Dr. Phillips Baseball blasts West Orange in Regional

Senior Walker Haymaker went 3-4 with two RBIs and Jalen Phillips and Robbie Barrett belted home runs as Baseball overcame an early deficit and pounded visiting West Orange, 12-5, in the Regional Quarterfinal. DP (14-14) staked the Warriors to a two-run lead in thesecond and third innings but banged out 17 hits and put together five-run innings in the third and sixth innings to win going away. With West Orange ahead, 2-0, in the second inning, Haymaker hit a leadoff single through the hole to left field. Hakim Nobles came in to run for Haymaker and went to second on a wild pitch. Next Jakob Probst launched a one-out double to the center field fence to score Nobles. Jalen Phillips walked, Dan Autiello was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Nick Strasser beat out a fielder’s choice on a double play attempt to score Probst to tie the game 2-2. Despite surrendering two more runs in the top of the third. the Panthers dodged a bullet earlier in the inning. With a runner at first, West Orange laid down a bunt to sacrifice the runner over but Nick Strasser made asensational play coming in from third, fired to Billy Underwood, who made a perfect turn at second, and gunned it to Jalen Phillips at first for a critical double play. Down 4-2, DP scored five runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead for good. Ryan Larson smacked a leadoff double into the left-center field alley and went to third on a single to left by Jack Flaherty. With runners at thecorners and nobody out, Walker Haymaker bounced a shot into the hole and beat the throw to first, scoring Larson to cut the deficit to 4-3. Robbie Barrett drove an RBI single to right field to score Flaherty to knot the score 4-4 and the Panthers, still with no outs, were about to put the game out of reach. Jakob Probst gave DP their first lead with a sacrifice fly to score Hakim Nobles (running for Haymaker) and Jalen Phillips followed up with a line drive two-run home run over the right field wall, his second tater in as many games, for a 7-4 lead. The Panthers surrendered a run in the fifth but escaped serious damage as West Orange lined out to left field with the bases load. In the bottom of the sixth and one out, Ryan Larson reached on an infield single, Jack Flaherty bounced a base hit over third base and Walker Haymaker rocketed a double off the Caribbean Solutions sign in left field to score Larson to make it 8-5. With Robbie Barrett at the plate, the Panthers gambled with a suicide squeeze attempt but as Flaherty raced towards home, Barrett pulled back the bunt attempt, the pitch was mishandled by the catcher and Flaherty slid home with DP’s eighth run. Robbie Barrett then put the game away with a monstrous two-run homerun into the portables over the left field wall for an 11-5 lead. DP added another run for good measure when Jakob Probst bounced a base hit over the mound, Jalen Phillips was hit, Hakim Nobles walked to load the bases and Nick Diver drove an RBI single into right field to score Probst for the final run. Jakob Probst relieved Mike Flahertyin the fourth and pitched three innings, allowing one run and struck out threeto pick up the victory while Ryan Larson came on in the seventh and struck out one to slam the door. DP advances to the Regional Semifinal at Olympia Tuesday afternoon a t4:00. The Titans remain undefeated at 28-0 after dispatching Boone, 10-0.

Against Cypress Creek in the District Championship game, Men’s Volleyball fell behind two gamesto none, roared back to tie the match with victories in games three (25-18) and game four (25-23), but fell in game five, 15-13, to finish their season with a record of 19-8. Andrew Johnson registered 12 kills and six blocks, Justin Soffer closed with 12 kills and 12 digs and Hunter Heide tallied 15 digs, eight kills and two blocks. Logan Maladecki added seven digs, five kills and a pair of blocks and Nana Kwarteng totaled 15 digs.

Tonight at 8:30 pm DP Flag Football team will take on Tampa Robinson in the State Quarterfinal at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee. The Panthers (16-0) are riding a 25-game winning streak and are looking to defend their state title with three victories over the next two days. Tomorrow, Bridget Blake and Teahna Daniels run for the State Championship representing Women’s Track while A. J. Cunningham represents Men’s Track up in Jacksonville.