Though 1-4 during prestigious Fla. classic, baseball Ads play nation’s top 2 teams tough
However, “We didn’t play very well, and if you don’t play very well against good teams you get beat,” Admirals skipper Matt Buckner said, as Farragut went 1-4 against this extremely tough field — but led in two of the games it lost until late in the contest, dropped another by one run, and fell to the nation’s No. 1 team, Majory Stoneman Douglas, Florida, by only two runs, 4-2.
“We had some defensive miscues, didn’t pitch well at times, had some things we’ve got to clean up,” Buckner added. “We were playing top teams in the country, and if you play really good teams you get exposed when you don’t play well.”
The Admirals actually started off with a victory, beating Holmes, Florida 9-3 March 11. Winning pitcher Braylon Hall “pitched really well; he pitched twice (during the week),” Buckner said about the senior.
Then came Lewisburg, Mississippi — “they’re a top 10 team in the country,” the FHS coach said. Up 6-3 in the sixth inning, the Admirals fell apart late and lost 13-6 March 12.
Next came Magnolia Heights, Mississippi, the defending Class 5A state champs, beating Farragut 6-5 in eight innings March 13.
The Admirals then had to play the nation’s top two teams on the same day, March 15.
Facing No. 2 nationally ranked Baton Rouge Catholic, Louisiana, “They are the No. 2 team in the country. We were up in that game also, like 4-1 in the fifth inning, and ended up losing 10-4,” Buckner said.
Later on Friday it was No. 1-ranked Majory Stoneman Douglas, Florida, in the final game. The Admirals hung tough before losing 4-2.
“They’re two-time defending (Class) 8A state champion in Florida,” the Admirals skipper said. “The win against us was their 59th in a row.
“We had the bases loaded in the seventh inning, but they made a great play in the infield and beat us,” Buckner added. “Stratton Scott pitched really well against Stoneman Douglas. He actually held them scoreless for six innings.”
Overall, “We were competitive, obviously, but we didn’t do the things that we needed to win, and hopefully we’ll learn a lot from it,” the coach said. “It was a good experience.
“It’s not ever a good thing to lose, but we’re going to this big national tournament in Cary (North Carolina) in April, so that’s the level we’ve got to be able to play at,” Buckner added.
In South Walton, “I think we faced about six or seven Division I (college) arms,” the coach said. “So we kind of know where we’ve got to get to, and hopefully we’ll figure some things out. No excuses — we’ve got to play better.”
As for other Admirals on the mound, “Ryan Wallace pitched well, and so did Cade O’Leary (two innings),” Buckner said.
Farragut was 4-4 overall entering the week.
