Mason Denaburg has sat atop the 2018 Florida rankings for well over a year. Although, a strong spring from Carter Stewart and a recent injury that had Denaburg out for several weeks, his second start back against a loaded American Heritage team was a crucial one with just a little over a week to the draft.

Denaburg would look strong early, striking out a pair in the first, with his fastball sitting mostly 91-94, touching 96 mph once against fellow potential first rounder Triston Casas. Casas would single in his first at-bat, but Denaburg would eventually punch him out twice on his way to six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and one walk.

 

Overall, he looked healthy. The fastball held mostly at 90-92 for all six innings and while the mixed-look slider/curveball was not quite as sharp as consistently, it still worked mostly above average and flashing plus working mostly 74-78 mph. He also showed a feel for his change up, which working 82-87 mph and showed above average

Despite Denaburg’s dominance, 2019 Florida recruit Ryan Cabarcas of American Heritage matched him step for step. Working 85-88 mph and showing an above average curveball, he attacked the Merritt Island hitters, not allowing a hit through five innings.

Although, a pair of hit-batsmen to leadoff the sixth would give FGCU recruit Chase Victor the opportunity to break up the no-hitter and give Merritt Island a 1-0 lead. Casas would replace Cabarcas and a wild pitch would give the Mustangs a 2-0 before he retire the side on a pair of strikeouts.

Victor would replace Denaburg in the seventh,  and despite allowing a pair of singles, he would get Jordan Carrion to ground out back to the pitcher to send Merritt Island to the Final Four.