Dolphins close season on four-game win streak, now focused on SFBC title

The regular season closed out the way it started for the Marathon High baseball team, on a winning streak, as the Dolphins triumphed on back-to-back nights on the road, beating Somerset Silver Palms, 15-1, on Monday, April 14, and Miami Senior High, 3-0, on Tuesday, April 15, for a fourth consecutive victory.

The trip began with Marathon batting around in the first inning against SOHO, during which leadoff hitter Jack Chapman cleared the bases with a three-run triple after walking and scoring during his first trip to the plate, while teammates Dylan Williams drove in two runs with a double and Gabe Leal singled. Marathon added to the lead with three runs in the third when Chapman and Leal singled followed by a Dyaln Ziels double and three more runs in the fourth on an inside-the-park home run by Tiago Rivero that brought home Aidan Gonzalez, who singled, while Leal finished his three-hit performance with a single.

The game was called after five innings via the FHSAA mercy run, as SOHO would score just once off Marathon pitcher Mason Thornton, who in his complete-game showing allowed three hits and four walks with five strikeouts.

The following night was a bit closer for Marathon, as Miami Senior would give up just three runs — one each in the third on singles by Leal and Thornton, in the fifth on an RBI single by Thornton, and in the seventh on just one hit by Leal — but that was enough for the Dolphins pitching staff as Ziels threw the first four shutouts innings, striking out four and giving up two walks, with Leal earning the save tossing the final three frames, striking out two and surrendering just one hit.

The postseason hunt now begins for Marathon as before entering the District 16-3A tournament, the Dolphins will look to claim the South Florida Baseball Conference championship, which has eluded them with losses in the championship game the last two seasons. Up first for Marathon is a matchup with Ransom Everglades in the semifinals on Saturday, April 20, at 10 a.m. with the championship scheduled for Thursday, April 25.