No playoffs again for baseball team
Dolphins beat Escambia, lose to Pine Forest in district tournament in Gulf Breeze
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Brandon Scott slides back safely to first base in the Dolphins' 5-0 loss to Pine Forest in the district semifinals.

A season filled with high expectations ended like the previous 26 had for the Dolphins - on the outside looking in.

The Dolphins, who had scored double digits runs in their final five regular season wins, were held to just two hits by Pine Forest's Justin Oehrle as the Eagles shut out the Dolphins 5-0 in a District 1-3A semifinal game April 25 in Gulf Breeze.

Greg Tober got out of jams in each of the first four innings, giving up only one run, before giving up a three-run homer to freshman pinch hitter Josh Branstetter in the top of the fifth.

Tober struck out five in fourplus innings on only two hits, but walked three and hit three batters. Michael Thomas allowed five hits and struck out two over the final three innings.

Brandon Scott singled with one out in the fourth and Boomer Harrington singled with two outs in the seventh inning for Gulf Breeze's lone hits of the game.

It was only the second time GBHS has been shut out all year, as they finished the year 17-10.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Head coach Randy Renfroe (left) talks to his team after their 5-0 season-ending loss to Pine Forest.

The Eagles left runners in two of the first three innings. Tober struck out a pair of batters in both the first and third innings and got some defensive help from catcher Brad McGuire, who threw out a runner trying to steal in the second and picked off another baserunner in the third.

Pine Forest pushed a run across in the fourth inning after a hit batter, a walk, an intentional walk after the first two runners were moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt and a flyout to right field.

Scott's single to left field in the fourth was the Dolphins' first baserunner of the game, but Kameron Brunty and Harrington hit into consecutive fielder's choices to end the inning.

The Eagles got a leadoff walk, a single and a throwing error to set up the three-run homer that made it 4-0.

After the Dolphins went 1-2- 3 in the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles racked on another in the top of the sixth.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Tyler Gross watches a teammate bat against Escambia.

The damage could've been a lot of worse for Gulf Breeze hadn't right fielder Shane Dorlag robbed Travis Vandervort of a grand slam.

Dorlag tried to lead off the bottom of the sixth with a bunt single, but bunted the ball back to Oehrle for the out. The sixth was the fifth time they went down in order.

Harrington singled for the Dolphins' other hit in the seventh, but Derek Jeter hit into a fielder's choice to end the game.

Dolphins 4, Escambia 1

Gulf Breeze fell behind 1-0 in the first inning before scoring one in the first, two in the third and one in the fifth April 24.

An error, a sacrifice and a single gave the Gators the early 1-0 lead. The Dolphins tied the game in the bottom half of the inning when Brunty doubled with two outs and scored on a double steal after Harrington beat out an infield single.

The Gators left two runners on in the third inning after Brunty made an inning-ending sliding catch.

The Dolphins seized the momentum, scoring twice in the bottom of the third.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Brad McGuire (left) and Derek Jeter (right) console Greg Tober in the fourth inning against Pine Forest.

Kolton Hanke reached on an error before McGuire reached on a bunt single. Scott singled to center to load the bases before Brunty reached on a fielder's choice that scored Hanke and McGuire, who scored from second base.

McGuire drew a walk in the bottom of the fifth and scored on a fielding error to round out the scoring. Jeter and T.J. Jordan also had base hits in the win.

Mark Waghalter struck out three and allowed only three hits in 6 1/3 innings, while Thomas struck out one and allowed one hit over the final 2/3 innings.