For the third consecutive year, the Apopka Blue Darters and Boone Braves met in the second round of the baseball playoffs, this year it was the Braves who came out on top despite being outhit eight to three.
It was a good day at the plate for the Blue Darter's senior Evan Harold, who went 3-4 and scored two runs. He doubled in the first inning and singled in the second and seventh innings.
Senior Hunter Rotarius baffled the Braves, striking out six batters allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks over seven innings.
Boone senior and UCF signee Kevin King recorded the win allowing two runs over five innings, striking out eight, surrendering six hits.
Boone senior closer Cooper Jeffers put away the final out to record the save after Apopka put runners on in the bottom of the seventh and cut the lead to 4-3. Cooper got Michael Monson to strike out to end the game.
The top of the first saw Boone take an early lead, 1-0 on senior Adam Anderson’s RBI single.
Apopka responded by scoring two runs of its own in the bottom of the first. The Blue Darters were aided by a throwing error by Boone sophomore Chris Jones which allowed both runs to score.
Apopka nearly came back in the bottom of the seventh with consecutive hits from Harold and Rotarius and a long flyout from Jacob Southern. Junior Jonathan Elicier grounded into a fielders choice to score Harold, but that was all the Blue Darters could push across as Monson struck out looking.
The Blue Darters finish the season 21-7, while Boone improves to 19-8 and will face the top team in the nation, Olympia in the next round of the playoffs.