Big First Inning Propels Pace (FL) Past North Forsyth (GA)
April 3, 2019
PACE, FL - In their second game of the 2019 Adidas Beach Blast, Pace High School played host to North Forsyth (GA) on Tuesday evening. The Patriots of Pace scored early and often, as they cruised to a 9-2 victory over the Raiders.
Pace had their ace on the mound to start the game, RHP Brandon Sproat (Florida recruit). Sproat ran his fastball up to 92 mph early in the game, sitting mostly 88-90. The lean, athletic righty used two different breaking balls to challenge North Forsyth. He played a curveball mostly inside to right-handed hitters and then would come back with a slider away. In his three innings of work, he struck out seven batters, allowed one run on five hits, walking three.
Starting for @baseball_pace RHP Brandon Sproat (#Florida recruit). Long, lean frame with an athletic build. Working from a high 3/4 a slot. FB mostly 88-90, touched 91/92. SL played at 73-77 mph, flashed feel for. Worked out of a 1st inning jam @PBRFlorida@NathanRode #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/utYdYh7a7m
— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) April 3, 2019
The Patriots got on the board, in a big way, immediately in the first inning. Sproat led things out with a bunt single. SS Aidan Gilroy (Coastal Alabama recruit) drove in the first run of the game, Sproat, on a single to the right-center gap. 2B Caleb Vincent and C Chase Barcus followed Gilroy’s lead, adding RBI singles of their own, stretching the lead to 3-0. Pace would not be done in the inning though. With two outs, 1B Dalton Dean hit one to the opposite field, right field, scoring two more runs.
The lead was pushed to 7-0 in the second inning thanks to the heart of the Patriots order. 3B Chase Bragg smoked one to left field for a double, setting up second and third. A wild pitch allowed JC Peacher to come around and score, Peacher had reached base in the inning on a walk. Gilroy added his second RBI of the game when he laid down a perfect bunt to score Bragg from third.
North Forsyth were able to get one run back in the third inning. 3B Garrett Staton led off with a single up the middle and then quickly swiped second base. Freshman 2B Tyler Triche came up in the clutch with a run scoring double to the right-center gap.
Pace was able to get their lead back to seven runs in the bottom half of the third, and continued to add in the fourth with another run. North Forsyth tried to mount a rally in the top of the seventh inning. The Raiders manufactured one run thanks to a base loaded fielder's choice, but that was all they could muster. Pace relief pitcher AJ Martin completed the game, and his fourth inning, with a groundout to second base.
SS Aidan Gilroy (@CoastalAlaCC recruit) makes it 9-1 with his 3rd RBI of the night, singles thru the middle scoring JC Peacher. @baseball_pace lead @NFHSBaseball 9-1, T5 @PBRGeorgia pic.twitter.com/bD21Gn8Lo6
— PBR Florida (@PBRFlorida) April 3, 2019