Jupiter Blanks Seminole Ridge to Advance

Jupiter Pitcher Scott Danek threw a complete-game, four-hit shutout Tuesday.

Jupiter had not had a pitcher go the distance at any point during the season. That was, until Tuesday night when Warriors starting pitcher Scott Danek threw a complete-game four-hitter on his team’s way to a 8-0 win over Seminole Ridge and a berth in the regional finals.

“That was our first complete game of the year,” Jupiter Manager Andy Mook said. “We had a couple of guys get close, but it hadn’t happened yet. He wanted it. His pitch count was low, and after the sixth inning, he wanted to finish it and he deserved it.”

Seminole Ridge pitcher Kyle Farjad pitched three innings, allowing four runs while striking out four.

It wasn’t just Danek on the mound either. After the Jupiter bats were quieted in the district championship against Palm Beach Gardens, they have come alive over the past week.

After putting up nine on Park Vista on Saturday, the Warrior offense was firing on all cylinders again Tuesday.

They got off to a quick 2-0 lead in the first lead by center fielder Pat Walther’s two-run triple and never looked back. Walther came up again big in the third inning, hitting a solo home run to right center on his way to a three-run night and finishing only a double short of the cycle.

He finished the night going 3-for-3 with a single, triple, home run and walk, and accounted for three of the six Jupiter runs.

“I felt good at the plate tonight,” Walther said. “My preparations are starting to pay off from going to the cages every day. With Johnny being in a little bit of a slump lately, I felt like I needed to pick him up. That’s what we all do: We pick each other up.”

Pat Walther goes 3-for-3 with a single, triple, home run, and three RBIs

With an early lead, Danek cruised through the Seminole Ridge lineup. Danek faced the minimum number of batters through five innings, and, with the exception of the sixth inning, never saw more than three Hawks batters come to the plate.

“Coming into it I didn’t have much velocity but my off speed was there,” Danek said. “My command was there so I just threw strikes and let the defense do the work.”

Jupiter will now travel face Flanagan on Friday night, with a spot in the state tournament on the line.

Despite not being overly familiar with Flanagan, Mook said that as long as his team is playing well, it has a chance to beat anyone.

“I think the only team that can beat us is ourselves,” Mook said. “We go and do what we can do. If another team beats us, than they deserve it, but we can’t worry about whether or not another team can beat us.”

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