Dolphin baseball season ends
Jaguars score eight of 12 runs with two outs
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Coach Randy Renfroe talks with outfielders Shane Dorlag, Kameron Brunty and Corey Downs in between innings last week against West Florida.

For the third time this season, West Florida put together a late inning scoring surge to beat Gulf Breeze.

But this time, they didn't really need it.

The Jags scored six runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to end their District 1-4A semifinal with the Dolphins to win 12-2.

The loss ended the Dolphin season at 16-10, their third straight winning season, but their 28th straight without a playoff appearance.

The Jaguars scored eight of its 12 runs to advance to the postseason for the third time in the last four years.

Gulf Breeze came out swinging as Shane Dorlag flew out to the warning track on the game's first pitch, but couldn't get anyone on base.

The Jags, who beat GBHS twice in the regular season by a combined three runs, put up two in the bottom of the first. A leadoff bunt single was later followed by a pair of seeing eye singles that plated both runs. A throwing error put the second run in scoring position.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Ben Lively pitches in the GBHS' 4-1 opening round win over PHS.

Brandon Scott laced a single down the left field line to open the second inning, but he was stranded on third to end the inning. Cody Warford beat out an infield single to start the third inning, but again, was left on base.

The Jags knocked out starter Mark Waghalter with four runs in the bottom of the third. Thomas Dorsey came in and got the Dolphins out of the inning, but not before giving up a pair of two out walks.

The Dolphins scored what would be their only runs in the top of the fourth. Kameron Brunty led the inning off with a single. Scott reached on a fielding error before Kris Matsoukas' single scored Brunty. After Dane Monnin reached on a fielder's choice before Corey Downs laid down a bunt to score Matsoukas.

Gulf Breeze was hoping for more, but two of the three outs in the inning came on baserunning miscues.

T.J. Jordan ripped a two-out double in the fifth inning, but was left on base. The Jags put the game away with their scoring surge in the bottom half. Dorsey, Monnin and Warford all saw time on the mound in that inning.

Dolphins 4, PHS 1

Ben Lively scattered five hits over six innings to get the win for Gulf Breeze over PHS in a first round game on April 21.

Lively struck out five in the game, four of them ended innings where the Tigers had a runner on base. PHS had runners on in each of the first three innings, but Lively, who threw 61 of his 88 pitches for strikes, got out of each with a strikeout.

The Dolphins broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the first. Matsoukas drew a two-out walk and after a walk to Downs scored on a single by Monnin, who had two hits in the win.

Gulf Breeze also benefited from a little bit of luck in the fifth. With two outs, Jordan tried to check his swing, but knocked a dribbler between first and second base. The pitcher couldn't get his foot on first base after fielding a toss. The next batter, Brunty, hit a two-run homer.

The Tigers scored their lone run in the sixth inning on a oneout double, but again, Lively got out of the jam with an inning ending strikeout.

Monnin's second hit, another single, plated Matsoukas, who tripled, in the bottom of the sixth.

Warford picked up the save with a game-ending strikeout in the seventh.