PORT CHARLOTTE — While the Port Charlotte softball team was pulling off one of its biggest upsets in years, the baseball team was pulling off one of its biggest seventh-inning comebacks in team history.
Trailing 6-2, the Pirates scored five in the seventh to earn a 7-6 victory over error-prone Riverdale on Wednesday at the Pirate Cove.
Adrian Nina started the inning with a bunt single off Riverview reliever Eli Jenkins, followed by a Reed Backstrom single. After Landon Carter walked the load the bases, Kyle Herrera lofted a fly ball to shallow right field, where it was muffed to score a run.
Jasper Davis then hit a pop up behind shortstop that was also dropped, scoring two to make it 6-5 with runners on second and third because the umpires did not call the infield fly rule.
Logan Krause came in for Riverdale, and Jaxon Brown-Capo was intentionally walked before J.P. Marshall tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center. Brock Budreau was hit by a pitch, then Cayden Ruby sent everyone home happy with a sacrifice fly to center.
The Pirates (17-7) snapped a two-game skid that included a no-hitter and a 15-inning marathon against regional power Bishop Verot. Riverdale (11-12) lost its fifth straight.
After three scoreless innings, the Raiders scored four off Port Charlotte pitcher Kayvon Santana, highlighted by RBI singles from Wyatt Simmons and Brycen Childers, and a bases-loaded walk to Nick Gonzales.
Riverdale made it 5-0 when Hayden Prescott reached on an error, went to second on a botched pickoff, went to third on a grounder and scored on a wild pitch.
Backstrom got the Pirates on the board in the fifth with a solo home run to make it 5-1, but Logan Krause got the run back in the seventh with a solo shot of his own. He finished his slow home run trot with a dance before he reached home plate, irritating the Pirates and adding fuel to a fire that set off the comeback.
Karsyn Barghausen pitched the seventh to earn the win in relief for the Pirates. Jenkins took the loss, allowing five runs without recording an out.
Krause had two hits, as did Childers. However, the Raiders also committed five errors, the last two being especially deadly.
Backstrom had three hits, including a double to go with the home run for Port Charlotte. Santana struck out seven in six innings on the mound, allowing five runs, only two of which were earned.
Speaking of miracles, the Port Charlotte softball team (5-16) scored a huge upset over 18-6 Riverdale, winning 5-2. Dorie Harris hit a bases-clearing triple in the sixth to break a 2-2 tie.
Jaylin Pinedo hit her fifth home run of the season, while freshman Brianna Weidner went yard for her first on Senior Night for the Pirates.
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