8-run inning lifts Saint Francis Catholic to playoff win

Saint Francis Catholic's Andy Janelle (27) dives back to first base against Lake Mary Prep in the 1A-Region 2 Quarterfinals.

Photo by Tim Rodriquez

Key Points

Saint Francis Catholic scored eight runs in the fifth inning to defeat Lake Mary Prep 11-3 in the Class 1A-Region 2 Quarterfinals.
The Wolves improved their record to 22-4 and will face Mount Dora Christian Academy in a best-of-three region semifinal series next weekend.
Andy Janelle led early scoring with an RBI single in the first and a two-RBI single in the second inning for Saint Francis Catholic.

After visiting Lake Mary Prep tied up the Class 1A-Region 2 Quarterfinal with Saint Francis Catholic Academy, 3-3, on Saturday afternoon with a two-run top of the fifth inning, the Wolves needed a quick answer.

No. 3 seed Saint Francis answered many times over and that was more than enough.

The host Wolves scored eight runs in the bottom of the fifth, and cruised from there to an 11-3 win over sixth-seeded Lake Mary Prep.

Saint Francis Catholic Academy moves on to the region semifinals and a best-of-three series next weekend at No. 2 seed Mount Dora Christian Academy. MDCA pounded St. John Lutheran (Ocala) 20-0 in their region quarterfinal on Friday.

The Wolves came into Saturday’s game scoring the most runs in 1A and averaging nearly 10 runs a game. But going into the bottom of the fifth, they had only three runs on four hits.

That changed quickly.

Saint Francis Catholic's Chris Durstine (10) gets hit by a pitch against Lake Mary Prep in the 1A-Region 2 Quarterfinals. Photo by Tim Rodriquez — Photo by Tim Rodriquez Saint Francis Catholic’s Chris Durstine (10) gets hit by a pitch against Lake Mary Prep in the 1A-Region 2 Quarterfinals.

“I tried to just tell the team just to focus and play like this was the last game either way,” Saint Francis Catholic first-year coach Chris Santamarina said. “They seemed to be getting back into their groove in the fifth, and it was pretty contagious in almost the entire lineup.”

The early part of the game for the Wolves (22-4) was dominated by sophomore second baseman Andy Janelle. Janelle delivered an RBI single in the first and a two-RBI single in the second inning for a 3-0 Saint Francis Catholic lead.

“Andy (Janelle) has been one of our most consistent hitters all season,” Santamarina said. “When he fails, he keeps pushing. He puts forth so much effort and commitment, and he’s just a different breed.”

Saint Francis Catholic starting pitcher Sander Williams worked out of a jam in the second inning but ran into trouble in the fourth as the Griffins (14-9) loaded the bases with no outs. Freshman Carson Long entered the game and struck out the side to end the threat.

Lake Mary Prep tied the game in the top of the fifth inning against Long.

Janelle then led off the bottom of the fifth with a double and scored on a double by senior Colin Kuruppacherry. Long followed with a triple to make it 5-3. The big blow was a three-run double by Cyrus Fariborzian and Sawyer Williams had another RBI triple. That, combined with two hit batters, two walks and two Lake Mary Prep errors, led to the eight-run frame.

The Wolves hit the road to Mount Dora Christian Academy next week.

“We think we match up really well with them (MDCA),” Santamarina said. “We’ve played a tougher schedule this season and I think that will help us against them.”

FHSAA baseball state playoffs

(teams in the Mainstreet coverage area in bold) 

Friday, April 24

Class 5A-Region 1 Quarterfinals
3 Mosley (Lynn Haven) 5, 6 Columbia (Lake City) 2

Class 6A-Region 1 Quarterfinals
2 Buchholz 12, 7 Mandarin (Jacksonville) 2 (6)

Saturday, April 25
Class 1A-Region 2 Quarterfinals
1 Orangewood Christian (Maitland) 7, 8 Oak Hall School 1
3 Saint Francis Catholic Academy 11, 6 Lake Mary Prep 3

Class 3A-Region 1 Quarterfinals
3 Suwannee (Live Oak) 12, 6 West Nassau (Callahan) 1

Saint Francis Catholic coaches talk to team after beating Lake Mary Prep in the 1A-Region 2 Quarterfinals. Photo by Tim Rodriquez — Photo by Tim Rodriquez Saint Francis Catholic coaches talk to the team after beating Lake Mary Prep in the 1A-Region 2 Quarterfinals.

Saint Francis Catholic's Gabe Long (13) hits the ball against Lake Mary Prep in the 1A-Region 2 Quarterfinals. Photo by Tim Rodriquez — Photo by Tim Rodriquez Saint Francis Catholic’s Jonah Powers (1) hits the ball against Lake Mary Prep in the 1A-Region 2 Quarterfinals.

Saint Francis Catholic's Sawyer Williams rounds third base in the first inning against Lake Mary Prep in the 1A-Region 2 Quarterfinals. Photo by Tim Rodriquez — Photo by Tim Rodriquez Saint Francis Catholic’s Sawyer Williams rounds third base in the first inning against Lake Mary Prep in the 1A-Region 2 Quarterfinals.

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Marty Pallman

Marty Pallman is a sports correspondent and broadcaster for Mainstreet Daily News. Marty has worked in play-by-play and as color commentator for high school and college sports for 15 years, as well as a writer. He currently works for the University of Florida and Santa Fe College as well as the "Voice of the Bishop Kenny Crusaders" on radio in Jacksonville. Marty has also assisted Mike Ridaught with The Prep Zone since 2008.

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