Isaiah Jean-Baptiste reached base three times, collected two hits and scored twice and Danny Ramirez struck out five of the six batters he faced as the Osceola Kowboys (19-5) concluded its 2022 regular season with a 6-4 win over rival St. Cloud (5-17).
Ben Segura gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the first inning, scoring Edgar Garcia with an RBI single. The Kowboys would knot it up in the bottom of the second as Blake Birchler doubled and came home on Edwin Melendez’s sharp single to center.
The Bulldogs plated three in the top of the third, taking advantage of two hits, two walks and a wild pitch. Only a sensational double play turned by short stop Nick Palmi and second baseman Luis Nunez kept the damage to three as St. Cloud took a 4-1 lead.
A couple of wild pitches would allow the Kowboys back into the game in the third. Baptiste singled, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Palmi’s groundout. Louis Rodriguez would walk, move to second on a wild pitch and score on Ramirez’s RBI single.
With winning pitcher Birchler (2-0) hurling two innings of scoreless relief, the Kowboys would go ahead for good in bottom of the fourth – scoring three times to take a 6-4 lead. Baptiste and Palmi would open the inning with back-to-back singles, with Baptiste scoring on a wild pitch. Palmi would score on a throwing error that allowed Rodriguez to get all the way to third base. He would later score on a wild pitch.
Meanwhile, Ramirez went into shut down mode in the final two innings to pick up the save. He retired Logan Grathwol on a fly ball to right to open the eighth inning before registering five consecutive strikeouts to finish the game to register his first save of the season. Ramirez (5-0, 1 save) lowered his ERA to 1.15 on the season.
Osceola is peaking at the right time, winning 13 of their last 14 games, Coach Scott Birchler said.
“I like the way we are playing right now,” said Birchler, who missed Friday's game with an illness. “We have the pitching to basically keep us in any game. The key will be picking up the big hits when we need them.”
St. Cloud did not have a senior in their starting lineup and played three freshmen. District quarterfinals are scheduled for Monday, semifinals on Wednesday and District Championship Games are on Thursday. Here is a rundown of the district tournaments for baseball and softball:
BASEBALL
Class 7A, District 9 (at Osceola High School)
Seedings: 1. Lake Nona (18-5), 2. Osceola (19-5), 3. Freedom (11-7), 4. Cypress Creek (14-6) 5. Tohopekaliga (9-8).
Schedule: Quarterfinals Monday: Cypress Creek vs. Tohopekaliga (7 p.m.); Wednesday Semifinals: Cypress Creek/Tohopekaliga winner vs. Lake Nona (4 p.m.); Freedom vs. Osceola (7 p.m.); Thursday District Championship: Semifinal Winners 7 p.m. Thursday
Notes: With Osceola and Lake Nona favored to meet in the championship game, the teams played twice, with the Kowboys tossing a one-hitter but losing 3-2 at Lake Nona on March 2 but coming back to win at home on Mar. 11 by a 2-1 count. Osceola also beat Freedom, 13-2, in their regular season match-up. Tohopekaliga can guarantee its first winning season in school history with a win over Cypress Creek in the quarterfinals. If Osceola and Lake Nona meet in the finals, look for the loser to advance to regionals as a wild card -- a trip the Kowboys took last year--eventually advancing all the way to the regional finals. The Kowboys are seeking their third district title since 2016.
Class 6A, District 11 (at St. Cloud High School)
Seedings: 1. Melbourne (21-1), 2. Viera (18-7), 3. Harmony (10-15), 4. Heritage (11-12), 5. St. Cloud (5-17), 6. Poinciana (1-13).
Schedule: Quarterfinals Monday: Poinciana vs. Harmony (4 p.m.), Heritage vs. St. Cloud (7 p.m.); Semifinals Wednesday: Harmony/Poinciana winner vs. Viera (4 p.m.), Melbourne vs. Heritage/St. Cloud winner at 7 p.m. Thursday District Championship: Semifinal winners at 7 p.m.
Notes: Based on records it will be tough for any of the three Osceola County schools to advance without a district championship win. The district features one of the top teams in the state in Melbourne, which is 21-1 and ranked sixth in Class 6A. Melbourne has outscored its opponents 209-37 this season. The Longhorns lost a 5-4, extra-innings decision to Viera earlier this season.
Class 7A, District 5 (Highest Seed Hosts)
Seedings: 1. Windermere (21-3), 2. Dr. Phillips (14-11), 3. Olympia (14-11), 4. Haines City (13-8), 5. Celebration (9-12).
Schedule: Quarterfinals Monday: Haines City at Celebration, 7 p.m.; Wednesday Semifinals: Haines City/Celebration winner at Windermere, 4:30 p.m.; Olympia at Dr. Phillips, 7 p.m.; Thursday District Championship: Semifinal Winners at Highest Seed, TBA
Notes: Tough district for Celebration as it features four quality teams with winning records. Celebration will be facing district opponents for the first time this season. Windermere is ranked third in the state in Class 7A and has five starters batting .300 or above, including slugging junior Gustavo Mendez-- who is hitting .534 with 8 home runs and 28 RBI.
Class 5A, District 11 (Highest Seed Hosts)
Seedings: 1. Eau Gallie (16-6), 2. Rockledge (16-8), 3. Lake Wales (12-13), 4. Liberty (14-10), 5. Gateway (4-13), 6. Jones (0-12-1)
Schedule: Monday Quarterfinals: Gateway at Liberty, 6 p.m., Jones at Lake Wales, 7 p.m.; Tuesday Semifinals: Liberty/Gateway winner at Eau Gallie, 7 p.m.; Lake Wales/Jones Winner at Rockledge, 7 p.m.; Thursday Championship: Semifinal winners at highest seed, 7 p.m.
Notes: This is probably the most spread out district in the state, encompassing teams on the east coast, as well as a team in Orlando, all the way west and south to Lake Wales. Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Edwardo Diaz is leading the Chargers in hitting with a .423 average.
SOFTBALL
Class 6A, District 11 (Highest Seed Hosts)
Seedings: 1. Melbourne (19-2-1), 2. Viera (11-9), 3. Harmony (14-4), Sebastian River (11-6), 5. St. Cloud (15-10)
Schedule: Monday Quarterfinals: St. Cloud at Sebastian River, TBA; Tuesday Semifinals: Sebastian/St. Cloud winner at Melbourne, 5:30 p.m.; Harmony at Viera, 5:30 p.m.; Thursday Championships: Semifinal winners at highest seed; TBA
Notes: Tough district where Harmony’s 14-4 record could only gain a #3 seed. Longhorn sophomore Aurielle Reavis is leading the team in batting (.645), RBI (19), extra base hits (12) and home runs (3). Hannah Nasco continues her great season for the Bulldogs, hitting .521 with 16 hits going for extra bases.
Class 5A, District 7 (At Highest Seeds)
Seedings: 1. Eau Gallie (12-11); 2. Liberty (8-10); 3. Heritage (5-14); 4. Gateway (4-12); 5. Jones (1-14)
Schedule: Monday Quarterfinals: Jones at Gateway, 6 p.m.; Tuesday Semifinals: Gateway/Jones winner at Eau Gallie, 6 p.m.; Heritage at Liberty, 6 p.m.; Thursday Championship: Semifinal winners at highest seed, TBA
Notes: Spread out district where any of the top three seeds could have a chance to win and advance.
Class 6A, District 9 (At Highest Seeds)
Seedings: 1. East Ridge (16-8), 2. Osceola (9-13), 3. East River (6-16), 4. Edgewater (9-9), 5. Poinciana (9-11), 6. Wekiva (3-11)
Schedule: Monday Quarterfinals: Wekiva at East River, 6 p.m.; Poinciana at Edgewater, 6 p.m.; Tuesday Semifinals: Poinciana/Edgewater Winner at Osceola, 6 p.m., East River/Wekiva winner at East Ridge, 6 p.m.; Thursday Championship: Semifinal Winners at Highest Seed, 6 p.m.
Notes: Due to its current ranking (#50 in 7A), Osceola would most likely need a district championship to advance to regionals.
Class 7A, District 5 (at Highest Seeds)
Seedings: 1. West Orange (16-7), Windermere (16-6), 3. Ocoee (9-9), 4. Dr. Phillips (16-6), 5. Olympia (4-10), 6. Celebration (4-10)
Schedule: Monday Quarterfinals: Celebration at Ocoee, 4:30 p.m.; Olympia at Dr. Phillips, 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday Semifinals: Celebration/Ocoee Winner at West Orange, 4:30 p.m.; Olympia/Dr. Phillips winner at Windermere, 4:30 p.m.; Thursday Championship: Semifinal winners at highest seed, 4 p.m.
Notes: A down season combined with a tough district will make it tough for the Storm to advance.
