By Mike Maerz
Director of Florida Operations/Area Scout

Last night, the game between Pine Crest HS, FL, and Somerset Academy, FL, featured some great pitching, a timely hit, and a competitive atmosphere between the two district rivals. A triple off the left-center field wall proved to be the key hit to bring in the lone run on the night as Somerset Academy shutout Pine Crest HS 1-0.

2017 RHP/SS Jordan Schulefand (Pine Crest HS, FL) featured a fastball that sat 87-89 mph with cutting action, especially on right-handed batters while mixing in a 71-74 mph curveball with sharp, 12/6 action and depth. His curveball worked well in the later innings and helped run his strikeout total on the night up to 10. The Richmond recruit also stood out at the plate as he went 2-for-2 with two singles and three stolen bases on the night. Schulefand threw a complete game, but was still on the losing end.

2016 OF Juan F. Teixeira (Somerset Academy, FL) in the third inning found a way to get to Schulefand as he crushed a ball off the left-center field wall for an RBI triple. This was all that 2016 RHP Brandon Valentin (Somerset Academy, FL) needed on his way to a shutout.

Valentin kept the Pine Crest lineup off balance all night scattering seven hits and striking out six. The ASA-Miami recruit’s fastball sat in the low to mid 80s and his curveball was 67-70 mph with 3/4 break. He also showed a competitive attitude as he went after the Pine Crest lineup all night, forcing a good amount of fly ball outs. 2016 C Luis Chavez (Somerset Academy, FL) did a good job behind the plate last night as he blocked some tough pitches in the dirt, showed a quick catch and release, and threw out multiple base runners.

Threatening to score in the top of the seventh inning, Teixeira would show up again as he delivered an on-line an accurate throw to cut down the runner at home to save a game tying run. A ground out to the shortstop ended the game as Somerset Academy improved to 7-2 on the year with the 1-0 victory.