Blazers slide into regional finals

The Sarasota Christian baseball team held off St. Petersburg Canterbury 6-5 in a Class 2A-Region 2 semifinal May 7.

The Blazers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a RBI double by Shane Shifflett.

Canterbury responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Sarasota Christian tied the game on a RBI single by Ryan Wenger.

The Blazers took a 3-2 lead on a triple by Shifflett who came around to score on an error.

Canterbury scored two more runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 4-3 lead.

The Blazers responded, scoring their final three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Joseph Shamp hit a RBI single and Shifflett hit a two-run double.

Canterbury added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Sarasota Christian relief pitcher Taylor Briggs closed the game.

Shifflett went 3-3 with two doubles, a triple, an intentional walk, three RBIs and a run scored to lead the way for Sarasota Christian at the plate. Shamp went 2-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored.

With the win, Sarasota Christian will travel to Master’s Academy of Vero Beach May 11 for the regional finals. The winner will advance to the state semifinals May 15.

Pick up the May 16 issue of the Sarasota Observer for a complete story on the Sarasota Christian baseball team’s season.