Stockton’s Gem Leads Wellington Past Jupiter 2-1

Spencer Stockton went the distance, pitching seven innings and only allowing one run

Phil Sieli hit a late two-run homer and starting pitcher Spencer Stockton went the distance as the Wellington Wolverines beat the Jupiter Warriors 2-1, on a chilly Friday night in Jupiter.

While the temperature in the air might have been cold, the battle on the field had a fire to it, as Wellington and Jupiter went back and forth trading hits and strikeouts for most of the night.

“It was a great game just like every district game,” Jupiter Manager Andy Mook said. “You got the pitching, you got the defense, and it came down to that little mistake. Mack Lemieux was pitching amazing and we just missed one spot on a good hitter and he hits a two run homer and that’s the ballgame.”

Early on it was a game of “anything you can do I can do better” between both team’s starting pitchers.

Mack Lemieux got the start for the Warriors and proceeded to sit the first 12 batters down in order. Lemieux had four consecutive 1-2-3 innings to start the game, while only allowing one hit in that span.

Mack Lemieux only allowed one hit through five innings.

On the other side, Wellington’s Stockton kept up with Lemieux pitch for pitch. The senior pitcher shut down Jupiter in order for the first two frames.

The only blemish on the night for Stockton came in the third inning. After a quick out, Stockton allowed his first hit of the night when Jupiter senior Lance Fry hit a double. With two outs, Lance’s brother Kevin drove him in with a single. At the time it was the only run of the game and the only run that Stockton would surrender on the night.

At the end of the day, it was just another pitching performance that Wolverines Manager Scott Riddle has come to expect out of his senior.

“Believe it or not, that’s a normal outing for Spencer,” Riddle said. “Once in a while we don’t give him the defense he deserves but he is always going to battle, he’s always going to throw strikes, and he’s always going to keep us in the game.”

Stockton’s final line was a complete game, surrendering that one run while striking out four. His strong pitching performance was the result of all his pitches working for him on the night, despite the cold weather.

“I felt cold but I had all four of my pitches working for me for strikes and I was able to locate them, and my defense was spectacular,” Stockton said.

Not only did he have his defense to support him, But Stockton’s offense came alive late when it mattered the most. Held without a run through the first five innings, the Wolverines finally got on the board and took the lead late in the sixth inning.

Phil Sieli went 2-for-3 on the night with the game winning two run home run in the sixth

With two outs and a runner on first, Phil Sieli came to the plate. Down to his final strike, the junior first baseman crushed a ball over the fence in left-center for what would end up being the winning two-run home run.

“I just tried to shorten up my swing and hit it over the fielder’s head,” Sieli said. “We only had a runner on first and I just tried to score a run and make something happen.”

When Sieli first made contact with the ball he didn’t even realize that he had hit a home run. In fact, at first he thought he had hit the ball right at the left fielder.

“I thought it was going right to him,” Seili said. “It just kept going though and finally I saw the umpire signal for a home run and I got pumped.”

Both teams will now go into the upcoming week facing big district match ups before spring break. Jupiter hosts district foe Palm Beach Central on Tuesday, while Wellington will head to Palm Beach Gardens on Thursday.

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