By MARTY PALLMAN
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Suwannee’s baseball team exits the dugout following Tuesday’s loss to Santa Fe in the District 2-4A semifinals. (MARTY PALLMAN/Special to the Reporter)
ALACHUA — It's been an all-around successful 2021 season for Suwannee.
A 19-5 record and No. 3 ranking statewide in the regular season have proven that.
But one team has stood in the way of the Bulldogs and it once again proved to be their kryptonite in the District 2-4A semifinals on Tuesday night.
Left-hander Ryan Brown pitched a three-hit shutout and struck out eight, while No. 2 seed Santa Fe got all the offense it needed in the fourth inning to beat No. 3 seed Suwannee 2-0 at home.
It was the third win this season for the Raiders (22-2) over the Bulldogs (19-6), which saw its season come to an end. Santa Fe moves on to the district championship game on Thursday against fourth-seed Baker County, which upset top-seeded Clay 3-1 in the other semifinal Tuesday night.
Brown (10-0) struck out eight, including at least one Suwannee hitter in every inning, and retired 11 batters in a row from the third to the seventh innings as he lowered his ERA to 0.22 on the season. Bulldogs coach Justin Bruce says Brown is just a tough customer on the mound.
"He (Brown) is a senior pitcher and they just play really hard behind him," Bruce said. "When Santa Fe gets some runs they are even tougher to beat."
Suwannee's best chance came in the third inning when Matthew Gill singled with one out and Ryan LeNeave followed with a walk. But Tyson Greene hit a hot-shot line drive right at Santa Fe first baseman John Rechsteiner and he turned an easy double to play to end the inning.
"Our team has had the pitching and defense all year," Santa Fe coach Travis Yeckring said. "But sometimes you have to have some luck too."
The Raiders got all the offense they needed in the fourth against Suwannee starting pitcher Hunter Corbin. Santa Fe catcher Landon Rogers led off with walk and came all the way around from first to score on a double by Rechsteiner to make it 1-0. After Greg Falck walked, Josh Fernald relieved Corbin and gave up a hit to Devan Mitchum to load the bases. Brown then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Rechsteiner to make it 2-0.
Fernald worked out of further trouble and struck out six Santa Fe hitters in three innings of relief. He is one of the players Bruce is looking forward to seeing again next season.
"Fernald is only a sophomore, and we are really looking forward to seeing what he can do," Bruce said. "Tyson Greene and Payton Waters will be back as well along with Carston Palmer and the future is bright.
"This is the most unselfish group I have been able to coach and I wouldn't change a thing."