SANFORD — The Flagler Palm Coast High School Bulldogs secured a hard-fought 10-5 victory over the Lyman High School Greyhounds on Friday at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium to win their first ever FHSI (Florida League High School Invitational Championship).
The game capped a Spring Break Week in the annual tournament presented by the Florida Collegiate Summer League that featured 31 games played at five facilities in Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties.
Flagler Palm Coast established an early lead in the first two innings with RBI singles from Carson Flis and a sacrifice fly by Jordan Gonzalez, but Lyman refused to go quietly, eventually tying the game at 5-5 in the top of the sixth on a clutch two-run double by Noah Johnson.
The deadlock was short-lived, however, as the Bulldogs' offense exploded for five runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on a costly Greyhounds error that plated two runs.
Flagler's relentless 14-hit attack was headlined by Flis, who went 3-for-4, while Nick Pandich and Jordan Gonzalez combined for four RBI and the team swiped five bases to keep the pressure on Lyman's defense. On the mound, Noah Hemmerle provided a vital spark in relief, tossing a hitless inning to shut the door on any Greyhound comeback attempt.
Following the event the Flagler Palm Coast senior duo of Marion Clayton and Jordan Gonzalez were named the Tournament Most Valuable Player and Tournament Most Valuable Pitcher, respectively.
Clayton was dominant at the top of the FPC lineup in leading the Bulldogs to their first FHSI Championship after 11 previous attempts.
The Jacksonville University commit hit safely in all four games, including two lead-off home runs. On the week he went 7-for-14 (.500) with two home runs, a triple and three RBI, accumulating an OPS of 1.660. In addition to his prowess at the plate, he took away several would-be extra base hits with his gold glove caliber defense in center field.
Gonzalez drew one of the toughest matchups of the week when he had to face an undefeated (12-0) Saint Cloud High School team in a Pool Play Game that would decide who would advance to the Championship Game. He answered that call by tossing a complete game, 5-0, shutout to propel his team into the semifinals. Gonzalez gave up just two hits and one walk while striking out six.
Here is the rest of the All-Tournament members:
Hitters
Josest Cloud Alvarado, St. Cloud.
Gavin Andreu, Western.
Fabian Antonsanti, Lake Minneola.
Braeden Barnes, Eustis.
Paul Bowen, Flagler Palm Coast.
Jaden Colon, Deltona.
Kevin Cusick, Lyman.
Ethan Diaz, Western.
Ethan Farrington, Lyman.
Luis Isturiz, Western.
Ethan Jackson, Eustis.
Edwin Jaimes, Dr. Phillips.
Alden Lewis, St. Cloud.
Colson May, Lake Minneola.
Malachi Meyers, Lake Minneola.
Diego Miranda, Lake Howell.
Zane Moody, Martin County.
Christian Morales, Western.
Nicholas Pandich, Flagler Palm Coast.
Chris Pedrinan, Dr. Phillips.
Camron Pennock, Apopka.
Nico Posluszny, Apopka.
Ryan Pyka, Dr. Phillips.
Tayvon Thomson, Deltona.
Collin Van Fleet, Apopka.
Will Zyblock, IMG Academy Silver.
Pitchers
Reginald Bass Jr., Flagler Palm Coast.
Dyson Beamon, Lyman.
Landon Del Tufo, Martin County.
Chase Dougherty, Lake Minneola.
Zaun French, IMG Academy Silver.
Evan Grove, Deltona.
Alec Hernandez, Western.
Luke Lehmann, Seminole.
RJ Martell, Lake Minneola.
Rafael Martinez, St. Cloud.
Cyrus Mayhew-Thomas, Lyman.
Bryce Niebrugge, Lyman.
Denver Patton, Horizon.
Anthony Raymond, Apopka.
Kam Reinke, St. Cloud.
Maddox Stinson, Dr. Phillips.
Hunter Wilson, Martin County.
2-Way Players
Maddux Bultema, Lake Minneola.
Jez Hamrick, Apopka.
Dean Jaworski, Pembroke Pines Charter.
Andrew Probst, Pembroke Pines Charter.
Here are the FHSI Classic Results:
Monday March 16
At Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium
Saint Cloud 7, Seminole 2.
Tuesday, March 17
At Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium
Martin County 10, Deltona 1.
Martin County 4, Eustis 3.
IMG Silver 17, Seminole 1.
Flagler Palm Coast 7, IMG Silver 0.
At Orangewood Christian School
Orangewood Christian 10, Horizon 8.
At Lyman High School
Western 8, Apopka 1.
Lyman 1, Dr. Phillips 0.
at Lake Minneola High School
Pembroke Pines Charter 7, Lake Howell 5
Lake Minneola 5, Lake Howell 4.
Wednesday, March 18
At Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium
Eustis 12, Deltona 7.
Lake Minneola 2, Pembroke Pines Charter 0
Dr. Phillips 9, Western 6.
Flagler Palm Coast 5, Saint Cloud 0.
Lyman 2, Apopka 1.
At Orangewood Christian School
Cardinal Mooney 10, Orangewood Christian 0.
Thursday, March 19
At Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium
Lake Howell 6, Horizon 5.
Flagler Palm Coast 9, Lake Minneola 4.
Lyman 6, Martin County 3.
At Horizon High School
Horizon 6, Pembroke Pines Charter 0.
At Sperling Sports Complex (DeLand)
IMG Silver 2, Western 1.
Apopka 18, Saint Cloud 9.
At Lyman High School
Deltona 8, Dr. Phillips 1.
Seminole 9, Eustis 4.
Friday, March 20
At Sperling Sports Complex (DeLand)
Pembroke Pines Charter 6, Deltona 1.
Apopka 13, Seminole 0.
At Lyman High School
Lake Minneola 6, Martin County 3.
At Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium
Western 9, Lake Howell 3.
Dr. Phillips 6, Eustis 0.
Saint Cloud 10, IMG Silver 3.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Flagler Palm Coast 10, Lyman 5.
