High school baseball: Winter Haven stays undefeated in Blue Devil Classic

Robert Magobet, The Ledger
·3 min read
Winter Haven baseball went undefeated in the Blue Devil Classic on March 23, 2022 at Winter Haven High School. From left to right starting in the back row are coach Chris Miller, Bubba Miller, Desean Rogers, Gage McCrystal, Mike Parsain, Dylan Deleo, Trent Pagent, Ralee Blackwell, Mason Hirles, Jalen Hairston, Shawn Ball, Miguel Chavarria, coach Al Hilson, Manager David Schafer and coach Ross Nelson. In the front row are Alex Sandoval, Zach Lamb, Dylan Bowen, Mason Jantomaso, Jeremy Weaver, Taylor Burden, Jc Cruz, Matt Phieffer and Roberto Odor.

Gage McCrystal’s hot bat helped Winter Haven blow out Lake Gibson on the final day of the Terry Donley Blue Devil Classic Wednesday at Winter Haven High School.

McCrystal went 3-for-3 with two RBI, which helped the Blue Devils (9-5) dominate Lake Gibson (3-8) 13-3 in 5 innings. This is the first time since 2018 that Winter Haven went 3-0 in the tournament — the only team to do so this year.

“I thought the guys really battled well, especially with two strikes," said Winter Haven head coach David Schafer. "We worked well with two strikes and we worked well with two outs. We put together some things to score runs with two strikes and two outs.”

Up 6-0 with two outs in the bottom of the second inning, McCrystal, just a freshman, singled on a line drive to left field, scoring both senior outfielder DeSean Rogers and senior third baseman Jalen Hairston to put Winter Haven up 8-0.

“Today, I was really just looking to put it into play. I haven’t been hitting the greatest, so I was just like, ‘put it into play, and see what happens,’” McCrystal said. “And today they weren’t throwing it hard. They were throwing down the middle. I was just looking for my pitch and putting the best swing I can on it.”

Winter Haven junior catcher Taylor Burdon went 2-for-2 with a single, double and an RBI.

The big inning for Winter Haven was the six-run second. Burdon singled and scored McCrystal, Mason Jantomaso singled on a groundball to second to score freshman shortstop Roberto Odor and sfter Burdon scored on an infield error, Rogers doubled on a line drive that brought home Jantomaso. McCrystal knocked in the final two runs of the inning.

“I think the guys were more relaxed today,” Schafer said. “I thought they were relaxed and played relaxed.”

Dylan Deleo, a 6-foot-5 junior, started on the mound and pitched 3 scoreless innings, striking out five while allowing just one hit.

Next up for the Blue Devils will be Auburndale (5-5) at 7 p.m., March 30 at Winter Haven High.

OTHER BLUE DEVIL CLASSIC GAMES

Auburndale 7, Haines City 3

Junior centerfielder Christopher Predmore went 3-for-3 with an RBI and senior left fielder Pierce Glading had a solo home run to left field to put Auburndale up 4-3 in the bottom of the third inning.

Auburndale freshman Gavin Stedman tossed a complete game allowing four hits and three earned runs while striking out five and walking two.

Haines City senior third baseman Jadiel Alicea-Rivera singled on a fly ball to right field and scored senior first baseman Andy Colon to put up the games’ first run in the bottom of the second inning.

Auburndale (5-5) will next play at Fort Meade at 7 p.m. Monday while Haines City (6-2) will host Bartow (3-8) at 7 p.m.

Inspiration 8, Lakeland Christian 0

Lakeland Christian (7-4) will play Mulberry (3-6) 7 p.m. Tuesday on the road.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Winter Haven, baseball, Lake Gibson