The Trenton baseball team started five freshmen in its FHSAA Class 1A-Region 4 Final at Newberry last Saturday.
One of those freshmen was instrumental in a 4-3 upset of the Panthers.
Down 2-0, Brant Bivens scored the Tigers’ first run of the game in the third inning, following a leadoff single to left field.
He also came in relief and pitched two scoreless innings to help send Trenton to its first final four since 2018.
Earlier in the week, Bivens started on the mound against Chiefland (5 IP, 4H, 0R, 1BB, 6K) and was 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and three runs scored in an 8-0 win against the Indians in the regional semifinals.
The freshman was a combined 3-for-6 with four runs scored and an RBI in the two playoff wins. He also had two relief appearances and allowed no runs in seven innings pitched.
He has been recognized as the Pavlik Orthodontics Athlete of the Week for the week of May 6.
“It feels great man,” Bivens said after the game about advancing to this week’s state semifinals. “This is my fourth year and we fell short every year. This is an amazing feeling.”
Down 4-3 in the sixth inning, Newberry (22-6) put the tying run on first with one out. However, catcher Trey Preister grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Bivens retired the side in order in the seventh, including two strikeouts.
“Brant is an amazing athlete,” said Trenton first-year baseball coach Chris Marlo. “I’ve been around some great ball players in the Orlando area coaching with Power Baseball and he’s probably one of the best players I’ve ever been around, and he’s only a ninth grader. I can’t wait to see what the future brings. He’s amazing.”
Newberry had outscored Trenton, 24-0, in two regular season games going into the regional final, but Bivens knew anything was possible.
“Last year we played Chiefland four times,” Bivens said. “We beat them three times but the last time they beat us (in regional semifinals) so we knew anything could happen. We just got ready to play the game we play, and we won.”
Bivens is the 38th athlete to be selected for the weekly award during the 2023-24 school year.
Last week’s winner was Braylin Cook of the Gainesville softball team.
Cook helped lead the Lady Hurricanes to the district championship by finishing 5-for-6 with four home runs and six runs batted in. She also scored five runs.
Other recent winners include JJ Gardner of the Buchholz baseball team and Trey Jeffries of the Keystone Heights boys weightlifting team.
For a link to past winners, click here.
Coaches are encouraged to email their nominations each week, along with stats, no later than Sunday night to mike.ridaught@mainstreetdailynews.com.