Florida’s two runs in fifth inning lifts Southeast champs past South Dakota at LLWS
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A closer look at 2-1 Lake Mary, Florida win over Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wednesday at Lamade Stadium Stadium.
PLAY OF THE GAME -- Luis Calo’s sacrifice fly: Calo produced the game-winning run when he did his job in the fifth inning and brought in Garrett Rohozen with a sacrifice fly to right field. Calo went the opposite way and hit it just deep enough into right field to score Rohozen who showed off his speed. Rohozen immediately tagged and took off like a jet down the third-base line, sliding below a high throw to give Florida a 2-1 lead. Calo then earned the save, coming in with two outs in the bottom of the sixth and closing the game with a strikeout.
FLORIDA PLAYER OF THE GAME --James Felciano: After dominating a strong Tennessee team with a complete game shutout in the Southeast final, Feliciano kept mowing down hitters in his Series debut. The hard-throwing right-hander allowed just two hits in 5 2/3 innings and struck out 11. On a day when South Dakota played phenomenal defense, Florida needed Feliciano’s best and this may have been his best performance of a decorated all-star campaign.
SOUTH DAKOTA PLAYER OF THE GAME -- Ryan Henry: South Dakota’s pitcher was outstanding, especially in big moments, holding a potent offense to two runs in six innings. Henry threw 5 2/3 shutout innings in his last start and was effective again, consistently stranding runners. He struck out four and also came up huge in the bottom of the fourth, hitting a two-out RBI single to put his team up, 1-0.
BIG INNING--Florida fifth: South Dakota went ahead 1-0 in the fourth inning and Florida was six outs from its first loss this summer, but it maintained its composure and scored twice to go ahead for good. Landon Bono fought back from a 1-2 count to draw a one-out walk before Rohozen walked and Jacob Bibaud singled. Liam Morrisey then helped Florida get its breakthrough run with an RBI single before Calo followed with his sacrifice fly.
BEST EFFORT--Feliciano’s clutch pitching: His numbers alone were impressive enough, but it was how Feliciano responded to pressure which really highlighted his spectacular performance. South Dakota loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth and had runners on second and third in the fifth. It scored just one run in those innings with Feliciano allowing just one hit and striking out four. When there was no margin for error, Feliciano was at his best and helped will Florida to a hard-fought win.
FLASHING LEATHER-- South Dakota came out storming defensively, building off the momentum it had created after an impressive Midwest championship win against Missouri. DJ Mieses smashed a line drive toward center field, but second baseman Sully Krueger snared it. He then alertly saw the runner on second break on contact and threw to shortstop Bode Biteler who tagged second and completed an inning-ending double play. Exacting revenge in the bottom of the inning, Florida shortstop Chase Anderson made one of the best plays anyone likely will see at the Series this year. Anderson sprinted into shallow center field, tracking a blooper. He then dove backward, Willie Mays style and mad an incredible over the shoulder catch, robbing Ryan Henry of what looked like a sure two-out single. South Dakota third baseman Luke Fenton kept the strong defense going in the top of the second, reaching low and hauling in a Jacob Bibaud line drive and saving a potential one-out hit. Anderson kept surging in the bottom of the inning, going deep into the hole between shortstop and third base to retrieve a Fenton grounder. He then made a perfect throw from the outfield grass, taking away a potential lead-off single. The great plays kept coming in the top of the third as South Dakota perfectly executed cut-off plays to save a run. After Teraj Alexander slammed a double off the right-center field wall. Right fielder Sam Wurth then threw to first baseman August Vortherms who wheeled and made a perfect throw home to catcher Kinnick Noble. Noble made a quick tag and kept the game 0-0 entering the bottom of the third. South Dakota threw out three runners at home or third and continued making Florida pay for aggressiveness in the fifth inning. This time, left fielder Tait Ready made a perfect one-hop throw to Fenton who made the tag and easily retired the lead runner. Wurth capped a strong game a batter later, making a hustling catch toward the right-field line for the third out.
WHAT THE ADULTS SAY--"This will give us some good momentum," South Dakota manager Nick Kortan said. "We have some good things we can work on and we have a lot of positives."
"It feels great. We knew Day 1 was going to be hard," Florida manager Jonathan Anderson said. "Day 1 is always hard. To get out of here with a win feels great."
WHAT THE KIDS SAY--"My fastball was working and then when my fastball wasn’t working, I went with the curveball," Feliciano said. "When I was on the mound it felt like it was just me and (catcher) Landon (Bono) out there."
WHAT IT MEANS--Florida advances in the winner’s bracket and plays Washington Friday. South Dakota plays an elimination game Saturday against the loser of Thursday’s New York-Nevada game.