Suncoast’s Benevides Tosses 4-0 Shutout Over Spanish River

Suncoast junior Brady Benevides (left), who tossed a complete-game shutout, and senior Brady King, who reached base twice with a pair of walks.

The Suncoast Chargers have a ton of confidence whenever it is Brady Benevides’ turn in the rotation. Monday night’s gem was just the latest reminder, as the junior threw a complete-game shutout to stymie the Spanish River Sharks for a 4-0 home victory.

The Chargers extended their winning streak to five games, and improved to 7-1 on the season.

“We just had a great game today,” Suncoast Manager Jimmy Beno said. “We threw Brady Benevides and he did what he’s done for us all year. He just went out there and competed, and I think he ended up with 10 strikeouts. He just really went out there and threw the ball well.”

Benevides did, in fact, have 10 strikeouts, and he did not issue any walks. The right-hander scattered four hits over his seven innings, including a pair of hits to Sharks leadoff batter Jesse Chimenti. It took just 77 pitches for Benevides to carve his way to victory, and he improved to 4-0 on the year.

He also went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a walk to back his performance on the mound.

Brady Benevides had 10 strikeouts in seven innings, while allowing 4 hits with 0 walks.

“We played great defensively, made some plays,” Coach Beno said. “They had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth, and we turned a nice double play. That really kind of turned the tide.”

With their chances running out, the Sharks (5-6) made their final rally push there in the sixth. Senior Jason Wilson lined a one-out single to left field, and senior Mo Presberg followed with a base hit to center. Chimenti then delivered his second hit of the contest that loaded up the bags, but Suncoast third baseman Hayden Neihoff snared a liner and doubled off the runner for an unassisted, inning-ending double play.

“We talked tonight going into the game that it was going to be a very, very tough game against a very tough opponent, and it proved to be that,” Beno said. “Hats off to Spanish River. They are a very good team up and down the lineup, and they can swing it. So I was really proud of the boys and really proud of the effort, and really just on part of the effort on the mound with Benevides tonight. He just really hit his spots and did what we needed to do.”

Junior John Cimballa paced the Suncoast offense by driving in half of their runs, going 3-for-3 with two RBI. His first-inning RBI single drove in Ethan Walker to stake a 3-0 advantage, after Hanley Case and Lee Ellis also scored in the frame. Cimballa then again drove in Case with an RBI single to center in the bottom of the third.

Nearly every starter in the lineup reached base for the Chargers, which was a winning combination with them not committing any errors and Benevides in control of the hill.

“We just need to continue to pitch, and continue to play good defense, and have timely hitting. Tonight is a good example of that, so I’m proud of the boys,” Beno said.

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