Venice blinked first.
Venice and Winter Haven squared off in a Class 6A semifinal stare down Wednesday night at jetBlue Park and the Indians blinked first. Scoreless through three-and-a-half innings, Winter Haven finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth for a 3-0 victory.
The Blue Devils will play Mater Academy for the 6A title Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The action will be carried live on BHSN Channel 47 or HD 1147 and online at bhsnlive.com.
A Venice throwing error during a pickoff attempt at first base sparked a three-run fourth inning. Catcher Riley Johnson led off the bottom of the fourth for the Blue Devils with a walk. Shortstop Luis Morales followed with a single to left field to put runners at first and second.
That’s when Venice tried to pick off Morales at first and the ball sailed down the first base line into the right field corner, scoring Johnson.
A suicide squeeze bunt by third baseman Tobias Myers would score Morales. And pitcher Trent Gantt capped off the scoring with an RBI single to center field.
Gantt also got it done on the mound. He pitched a complete shutout game, allowing only two hits while striking out four.
Now the Blue Devils will try to win the school’s first state baseball title against a team playing in the school’s first final four.