It took extra innings, five pitchers and the Gators’ fourth outfielder Ryan Larson to scratch out a series-finale win against the Missouri Tigers.
Zack Powers found himself in the middle of a bench-clearing tussle against Florida State. A month later, he came a call away from hitting into a triple play. The bizarre sequence started in the second inning with Powers roping a line drive to Missouri first baseman Kendall Keeton who snagged the liner, stepped on first and fired to third to complete the rare trifecta.
The at-bat defied reason. Jacksonville’s No. 9 batter, Dylan Dillard, stepped to the plate with two outs and runners on second and third base. Right-hander Ryan Harris toed the rubber.
I never got the musical talents of my mother. She performed as a child with her musical-group family. I performed on the ball fields (or at least tried to).
Bobby Poyner watched most of Sunday’s finale from the dugout railing next to coach Kevin O’Sullivan and hitting coach Brad Weitzel. He was a day removed from striking out a career-high seven batters in four innings of relief.
John Sternagel raised his finger to the sky as he rounded first base. He did it again once he crossed home plate. The freshman just delivered a one-run lead by sending a baseball into the tan glove of a fan standing in the left-field bleachers.
Logan Shore was not the ace he has become against Georgia. He left his changeups up. He gave up two two-out RBI singles. Yet, he earned the win.
Hitting coach Brad Weitzel tossed baseballs about 45 feet from home plate to a group of Gators that included Casey Turgeon, Justin Shafer and Richie Martin. The three players played through a sub-.500 season in 2013 that had Florida and coach Kevin O’Sullivan on the fringe of missing postseason play.
The Gators had their work cut out for them two weeks ago. An eight-game road trip that included three top-10 teams awaited them.
When trouble brewed in 2013, Florida folded. That has not been the case this season.
Solutions by The State News
