Marty Pallman
Before Buchholz’s home game Thursday night against Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), the Bobcats honored the Rex and Brody Foundation for assisting in the school’s turf project at Bobcat Field.
Rex and Brody’s name will forever be on Bobcat Field, with the shiny turf around home plate and down the first and third base lines.
“Any time we can do something to rally our community for a great cause, we are excited about that,” Buchholz coach Ron Brooks said. “The two young men who were supposed to be Bobcats, it was great to commemorate that, and I think it was pretty special.”
But then the game started, and Trinity Christian showed why it is the second-ranked team in Florida and 21st nationally as it blanked the Bobcats 11-0.
Trinity Christian, which boasts seven Division 1 signees or commits, won its 12th consecutive game to improve their record to 12-1.
Buchholz only trailed 3-0 going into the sixth inning, but the Conquerors pulled away with four runs in each of the last two innings.
“We were in the ballgame going into the sixth inning,” Brooks said. “We were only down three runs, and I liked the scrap and fight they were showing. It just got away from us a bit at the end.”
Trinity Christian’s Aaron Watson, a Virginia commit, and sophomore Ethan Wheeler, a University of Florida commit, combined to shut out the Buchholz lineup allowing only five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts.
“I knew they (Trinity Christian) were good, but I like my guys too,” Brooks said. “We are going to keep playing the best teams and continue to challenge ourselves to get better.”
Trinity Christian went up 1-0 in the first inning on a bases-loaded walk by sophomore shortstop Jordan Martinez against Buchholz starter and Clemson signee Anthony Wilkie.
The Conquerors extended the lead to 3-0 in the third as Martinez blasted a two-run homer to straightaway center off Wilkie. Martinez added a two-run triple in the seventh and ended up with two hits, a home run, two walks, two runs scored and five RBI.
Trinity Christian blew the game wide open with a four-run sixth inning. Senior Maddox Lee had the big blow with a two-RBI double. Martinez’s triple was the big hit of the four-run seventh.
Trinity Christian had 14 hits against four Buchholz pitchers.
Buchholz (8-4) had their chances in the middle innings but left two on in the fourth and the bases loaded in the fifth inning.
