Although top-seeded St. Cloud is off to one of its best baseball starts in school history and his team has been 7-0 against county opposition this year, Coach David Blackmore describes this week’s Orange Belt Conference baseball tournament as a “wide open affair,” where any number of teams will have a chance to win the title.
Top-seeded St. Cloud (14-4) and second-seeded Harmony (10-8) will host first and second round games on Monday and Wednesday, with third, five and seventh-place games Thursday. Celebration will host the championship game Friday at 7.
“Despite a couple of tough losses over spring break, we’re still playing pretty good baseball,” Blackmore said of his team that opened the year with 13 straight wins – the second longest winning streak in school history. “But several teams in the county have good, young talent and are certainly capable of winning. We’re excited to be the top seed and having the first two rounds at home, but we are anticipating that nothing is going to come easy.”
Monday’s quarterfinals at St. Cloud will find Gateway (5-10) facing Osceola (5-10) at 4:30 p.m. and the Bulldogs hosting Liberty (1-5) at 7 p.m. At Harmony, the Tohopekaliga Tigers (10-5) take on Celebration (5-9) at 4:30 p.m.; with the Longhorns matching up with Poinciana (3-7) in the 7 nightcap.
The losers of Monday’s game play consolation games at 4 p.m. Wednesday; while the winners meet in the 7 p.m. semifinals.
Although they were hit hard by graduation and transfers, St. Cloud has looked like the best team in county this year. Led by first baseman Jose Alvarado (.340) and catcher Samuel Quijada (.342), the Bulldogs have had seven starters or key reserves hitting over .300. Freshman lefty Kam Reinke has been outstanding, recording a 3-0 record with a 1.05 ERA and an impressive 30 strikeouts in 20.1 innings of work.
Look for the Longhorns to be one of the challengers for the OBC crown. Another roster decimated by the loss of talent by graduation, Harmony has won the last three OBC baseball titles and have won six of their last nine. Top contributors have included senior Jadiel Perez (.333), who has a team-leading four home runs and freshman Elijah Ramriez (.323), whose 13 RBI is second behind Angel Medina (15) for the team lead. Sophomore Riley Bonini (2-1, 1.17 ERA) has been dominating at times, striking out 28 and posting a solid 1.07 WHIP in 30 innings pitched.
Tohopekaliga is another young team that could challenge for the title. Freshmen Santiago Montero (.595) and Adrian Marquez (.355) are off the hot starts as is sophomore Harvey Garcia (.400). Ace Samuel Isturiz is 6-0 with a 2.20 ERA, with 28 strikeouts and just 10 walks allowed in 28.2 innings pitched.
Osceola’s young team (four starting freshmen and sophomores) has played a tough schedule. Freshman Josh Palmi is starting at catcher; while fellow freshman Jeremiah Guerra leads the team with a .323 average.
Gateway and Celebration are led by Alan Guerro (Panthers) and Cameron Moyer (Storm), hitting .393 and .348. Neither Poinciana and Liberty feature solid players like the Eagles Jaedyn Garcia (.429) and Liberty’s Juan Henriquez (.571).
2026 Orange Belt Conference Baseball Championship
Monday, March 30
At St. Cloud
Gateway vs. Osceola, 4:30 p.m.
Liberty at St. Cloud, 7 p.m.
At Harmony
Tohopekaliga vs. Celebration, 4:30 p.m.
Poinciana at Harmony, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1
At St. Cloud and Harmony
Monday's losers, 4:30 p.m.
Monday's winners, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 2
Placement games at higher seeds
3rd place: losers of Wednesday's late games
5th place: winners of Wednesday's early games
7th place: losers of Wednesday's early games
Friday, April 3
Winners of Wednesday's late games, 7 p.m. at Celebration
