ST. PETERSBURG - Pinellas Park National overcame a four run deficit Tuesday to defeat Southwest 9-8 in the District 5 Major Baseball championship game at Northeast. It was the fourth time in the tournament Pinellas Park National fought off elimination.
Pinellas Park National starter Cody Mattull struggled in the first, surrendering a leadoff double to Scott Meitz and an RBI double to Harrison Ralph. A series of errors and wild pitches led to three more Southwest runs, all with no outs.
Southwest's Nathan Chylsta did not fare better, lasting a third of an inning and allowing five runs. Elijah Bellman walked with the bases loaded to force Travis Agosto home for the second run. Brandon Walker, Ricky Staton and Cody Nowakowski scored on wild pitches for Pinellas Park National.
Southwest tied the score at 5 on Connor Obrochta's double in the second. Though Pinellas Park National allowed five early runs, manager Rob Mattull stayed with the gameplan and kept son Cody Mattull on the mound.
"There was not way we were going to take him out," Rob Mattull said. "That kid pitched three no-hitters for us through the year year. That's our big kid, that's our horse."
The plan worked as Mattull went on to strike out seven. He was plagued by sloppy defense that led to two Southwest runs.
Pinellas Park National broke the game open by scoring four runs off Tray Thomason in the fourth. Thomason came in to relieve Chylsta in the second and tossed two scoreless innings before being hit hard in the fourth. Cody Arnold and Justin Warren singled to start the rally and walks to Agosto and Nowakowski haunted Southwest later in the inning.
"Our job is to make the other pitcher throw baseballs," Mattull said. "If we make them throw we'll put some miles on the pitcher."
Cody Mattull closed the game by retiring Southwest in order in the sixth.
Pinellas Park National advances to the Sectional Tournament on Saturday at Cross Bayou. Its first opponent will be District 12 winner East Lake.
SENIOR BASEBALL: East Lake advanced to the District 12 championship Monday by defeating Tarpon Springs 14-10. East Lake trailed 7-0 before busting out for 14 runs in the fourth. Ryan Sundholm, Andrew Dennis, A.J. Caesar, Gabe Campbell and Mike Wilson all had run-scoring hits. Dennis pitched in relief for the win.
MINOR SOFTBALL: Jenna Kelley had 12 putouts and started a double play in East Lake's 3-1 win over West Pasco for the District 12 title. Marisa Palumbo won and Sarah Schutz earned the save.
