VALRICO - In opening-round play in the Saladino Tournament, Riverview turned back Blake 7-0, Chamberlain beat East Bay 7-4 and host Bloomingdale beat Newsome 11-0 in five innings.
Riverview (6-4) scored single runs in five of the first six innings, four of them coming after two outs, and added a pair of runs in the seventh to defeat Blake (0-9).
Xavier Malave threw his second straight three-hit shutout to pace the Sharks. Malave (2-2) gave up just three hits, two by opposing pitcher TaQwuan Anthony (0-2). "I just set out to throw strikes today," said Malave, who struck out seven wile walking none. "And it seemed to work."
East Bay (2-6) proved pesky for Chamberlain (8-2) until the fourth inning, when the Chiefs got three of their 15 hits and took advantage of an Indian miscue to score four runs to go up 7-3. Starter Tom Nofsinger (3-1) got the win, and Cody Overby and Steven Borden chipped in with three hits apiece.
"We are really starting to come together as a team," Overby said. "Today was our eighth straight win after starting the season with two losses." Carl Raeckers and Austin Evans had doubles for the winners. East Bay threatened late, scoring once in the seventh and loading the bases before relief pitcher Brad Woods retired Justin Ascherman on a sharp grounder to short to end the game. In the nightcap, Bloomingdale used a 10-run explosion in the first three innings to turn back Newsome (2-9). Five more runs in the second inning put the game away for Bloomingdale.
Extra base hits were plentiful for the Bulls, as Morris and Mitch Rodriguez had doubles and centerfielder Ryan Strauss tripled to deep right-center to drive in two runs in the third.
Dan Payne picked up the win for Bloomingdale, giving up two singles over four innings and striking out eight.
"I was happy with our play tonight," Bulls coach K.B. Scull said. "I thought Danny (Payne) was hitting all the right spots. It was a good win for us."
