The Sonic Drive-In Player-of-the-Game for Tuesday, March 27, is Jud Fabian of the Trinity Catholic (Ocala) baseball team.
Fabian set the tone early for the Celtics in an 11-5 win at defending 1A state champion Trenton.
The University of Florida commit hit the fourth pitch of the game over the fence in left centerfield for a lead-off homerun, his team-leading fourth of the season, as the Celtics grabbed an early 1-0.
The junior, who entered the game batting .500, continued his hot start to the 2018 season by going 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs, including a 2-run single in the seventh.
Everyone in the line-up had a hit except for the No. 9 hitter as the Class 4A No. 6 Celtics (MaxPreps) improved to 7-2 on the season.
“We had guys swing it well from top to bottom and anytime you can start the game with a homerun it kind of sets the tone,” said Trinity Catholic coach Tommy Bond.
Senior Eddie Lefever added an RBI single in the first to make it 2-0 and Trinity Catholic added two more in the second on just one hit to extend the lead to 4-0.
Trenton, which is ranked 8th in the state in Class 1A according to MaxPreps and is coming off its 2nd state title in the past five years, got back in the game in the bottom of the second.
Zachary Hardee’s ground out plated Trey Sanchez, who had led off with a single, and Sanchez scored on a double by Landon Kennedy to make it 4-2.
The Tigers (8-3) made it a one-run game in the third on a ground out by Florida commit Wyatt Langford, scoring senior Chase Malloy who had doubled to start the inning.
But that’s as close as Trenton would get thanks to the pitching of Alex Cameron, who moved to 4-0 on the season, going six innings and allowing four runs on five hits to pick up the win.
“He doesn’t try to overpower you,” said Bond. “He was ahead in the count a lot tonight and we played well defensively behind him.”
FSU commit Bryce Boone added a solo homerun and senior Ryan Rogers had a bases-loaded double in the fifth to put the game away.
Up next for Trinity Catholic is a trip to Montverde Academy, which is ranked third in the country.
“We’ll be in a battle for sure,” said Bond. “We will have to be on top of our game and will have to play well to beat them.”
Every game The Prep Zone will recognize a Player-of-the-Game. The recipient receives a $10 gift certificate courtesy of Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville & Ocala.
