Baseball/softball: USCB softball splits on tourney’s opening day

The USCB softball team split its first two games at the Sun Conference Tournament on Thursday, defeating Ave Maria 7-0 and falling to Webber International 2-0.

The Sand Sharks scored five runs in the first inning against Ave Maria to support Naomi Catt, who tossed a one-hit shutout while striking out four. Catt didn’t allow a baserunner until Sadie Mosher’s flare to left-center with two outs in the fourth.

USCB smacked seven hits in the first inning against the Gyrenes to take control early. Taylor Boyett went 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs, and Missy Hughes drove in two runs. Brodie McGregor, Whitley Martin and Bailey Craven each added a hit and an RBI.

The Sand Sharks were unable to carry over their outstanding defensive play to the second game of the day, as they made four errors that led to a pair of unearned runs for the second-seeded Warriors.

Webber International scored single runs in the second and third against Ashlie Layman, and that was enough support for Erika Bellinger, who limited the Sand Sharks to five hits in a shutout.

Kayla Boyle, Alexa Moore, Boyett, Hughes, and Craven each had a hit for USCB.

The Sand Sharks played again Friday. Results were not available at press time.

10 USCB baseball players named all-conference

Ten USCB baseball players were named to the All-Sun Conference team and coach Bryan Lewallyn was picked as the league’s Coach of the Year on Thursday night.

USCB led the way with 10 All-Conference selections — five to the first team and five to the second team. The Sand Sharks placed outfielders Thomas Estopare and Matt Kianka, starting pitchers John Gora and Jamie Strock, and relief pitcher Blake Drew on the first team. Catcher Dylan Yankle, third baseman Brandon Joyce, designated hitter Kal Davis, starting pitcher Julio De Pena and reliever Justin Kortessis were second-team picks.

Lewallyn also took home Coach of the Year honors after leading the Sand Sharks to a 41-10 overall record and a 20-4 mark in conference play during the regular season.

Southeastern placed seven players on the All-Conference team with catcher Mike D’Acunti, first baseman Chris Mattison, shortstop Luis Diaz and outfielder Derek Martin earning first-team honors.

Webber International had six All-Conference selections, with second baseman Connor Clayton, third baseman Danny Timmons, utility player Sjaghbar Martis, and pitcher Taylor Layner making the first team. Layner also was named to the second team as an outfielder.

Keiser took home four All-Conference honors as well as two superlative awards, as Keivan Berges was named to the first team and selected as the Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and Steven Bruce was a first-team pick and named Pitcher of the Year.

St. Thomas had three All-Conference picks, including first-team selections for outfielder Jose Gomez and catcher Steven Fischer.

Warner had three second-team picks, and Thomas placed one player on the second team.

Warner’s Jeff Stabe was named the Champions of Character award winner. Stabe is a resident assistant at Warner and volunteers substantial time with a number of church organizations, as well as the Challenger League for youth baseball players with disabilities. He also recently won the school’s Spiritual Leadership Award.

Additionally, 23 players were named to the Sun Conference All-Academic Team for boasting cumulative GPAs of 3.5 or higher after at least one full academic year at their institutions. Charlie McGinnis and Nick Payne represented USCB on the list.

The Sun Conference Tournament began with three games Friday at City of Palms Park. Top-seeded USCB faced No. 6 Warner. The result was not available at press time.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 8:27 PM with the headline "Baseball/softball: USCB softball splits on tourney’s opening day."