The Sonic Drive-In Player-of-the-Game for Tuesday, April 27, was Ryan Brown of the Santa Fe (Alachua) baseball team.
Brown tossed a 3-hitter as the Raiders advanced to the Class 4A-District 2 title game with a 2-0 win against Suwannee (Live Oak) in Alachua on Tuesday night.
Santa Fe (22-2), which set the regular season school record for winning percentage, also clinched a spot in next week’s FHSAA state playoffs.
Brown struck out eight and only walked one in improving to 10-0. He lowered his earned run average to 0.22.
“I just kept throwing strikes,” he said. “My defense saves my life sometimes because I’m a contact hitter, I’m not really a strikeout guy, so when my defense is making plays, I’m making plays. I’m happy with it.”
The senior had at least one strikeout in every inning and only allowed two runners in scoring position.
“If there is one guy in the state that I could have on the mound it would be Ryan Brown,” Yeckring said. “He doesn’t throw the hardest but he’s going to compete and throw a bunch of strikes.”
Santa Fe will host Baker County (Glen St. Mary) in Thursday’s district championship game. The Wildcats (13-14) upset Clay (Green Cove Springs), which is No. 1 in the state in 4A, in the other district semifinal.
First pitch is at 7 p.m.
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.
