Bulldogs dominate Tenoroc 9-0 in final game before Spring Break
Junior Bryan Santiago pitched six strong shutout innings and Caden Negron came in and closed the seventh to help give Zephyrhills a much needed 9-0 win over Tenoroc Friday night at John Clements Field.
Santiago was in control from start to finish allowing just three hits as he kept the Titans’ hitter off balance all night.
“I was really comfortable on the mound,” Santiago said. “I just wanted to pound the strike zone. I was just out there having fun. I knew my infield had it. The defense was solid and I was confident on the mound.”
The Bulldog offense took the pressure off Santiago’s shoulders early scoring four runs in the first while batting through the lineup. Picking up hits in the inning were Jaxson and Maddux Rivera, Martin Calhoun, and Santiago added an RBI double.
“All the pressure I have going into a game is lifted off of me when your offense puts a lot of runs on the board early,” Santiago said. “
Zephyrhills added a pair of runs in the second to take a 6-0 advantage. The Bulldogs added a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth for the 9-0 win.
“We get to the point where we score early and don’t finish it off,” said Bulldogs’ skipper Rusty Guynn. “We should have been at the house by now.”
Jaxson Rivera went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, Bryan Santiago was 2-for-3 scoring twice, Mark Santiago scored a pair of runs and Calhoun reached base four times and scored three runs.
The Bulldog hitters batting in the final three spots in the lineup struggled without a hit.
“We are going to have to figure a few things out with the lineup so we hit better late in the lineup,” Guynn said. “It has been dead for a week and a half. The top of the order swung the bats pretty well.
“They are young and they are going to go through these stretches. We’re just going to have to keep pitches and winding out. Our defense played well tonight.”
The victory over Tenoroc came a critical time as the Bulldogs head into Spring Break and don’t play again until March 25. The win snapped a four game losing streak where they were outscored 53-17. The Bulldogs improve to 3-7 on the season.
“We needed it. We had tough run in five days with that schedule,” said Guynn. “We need the break. It’s good to go out with win. These kids need a break. They are worn out. We’ll come back in a week and we’ll be ready at the end.”
Spring Break and a win couldn’t come at a better time.
“We’ve struggled the last few games and it’s been hard. Winning this one going into Spring Break just lifts us all up,” Santiago said.
