Diaz’s Homer Lifts Spanish River Past Seminole Ridge

Sophomore Spencer Diaz led Spanish River with two hits, including his first home run of the season.

Spanish River manager Bill Harvey wanted to jump out to an early lead and keep the pressure on.

That plan worked to perfection as the visiting Sharks were the more aggressive team en route to a 4-1 victory over Seminole Ridge on Tuesday night in the district opener for both teams.

The Sharks broke open the game in the fourth inning on a three-run homer by Spencer Diaz, his first of the season.

Billy Marion led off with an infield single and moved to second on Fenway Parks’ single. Parks, who tweaked his groin in the first inning and hurt it again in the third, was replaced by Cam Weinberger. It is unknown how much time Parks might miss.

On the first pitch, the sophomore Diaz homered over the left center-field fence.

Spanish River (1-0 in District 8A-10, 3-2 overall ) had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Parks doubled on a 3-0 pitch to right-center, advanced to third on a single by Diaz and scored on an error.

“We talked about getting the lead early, which we did,” Harvey said. “The four-run lead…that changed the outlook of the game for both teams.”

Seminole Ridge (0-1, 4-3) cut the margin to 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Marion walked the bases loaded and Mark Kuhner hit a sacrifice fly that scored Jason Moore.

The Hawks, who had baserunners in every inning but the seventh, had an opportunity to slice into the lead in the fifth. They had runners on first and second with one out but Moore grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

Spanish River manager Bill Harvey (left) checks on Fenway Parks, who was injured running to first and had to leave the game.

Starter Billy Marion was the winning pitcher, using a good curve ball to keep the Hawks off balance. The sophomore left-hander went four innings, striking out three and walking five while giving up two hits.

“He got some clutch outs,” said Harvey, who grew up working the Callery-Judge orange groves across the street from the baseball field. “I’m not going to say he threw strikes because he didn’t. Billy got some big outs for us. He did a good job. He’s got to spot his pitches a little bit better but again, he’s only a 10th-grader and he’s learning.”

Spanish River used four pitchers — Marion, Dan Gelman, Sam White and Alex Domchak — who combined to allow just five hits.

Kuhner, Tyler Murley, Zack Berry, Carmine Ciofoletti and Jake Paez each singled for Seminole Ridge.

Diaz, Parks, John O’Connor and Austin Hurwitz led the Sharks’ attack with two hits apiece.

Seminole Ridge used three pitchers — starter Zack Berry, freshman Kyle Farjad, who pitched three scoreless innings, and Jason Moore.

After speaking with his team after the game, Seminole Ridge Manager Trent Pendergast said “we told them that great teams take advantage of the little things and we need to do a better job of that. And we need to do a lot better job of being competitive in general.”

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