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Santa Fe Puts Away P.K. Yonge, 5-3 In "Vs. Cancer" Game.

  • By: Amanda Nardi
  • Apr 8, 2017
  • 2 min read

GAINESVILLE— It was a beautiful day for baseball, an exciting win for the Santa Fe Raiders and a promising day to raise awareness for pediatric cancer.

The Santa Fe Raiders (7-10) hosted the P.K. Yonge Blue Wave (8-6) Friday for a “Vs.

Cancer” night game. The first pitch was rolled out by Matt West, a 13-year-old survivor of brain cancer, and 50 percent of all proceeds from the concession stand went to benefit pediatric cancer research.

“In the time it takes to play one inning of baseball, five children are diagnosed with

cancer worldwide,” said the announcer over the intercom. People in the crowd were encouraged to donate to a pediatric cancer foundation to help children and families affected by the disease.

West sat in the press box to watch the rest of the game and saw the Santa Fe Raiders win from the best seat in the house.

The game heated up early in the first inning when Austin Sutton, #11 for P.K. Yonge, ran

it home just three minutes into the game, giving the Blue Wave the first number on the board.

Near the end of the inning, the Raiders swung back and tied the score at 1-1 going into the second inning.

The Blue Wave started to struggle, striking out three straight times and allowing the

Raiders to load up the bases at the top of the second. When asked how he felt after pitching in the second inning, Justin McCranie, #27 for the Raiders, said he felt “invincible.”

“We just felt on top of them,” McCranie said. McCranie will be playing for Hillsborough

Community College this Fall with a full scholarship.

At the bottom of the second, Trent Barron, #3, and John Graetz, #7, fed off of each

other’s energy and put two more on the board for the Raiders. To top it off, Dave Mitchum, #1 for the Raiders, ended up walking to home to bring his team up 4-1.

Quick to come back, Jake Zoltek, #35 for the Blue Wave, hit a double at the top of the

fifth inning, and eventually got a run to home base to make the score 4-2. Shortly after, fellow teammate Duncan Hubbard, #12, got another run in, creating a close-scoring game of 4-3, the Raiders still leading.

P.K. Yonge players struck out early in sixth, letting the Raiders get back on their feet and

load up the bases for a second time this game. Brennan Haire, #13 for the Raiders, walked to first, letting Graetz walk home to make the final score 5-3 for a Raiders’ win.

“I’m really confident with these guys,” said Mac Rendek, Head Coach for the Santa Fe

Raiders. “They’re working hard every single day. It’s just fundamentals and going through the same routine every single day.”

As the Raiders’ move forward in district play, catch their next game

April 13 at 7 p.m. against the Palatka Panthers at Palatka High School.


 
 
 

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