The Sonic Drive-In Player-of-the-Game for Wednesday, May 9, is Bryce Boone of the Trinity Catholic (Ocala) baseball team .
Boone, a junior and FSU commit, had two hits and a run scored and pitched three and 2/3 innings of hitless relief as the host Celtics rallied past Berkeley Prep (Tampa), 2-1, in a Region 2-4A semifinal game on Wednesday night.
Berkeley Prep got on the board with an RBI single by Jonathan Bruno in the third inning off Trinity Catholic starter Mac Gibas. But the Buccaneers (17-11) left the bases loaded in both the second and third innings and only came away with that one run.
Boone led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. He scored the Celtics first run to tie the game 1-1 after Tyler Owens bunted and reached on an error by Berkeley Prep first baseman Jake Little.
Hayden Kimball singled for the Celtics with one out in the fifth and Boone followed with his second hit. After Tyler Owens struck out, senior Ryan Rogers blooped an RBI single down the left field line to give Trinity Catholic its first lead of the game at 2-1.
Boone shut down the Buccaneers at the plate from there, as he struck out six with only one walk as he entered the game in the fourth inning for Gibas. He also retired the last five batters, including three strikeouts, and finished off the game with Berkeley Prep’s only 1-2-3 inning of the game in the top of the 7th.
Trinity Catholic won its ninth game in a row to improve to 17-5.
But next up is their toughest test yet, as they host Calvary Christian (Clearwater) next Tuesday in a Region 2-4A final with the winner advancing to the state semifinals at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.
Calvary Christian is the defending 4A state champion and has won 58 games in a row. They are 28-0 this season and ranked #1 in the nation according to MaxPreps.
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.
