ODA's season ends in regional quarterfinals

The Out-of-Door Academy baseball team saw its season come to an end with a 6-1 loss to St. Petersburg Catholic in a Class 3A-Region 3 quarterfinal tonight.

The visiting Thunder was unable to bounce back after allowing five runs in the first two innings.

Trailing 5-0 in the top of the third inning, ODA’s Jake Romine hit a double and advanced to third on a single by Tyler Dietrich. Senior Zach Hoppe hit a single to drive in Romine and cut St. Pete Catholic’s lead to 5-1.

St. Pete Catholic scored its final run in the bottom of the third inning.

Starting pitcher Alex Horan faced the first two batters in the second inning before turning the ball over to Hoppe in relief.

Dietrich went 3-for-3 with a double and a stolen base and Romine went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored to lead the way for ODA at the plate.

ODA finished with a 19-5 record and reached the playoffs for the second-consecutive season. The Thunder lose two seniors from this year’s squad in Hoppe, is will play for Eckerd College next year, and Joey Grano.

For a complete story on ODA’s regional quarterfinal appearance pick up the May 10 issue of the East County Observer.