Alonso takes Osceola in extra innings

February 4, 2015

By Justin Burgess
Florida Area Scout

TAMPA, FL - The Alonso Ravens and Osceola Warriors faced off in each teams' opening game in the Preseason Classic hosted at Alonso HS. Multiple scouts were in attendance to watch Alonso LHP Nick Kennedy, a 2015 who is signed with Texas, as well as a few other intriguing prospects, as the Ravens look like yet again one of the top teams in the Tampa Bay area, if not the state.

Apparently Osceola was not phased by the hype because they came out swinging by scoring a run in the first off a Larry Coffey single to deep right center that drove in Joey Coca to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.

After a scoreless second inning, Osceola jumped on Kennedy again when Austin Keene drove an 88 mph fastball, which brought in Tyler Malinowski and Garrett Sullivan, for a two RBI double. Alonso was able to answer in the third when Jose Ciccarello reached on an error and was driven in by Jordan Butler (2017 LHP/OF), a Florida commit, who laced a double off the center field wall.

Ryan Fernandez replaced Nick Kennedy in the top of the fourth to try and keep the momentum on the Ravens' side, but Osceola drew a few walks and came up with timely hitting to add another three runs on the board, including a two-RBI single by Garrett Sullivan.

After goose eggs by both Alonso and Osceola in the bottom of the fourth and the top of the fifth, the Ravens inched closer with an RBI fielders choice driven in by Sam Davidson to bring the score to 6-2. Again, the Warriors answered with two more runs on a double by Tyler Malinowski and a double by Larry Coffey. Being down 8-2 on a cold and windy night, Alonso somehow found more energy and exploded for three runs on a ground ball error and a double by center fielder Ryan Mejia (2016), who is committed to Florida State.

After finally getting a shutdown inning in the top of the seventh by freshman Franco Aleman, who struck out the side, the Ravens were looking to see if they had enough left to score at least three more to keep the game going. After a couple walks and a couple outs, there were two men on and two out in the bottom of the seventh; leadoff hitter and shortstop Jose Ciccarello stepped to the plate after being hitless on the night. With a full count, Ciccarello blasted an inside fastball that stayed just inside the left field foul pole for a game tying three-run homerun.

The momentum obviously shifted to Alonso's side, and after a few walks, Peyton Woble took four straight pitches for balls to end the game on a walk-off base on balls win by Alonso to avoid being upset at home to open their season. Alonso won by scoring nine runs on six hits and committing no errors while Osceola lost scoring eight runs on 10 hits and committing four errors.

Statistical Highlights

Alonso Osceola

Jordan Butler: 2-3 BB (two 2B's) 1 RBI Larry Coffey: 3-4 (two doubles)

Jose Ciccarello: 1-4 BB (3-run HR) 3 RBI's Tyler Malinowski: 2-3 BB (2B)

Franco Aleman: 1 IP, 3 k's Garrett Sullivan: 2-3, 2 IP (0 runs, 2 K's)

Alonso takes Osceola in extra innings

Statistical Highlights

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