Bolles- In a matchup of two of Northeast Florida’s best high school baseball teams, the Bolles Bulldogs (18-2) defeated the Sandalwood Saints(14-5) by a score of 3-1 this week. Bolles got on the board first when Jackson Mayo scored on a double by Connor Stoll to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 in the first inning.
In the third, Bolles would extend it’s lead to 3 when Chance Moore brought in Tyler Gesk and Jack Brady for scores putting Bolles up 3-0 heading to the top of the 3rd.
Bolles capitalized on good hitting from its leaders. Senior Jack Brady and Sophomore Gunner Boree both batting 1.000 in the contest. Connor Stoll and Jackson Mayo both batted .500 while Luke Jenkins and Hunter Barco batted .333 in against the Saints. It was solid performance, not a superb one, that got the job done for Bulldogs.
It was a struggle for most of the game for Sandalwood as they could not get past the Bulldog’s fielders. Sandalwood batted just .192 in the game, and squandered good defensive efforts with lack luster efficiency at bat
Sandalwood made a late push to give the game much needed suspense. Senior Jered Geis hit a strike to left field bringing in a run to close the gap to 3-1. Geis made good contact with the ball previously in the contest but a shot deep to center was caught. He’d make amends with the knock and pull Sandalwood to within one point.
With two outs, and the tying run up to bat, pitcher Connor Boyer would get the save as the pop up fly fell into the glove of his teammate to give Bolles the win. Pitcher Cole Burgess secured the win on the mound, as Bolles defeated yet another top opponent. After wins against Providence and Ponte Vedra, Bolles has won nine games in a row. They’ll look to make it ten when they face Creekside April 23rd. Sandalwood will look to make waves in the Gateway Conference tournament next week, as they look to hoist the Duval County trophy.
