them in 17 innings, and for five innings we only scored 1 run," SFC coach Johnny Wiggs said. "We have only scored 1 run in 22 innings against Lake-Sumter. I was clearly concerned."
Keon Broxton scored the first run during the first inning with the help of three errors. Broxton got to first base on an error by the second baseman. After stealing second, Broxton was able to steal third on a wild pitch. Broxton may have been able to score off of the wild pitch, but Lake-Sumter's third baseman was in the way of Broxton's attempt at running home. The umpires ruled that the third baseman interfered with Broxton, and the Saints were given the run.
SFC starting pitcher Gary Merians gave up five hits during his seven innings pitched and also had two strikeouts for the game.
The Saints were hitless until Brett Bozeman came to bat during the bottom of the fourth inning. SFC would end its final home game with 15 hits, including three from Bozeman and two each from Andy Mee, Bobby Triglia and Alex Godshall.
One of Godshall's hits was his first career home run.
"Great for him," Wiggs said. "It was a great way to end our last home game and to see if we can go on the road for three straight games to win a conference championship."
SFC is still in first place in the MFC. The state tournament in Winter Haven during the first week of May takes the top two teams from each conference in Florida.
"Everyone is solid in this league. It always comes down to the last couple of games," Wiggs said. "I doubt this year will be any different."
