Sharks host East Bay, Lennard, Durant

By STEVE JACKSON

Stunned twice by powerhouse Plant City within five days in late March, and with five players trying to overcome various ailments, the Riverview Sharks of coach Ronnie Rodriguez have four crucial games in the first two weeks of April. All games start at 7 p.m. Three of the games are at home: The first on April 5 against hapless 0-10 East Bay, which is dwelling in the cellar spot in the district at 0-3. An out-of-district diamond duel with tough rival Lennard is set for the Sharks’ field on April 9. Durant, 1-3 District 6 and 7-6 overall at press time, comes to Riverview on April 10. Then a third game with season-nemesis Plant City is on tap for April 11 in Plant City. Plant City is perched atop District 6 with Bloomingdale, both 2-0, with Plant City at 12-1 overall and Bloomingdale, 7-3 overall. Plant City’s only loss came at the hands of Sickles, 11-1.

Last week the Sharks played the Plant City Raiders and came up short 11-4, after being eliminated by PC, 4-3 in the Saladino Tourney the week previous.

In the March 26 re-run, the Raiders scored three runs in the visitors’ first inning. Riverview showed resilience in the bottom of the inning as Mac Jorgenson started it off for the Sharks by hitting a solo home run over the left field fence. For the Sharks, offensively, Dylan Besnier hit a double later in the game that drove in two runs, and Noah Andis had two hits. After the bruising loss, it was revealed that Riverview’s starting pitcher Ty Correa has a broken hand and tried to play through anyway. Now the Sharks are down three starters and two pitchers.

Two days later the Sharks visited Tampa Bay Tech and came away with a 10-2 victory. Riverview pitchers Brenden Herrick and Ben Migliarese combined for a two-hitter. Riley Linne and Jeremy Galen led the Sharks with two hits. Besnier continued his power hitting with a base clearing triple that drove in two runs. Jorgenson, Migliarese, Herrick and Andis all had hits.

The Sharks played at home against District 6 opponent Bloomingdale on Wednesday, April 3, after press time, in a battle for second place in the District.