Southwest Florida Christian Advances With Win Over First Baptist

The last time that Southwest Florida Christian and First Baptist met, it was a wild affair in which the King’s held on for a 7-6 win.

Fast-forward to the 3A-6 quarterfinals on Monday, and they were at it again. After giving up the lead in the top of the sixth, the King’s scratched out three runs of their own in the bottom half, and then held on for a 9-7 win.

The wild sixth inning began with the Lions. Samuel Dunkleberger started the frame with a walk. Drake Woods then reached on an error and Lennard Pietersz was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. After a strikeout, Jacob Maxfield singled. After a second strikeout, Cole Burlison added a single of his own, and suddenly the Lions had turned a 6-4 deficit into a 7-6 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Southwest Florida Christian quickly responded. Luke Wallace led off with a single. Max Rippi reached on an error and, after a fielders choice, Mike Gerwitz also reached on an error. A walk to Patrick Doerstling and a single by Noah Sheffield had the Kings in business. Cade Daugherty was the other King’s batter to reach base in the inning, working a walk. By the time the frame was complete, the King’s had regained the lead at 9-7.

From there, Chase Reed, who had come in to put out the fire in the sixth, shut down the Lions in the seventh and secured the quarterfinal win. Reed picked up the win, striking out four and allowing only two hits in 1.2 innings of work.

Rippi had a big day for King’s, going 2-for-4, with two runs and three RBIs. Wallace added two hits, a run and an RBI.

Southwest Florida Christian moves on to face the top seed in the district, and the #1 ranked team in Southwest Florida, Canterbury, on Tuesday afternoon at 4 PM.

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